PORTLAND, Ore. --- Portland's Alex Fowler collected a double-double and Liana Kaitu'u scored a career-high 16 points as the Pilots held off the Fresno State Bulldogs to win 75-64 on Sunday afternoon at the Chiles Center. Fowler, a freshman, finished with 18 points and 14 rebounds for her second double-double this season.
 
The Pilots led the Bulldogs 57-50 going to the fourth quarter, but the Bulldogs quickly pulled within three points to begin the final frame. Kaitu'u then provided back-to-back lay-ups to keep the Pilots on top, but Fresno State made it a one-point game with 5:40 left to play. That's when Alex Fowler followed with a lay-in of her own to push the Portland advantage to three points.
 
From there, both teams cooled off from the field, but the Pilots dominated the glass, which included five offensive rebounds during one possession. Haylee Andrews capped that lengthy possession with a key jumper, and the Pilots had a 67-62 edge with only 1:11 showing on the clock,
 
At the other end of the court the Pilots forced the Bulldogs into a pair of misses, and Kaitu'u provided a clutch, fast break lay-up to help seal the win for the Pilots.
 
The victory is Portland's fourth in a row to open the season and the career of first-year head coach Michael Meek. It's the first 4-0 start for the Pilots since 2010-11. The Bulldogs suffer their first loss to drop to 3-1.
 
Maddie Muhlheim and Andrews also finished in double-digit scoring for the Pilots, adding 14 points and 10 points, respectively.
 
Fresno State's Maddi Utti led all scorers with 29 points, and she grabbed 11 boards for the double-double.
 
The Bulldogs opened the game red-hot from the field to jump out to an early lead. The Pilots hung around with the help of a handful of lay-ins and a three-pointer by Muhlheim. Fowler began the second quarter with a lay-up on a nice pass from Keeley Frawley, and the Pilots were within three.
 
Muhlheim would heat up from there, connecting on a pair of three's mid-way through the period to keep the game close. Her second from deep, on a skip pass from Andrews, made it a 27-24 game in Fresno State's favor with five minutes left in the half. Kaitu'u then drilled a three-pointer, and just like that the score was tied.
 
The Pilots then embarked on a 9-0 run, which was fueled by a coast-to-coast lay-up by Fowler, and Portland took a 38-32 edge into the locker room at half. Muhlheim had 12 first-half points, while Fowler had 10.
 
The Pilots extended their lead in the third quarter with the help of seven points from Kate Andersen. Fowler chipped in with a nice move down low, and the Pilots had their biggest advantage at 49-40. The lead was still nine moments later when Andrews converted a lay-up, and the Pilots took a seven-point edge to the final frame.
 
Portland shot 49.2 percent for the game, and they recorded 24 assists on their 30 field goals. Andrews just missed a double-double with eight assists.
 
The Bulldogs finished with a 42.6 shooting percentage, and the Pilots won the battle of the boards, 38-28.
 
The Pilots next travel to Northridge, Calif., for a non-conference game with the CSUN Matadors on Thursday night. Tip-off is scheduled for 12 p.m.