NORTHRIDGE, Calif. --- Portland freshman Alex Fowler poured in a career-best 27 points and the Pilots nearly overcame a second-half deficit, but the CSUN Matadors held on for a 73-64 win in a non-conference women's basketball game played on Thursday afternoon at the Matadome. It's the first loss of the season for the Pilots, who had won their first four games to open the year.
 
The Matadors (1-4) led by six after the first quarter and out-scored the Pilots 25-8 in the second to open a 46-23 lead at the break.
 
The Pilots (4-1) tried to rally in the second half, but they still trailed by 24 points late in the third quarter. That's when they embarked a 12-0 run to climb back into the game. Kate Andersen sparked the surge with back-to-back lay-ups, and Maddie Muhlheim drilled a three-pointer to help the Pilots cut into the deficit. Keeley Frawley added a lay-in, and Fowler followed with a three-pointer to pull the Pilots within 12 points.
 
CSUN momentarily pushed their lead back up to 17 points to begin the final frame, but the Pilots refused to falter. Fowler converted a nice move down low, and Liana Kaitu'u added a solid post move moments later as the Pilots were within single digits.
 
Then with 3:28 remaining, Muhlheim hit another clutch three from deep, and just like that the CSUN lead was down to 65-59. De'Jionae Calloway then scored five straight points to help the Matadors preserve their lead, but the margin was still only six points when Frawley drained a three-pointer with a minute left to play.
 
The Pilots then forced the turnover they needed as Muhlheim came through with a steal, but Frawley's corner three was off, and CSUN's Megan Henderson corralled the key rebound. A pair of free throws from Henderson, after Portland had fouled, gave the home team an eight-point lead, and they would hold on from there.
 
Fowler finished 10 of 13 from the field, but the Pilots as a team shot a season-low 38 percent. Frawley scored 10 points, and Muhlheim added eight, while matching a career high with six steals. Fowler was Portland's top rebounder with nine boards, just missing her third double-double of the year.
 
The Pilots were without their usual starting point guard Haylee Andrews, who missed the game due to an injury.
 
Calloway led the Matadors with 27 points and 10 rebounds.
 
The Pilots next travel to Colorado Springs, Colo., to play the Air Force Falcons on Saturday. Tip-off at Clune Arena is set for 1 p.m. (Pacific).