SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. --- Julie Spencer scored 20 points and Jayce Gorzeman finished with a career-best 17 as the Portland Pilots outlasted the San Francisco Dons 69-66 in a West Coast Conference women's basketball game played on Thursday night at War Memorial at the Sobrato Center. The win gives the Pilots (12-14, 4-11 WCC) their first regular season sweep of the Dons since 2011-12.
 
Neither team was able to claim much of an edge in the first quarter, but Spencer had seven points early as the Pilots led 19-18 heading to the second. The Dons then surged in front, but Portland responded to re-claim the lead. Maddie Muhlheim connected for three, Gorzeman finished a fast break with a lay-up, and Kate Andersen converted a three-point play to hand the Pilots a four-point advantage.
 
The Dons then had an answer of their own, but Portland finished the half on a 9-0 run to lead 41-33 at the break. Gorzeman scored six of the nine points, and the sophomore already matched a career-high in points with 15 by halftime.
 
The Dons cut unto the deficit in the third quarter, but that's when Spencer caught fire, burying three straight three-pointers to push Portland's lead to double digits. Spencer scored 11 of the Pilots' 13 points in the third as they'd take a 54-43 lead going to the fourth.
 
San Francisco began the final period with a 13-4 run, and when Abby Rathbun knocked down a three-pointer from the top of the key the Dons had tied the score 62-62 with 3:34 left to play. The Pilots refused to falter, and Josie Matz came through with a steal at one end and an uncontested lay-up at the other to give the lead back to Portland. Haylee Andrews then hit a mid-range jumper after the Dons had pulled even again, and Spencer followed with a lay-up to make it a 68-64 game with about a minute remaining.
 
The Pilots then came through by forcing a Dons' shot clock violation, and they'd hold on for the road win.
 
Spencer finished with four three-pointers, and she scores at least 20 points for the eighth time this season. Gorzeman was also Portland's top rebounder with six boards.
 
Shannon Powell led four Dons (6-20, 2-13 WCC) to score in double figures with a team-best 16 points.
 
The Pilots shot 44 percent for the game, combined for nine three-pointers, and matched a season-low with nine turnovers, which they've done twice in the past three games.
 
The Pilots next make the short trek south to Santa Clara where they'll face the Broncos at 2 p.m. on Saturday at the Leavey Center.