PORTLAND, Ore. --- After the game was close early, the Loyola Marymount Lions created some separation before prevailing 70-54 over the Portland Pilots in a West Coast Conference women's basketball game played on Thursday night at the Chiles Center. Julie Spencer led the Pilots with 16 points.
 
Maddie Muhlheim gave Portland (12-16, 4-13 WCC) the lead when she knocked down a three-pointer in the first quarter, but LMU (17-12, 10-7 WCC) would soon surge in front. The Pilots kept the Lions within reach and their deficit was only two after Haylee Andrews buried a three. Spencer and Darian Slaga then provided a couple of buckets, and the Lions took a 17-14 edge to the second.
 
Lisa Kaempf pulled the Pilots with within a point after she opened the second quarter with a lay-up, and Jayce Gorzeman made a steal at one end and a lay-in at the other as the game remained close. But both teams cooled off offensively before LMU took a 34-21 lead into the locker room at halftime.
 
They stretched their advantage to 18 points after the break, but the Pilots embarked on a 7-0 run as they held the Lions scoreless for nearly four minutes. Josie Matz made a pair of lay-ups during the outburst to help the Pilots cut the margin down to 11 points, but LMU responded with a run of their own and led 54-33 going to the final quarter.
 
They'd hold on from there to finish off the road win. 

Gorzeman matched a career-best with nine rebounds, and both Spencer and Slaga finished with seven boards. Andrews had nine points and four assists on the night. 
Gabby Green led the Lions with 17 points off the bench, and Bree Alford collected a double-double with 11 points and 13 rebounds.
 
The Pilots next play their final game of the regular season on Saturday when they host the Pepperdine Waves at the Chiles Center, with tip-off set for 4:30 p.m. Portland will celebrate senior day, and they'll honor Kaempf, Spencer, and Slaga with a pre-game ceremony. 

Saturday is also a hoops double header on The Bluff as the Portland men follow with the game against Santa Clara.