PORTLAND, Ore. --- Haylee Andrews and Alex Fowler each recorded a double-double and the Portland Pilots nearly led Saint Mary's from start to finish to claim a 78-65 win over the Gaels in a West Coast Conference women's basketball game played on Saturday afternoon at the Chiles Center. Fowler finished with 19 points and 11 boards, while Andrews dished a career-best 12 assists to go along with 15 points.
 
It's the second straight game to record a double-double for Fowler, and it's the freshman's fourth of the season.
 
After falling behind 5-4 early, the Pilots (9-7, 2-3 WCC) responded with an 11-2 run to surge in front. Kate Andersen, Fowler, and Andrews each had a bucket during the run, and it gave Portland a lead that they would hold onto.
 
Later in the frame Andrews provided the Pilots their first double-digit edge of the day with a jumper to make it 23-14, and Portland held a nine-point advantage heading to the second quarter.
 
The Gaels (9-8, 4-2 WCC) did momentarily tie it mid-way through the second, but the Pilots ended the half with a 12-2 run. Maddie Muhlheim sparked the outburst with a three-pointer, and Fowler converted a traditional three-point play to make it a 39-29 game going to the break.
 
The Pilots continued their momentum in the second half, and four straight field goals from Lauren Walker, Fowler, and Muhlheim gave Portland its biggest lead of the afternoon at 53-34. From there the Gaels cut into the deficit, but the Pilots still lead by 11 heading to the final quarter.
 
The Gaels tried to stay close in the fourth as they caught fire from deep, and a three from Madeline Holland made it a five-point game with 6:10 left to play. Keeley Frawley answered with a big-time three-pointer for the Pilots, and lay-ups from Andersen and Fowler moments pushed the lead back to 10 with 3:04 remaining.
 
That's as close as the Gaels would get as Frawley provided another clutch three-pointer down the stretch to help seal the win.
 
Andersen finished with 15 points, and Walker chipped in with 10. The Pilots out-scored Saint Mary's 52-32 in the paint, and they won the battle of the boards 38-34.
 
Taycee Wedin led five Gaels to score in double figures with 15 points.
 
The Pilots next travel to San Francisco, Calif., for a WCC contest with the San Francisco Dons on Thursday night. Tip-off at War Memorial Gym is set for 7 p.m.