SAN DIEGO, Calif. --- The San Diego Toreros broke open a close game in the third quarter and went on to defeat the Portland Pilots 74-55 in a West Coast Conference women's basketball game played on Thursday night at the Jenny Craig Pavilion. Haylee Andrews led the Pilots with a team-high 18 points.
 
The first half remained close as neither team was able to claim much of an edge. Kate Andersen gave the Pilots an early lead when she converted a traditional three-point play two minutes in. The Toreros then surged in front, but the two teams were never separated by more than one possession.
 
With three minutes remaining in the first frame, Andrews registered a three-point play to level the score, and moments later it was a three-point by from Lauren Walker that gave the lead back to the Pilots. The Toreros then took a 17-16 advantage to the second period.
 
It was more of the same in the second, but the Toreros did jump in front by five. The Pilots refused to falter, and Andrews knocked down a jumper to pull Portland within a point. Just before the end of the half, Andrews buried one from deep, and the Toreros led 32-29 at the break.
 
San Diego then outscored the Pilots 22-4 in the third quarter, and they'd hold on from there for the win.
 
Alex Fowler, who battled foul trouble, joined Andrews in double digits with 14 points, and Andersen finished with 13. Andersen was also Portland's (7-6, 0-2 WCC) top rebounder with six boards.
 
Myah Pace and Madison Pollock both finished with 20 points for the Toreros (8-6, 2-1 WCC), who shot 55 percent from the field.
 
Portland's road trip continues on Saturday when they travel to Provo, Utah, for a 1 p.m. (Pacific) game with the BYU Cougars at the Marriott Center.