PORTLAND, Ore. --- In a game that was in doubt until the final buzzer, the Pacific Tigers prevailed 77-73 over the Portland Pilots in a West Coast Conference women's basketball game played on Thursday night at the Chiles Center. Haylee Andrews led the Pilots with 21 points, while Alex Fowler collected a double-double with 20 points and 10 rebounds.
 
Neither team could get much going offensively in the first quarter, but it was the Pilots who took a 13-11 lead. Andrews buried a pair of three-pointers during the frame to help the home team to an early advantage.
 
The Tigers then surged ahead by seven points to begin the second period, but the Pilots refused to falter. Down by one with three minutes left in the frame, Keeley Frawley, Maddie Muhlheim, and Kate Andersen each connected from beyond the three-point arc, and just like that the Pilots were back in front.
 
Moments later Muhlheim hit another three, and Andrews converted a few from the charity stripe to give the Pilots a 38-29 lead at the half.
 
Muhlheim opened the third quarter by draining another one from deep to push the lead to 12. From there the Pilots were able to hold onto to their advantage, and it was a 55-53 game in Portland's favor going to the fourth.
 
The Tigers then put together some offense in the fourth, and a Lianna Tillman lay-in and a three from Kaylin Randhawa put Pacific in front 61-58 with 6:08 left. Fowler answered with a lay-up at the other end, but Brooklyn McDavid connected on a jumper to keep the Tigers in the lead.
 
Portland then went to work at the free throw line, and a pair from Andersen put Portland back on top 64-63 with 4:25 left to play. McDavid and Valerie Higgins responded with consecutive lay-ins as the Tigers reclaimed the lead, but the Pilots were still within one when Fowler converted down low.
 
Higgins extended then difference with another lay-up, and the Pilots kept it close with more free throws. The Tigers were also able to convert from the line as the Pilots were forced to foul during the closing minute, and Pacific would do enough down the stretch to complete the win.
 
Higgins registered a double-double for the Tigers (11-5, 4-1 WCC) with 16 points and 13 boards, and McDavid finished with a team-best 21 points.
 
Andersen added 12 points for Portland (8-7, 1-3 WCC), while Muhlheim chipped in with 11. Andrews also dished a game-high eight assists.
 
The Pilots next host the Saint Mary's Gaels on Saturday, with top-off set for 2 p.m. at the Chiles Center. The game will be broadcast live on NBC Sports Northwest.