PORTLAND, Ore. --- Portland's Alex Fowler scored a game-high 26 points and Haylee Andrews nearly registered a triple-double as the Pilots and Toreros played a close game at the Chiles Center, but in the end it was San Diego who edged Portland 62-58 in a West Coast Conference contest. Andrews finished with 10 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists.
 
The Pilots (13-9, 6-5 WCC) looked in control in the first quarter when Fowler collected a fast break lay-in, off a nice feed by Kate Andersen, and Maddie Muhlheim buried a three-pointer. Moments later Muhlheim drilled another three, and the Pilots were ahead 12-4.
 
San Diego (13-9, 7-4 WCC) then embarked on an 11-2 run that stretched into the second quarter and gave them a slight 15-14 edge. They'd exchanged baskets from there as the Toreros maintained their lead, but the Pilots stayed within reach with the help of a steal by Muhlheim and a fast break lay-in from Andrews. After that the Pilots scored seven unanswered points, which was capped by a traditional three-point play by Fowler that gave the lead back to the Pilots.
 
Kelsey Lenzie soon followed with a three from the corner, and Fowler beat the half-time buzzer with a jumper on a stellar pass from Andrews to give Portland a 34-31 lead at the half. Fowler had 13 first-half points.
 
The freshman forward began the third by scoring give straight points, including another three-point play, but the Toreros answered and soon only trailed by one. It stayed close from there as USD's Madison Pollock connected from the baseline. Fowler did the same at the other end, and Andersen added a three-point play to help keep the Pilots in front.
 
The Toreros responded and would surge ahead as Pollock continued to knock down mid-range jumpers.
 
Trailing by four to begin the fourth, the Pilots tried to mount a run as Andrews opened the frame with a jumper. Minutes later, Fowler knocked one down from the baseline before adding a jumper in the lane that leveled the score at 54-54 with 4:00 left. Free throws pushed the Toreros back in front, but both teams cooled off offensively from there.
 
The Toreros then extended their lead to three points when Pollock converted down low, and a potential game-tying three at the other end was off for the Pilots. Two more free throws made the score 60-55, but Andersen kept the Pilots in the game with a driving lay-up.
 
Jordyn Edwards then provided a tough lay-in late in the shot clock, pushing their edge back to five points with just 21 seconds remaining. The Toreros kept it interesting in the closing seconds with a pair of missed foul shots, but the Pilots couldn't capitalize as San Diego held on for the win.
 
Fowler, who leads the conference in scoring, made 12 of 17 from the field en route to her 25 points. Andersen also scored in double-digits for Portland, finishing with 10.
 
Pollock led the Toreros with 22 points.
 
The Pilots next hit the road for a pair of WCC games, beginning with a trip to Moraga, Calif., to face the Saint Mary's Gaels on Thursday. Tip-off at McKeon Pavilion is set for 6 p.m.