STOCKTON, Calif. --- It was a back-and-forth game all day long and Portland's Kate Andersen poured in a career-high 32 points, but Pacific made enough buckets in the closing minutes and recorded some key stops to edge the Pilots 77-70 in a West Coast Conference women's basketball game played on Saturday afternoon at the Spanos Center. Andersen becomes the second Pilot this season to score at least 30 points, joining Alex Fowler who netted 35 points at Santa Clara.
 
It was the Pilots who led by one at the half, but Pacific refused to go away as the two teams exchanged field goals throughout the third quarter. With about three minutes left in the period, Andersen knocked down a three-pointer, and Lauren Walker hit a jumper to make the score 48-44 in Portland's favor. The Tigers answered by tying the score once again, but that's when Fowler came alive on offense and scored 10 straight points for the Pilots.
 
Fowler's streak stretched into the fourth quarter, and when she scored on a lay-up early in the frame, the Pilots held a five-point advantage. The lead was still five after Andersen converted a pair from the free throw line a few minutes later, but as was the case all game the Tigers refused to go away.
 
Sofie Tryggedsson provided the big bucket for the home team when she drained a game-tying three, and Valerie Higgins gave the lead back to the Tigers with a lay-in that made it 62-60. Then it was the Pilots who provided a response, and with 2:53 left Portland led 68-66 when Andersen banked one in.
 
From there the Tigers out-scored the Pilots 11-2 the rest of the way, getting key field goals from Higgins and Brooklyn McDavid. Portland was still within two when Haylee Andrews connected on two foul shots with 55 seconds showing on the clock, but McDavid followed with a lay-in, and the Pacific defense forced a handful of Portland misses down the stretch to hold on for the win.
 
Andersen was an impressive 11-for-14 from the field, and she easily surpassed her previous career-high in points, which was 24 at Pepperdine a little more than two years ago.
 
Fowler overcame a slow start and foul trouble to finish with 16 points, and Andrews recorded eight points, six rebounds, and six assists.
 
Higgins had 28 for the Tigers.
 
After struggling on offense during the opening quarter, Portland trailed by nine points going to the second, but a put-back by Keeley Frawley on an offensive rebound sparked a run for the Pilots. Andrews found Andersen for a lay-up during the surge, and Andersen collected a three-point play to pull the Pilots within three.
 
Fowler then got the board with a lay-up, and when Jayce Gorzeman followed a Pacific bucket by burying a three-pointer the comeback was complete as the Pilots pulled even with the Tigers. A lay-in from Higgins momentarily pushed Pacific back in front, but Andersen answered with back-to-back buckets to give the Pilots their first lead of the game at 28-26.
 
Andersen had 16 first-half points to help Portland take a slight 32-31 edge into the break.
 
The Pilots and Tigers now have identical overall and WCC records at 14-10 and 7-6, respectively.
 
The Pilots now return home to the Rose City to host the Santa Clara Broncos on Thursday night. Tip-off at the Chiles Center is set for 7 p.m.