LAS VEGAS, Nev. --- Portland freshman Alex Fowler poured in 27 points, sophomore Haylee Andrews added 16, and the Pilots held off the Pacific Tigers to win 76-69 in the quarterfinals of the West Coast Conference Championships at the Orleans Arena on Saturday. The win sends the Pilots to Monday's semifinals, where they'll face the top-seeded Gonzaga Bulldogs.
 
The Pilots, who entered the game as the WCC's No. 4 seed, improve to 19-11 overall, giving the program their most wins in a season since 1997-98. It's also Portland's first trip to the conference semi's since 2011.
 
Saturday's game was close throughout the first half as neither team was able to create much separation. That changed in the second half as Fowler continued to haunt the Tigers in the post. When she scored down low after Andrews had gathered an offensive rebound, the Pilots had a 10-point lead. Moments later, Andrews took the ball to the hoop and finished with a left-handed lay-up to push Portland's edge to 12 points.
 
Towards the end of the third quarter, Jayce Gorzeman provided a three-point play to make it a 58-44 game heading to the final frame.
 
The Pilots cooled off from the field in the fourth, as they missed their first six shots, allowing the Tigers to climb within five points. Fowler ended the scoring drought with a baseline jumper to extend Portland's edge to 60-53. Keeley Frawley then drained a clutch three-pointer with five minutes remaining, and Portland's lead had grown back to double digits.
 
Pacific refused to go away, and when Valerie Higgins hit a pair of free throws, the Tigers were back within five with 2:58 showing on the clock.
 
But the Pilots turned to Andrews, and she provided an answer with a left-handed lay-in. And after a few misses by the Tigers, Pacific was forced to foul as they tried to extend the game. Portland then shot 9-for-10 from the line in the closing minutes to seal the win.
 
Fowler, who is the league's leading scorer and was voted the WCC's Newcomer of the Year, was on fire from the opening tip. She shot 10 of 17 overall, connected on seven of eight free throws, and corralled a team-high eight rebounds.
 
Andrews added seven boards and six assists to go along with her 16 points, and senior Kate Andersen chipped in with 12 points, going a perfect 6-for-6 from the foul line. The Pilots were 27 of 30 overall from the stripe.
 
Gorzeman provided useful minutes off the bench, scoring a season-high nine points.
 
Higgins scored 21 points for Pacific (17-14), who was the five-seed at the tourney and defeated Santa Clara in the second round on Friday.
 
The Tigers missed their first 10 shots of the game, allowing the Pilots to jump out to an eight-point lead. Pacific then used a 10-0 run at the end of the first quarter to surge in front, and they continued their outburst into the second. Fowler finally ended the run with a three-point play, and Andrews added a lay-up to hand the lead back to the Pilots. From there it was back-and-forth, and the Pilots were ahead 41-36 at the break. Fowler already had 16 points at halftime.
 
Tip-off for the Portland-Gonzaga game on Monday is set for 12 p.m. The 11th-ranked Zags defeated the Pilots twice this season, both times overcoming a half-time deficit.