MORAGA, Calif. --- Portland's Alex Fowler and Haylee Andrews both scored 18 points, Emme Shearer added a career-best 16 points, and the Pilots held on in the closing seconds to prevail 69-68 over the Saint Mary's Gaels in a West Coast Conference game on Thursday afternoon at UCU Pavilion. The win gives the Pilots a two-game season sweep over the Gaels.
 
Andrews just missed a double-double, handing out nine assists to help the Pilots improve to 8-6 overall and to 5-3 in the WCC. The Pilots snap the Gaels' three-game winning streak, and they drop to 5-11 overall and 3-7 in the conference.
 
After the Pilots had built a lead as large as 14 points in the third quarter, the Gaels came storming back to climb within four heading to the final frame. Andrews opened the fourth with a clutch and-one after getting fouled while making a lay-in. Moments later the Pilots still led by six after Fowler and Shearer converted back-to-back buckets, but Saint Mary's refused to go away.
 
With 3:45 remaining the Gaels cut the deficit to just two points when Jade Kirisome scored on a lay-up. From there the Pilots combined to make just two of four opportunities at the free throw line, and after big-time three-point play by Taycee Wedin, Portland's edge was down to 67-66 with 2:18 showing on the clock.
 
The two teams then exchanged misses from the field, and with just under a minute left to play, Shearer gained possession at the elbow, drove down the lane, made a spin move, and finished with a clutch lay-up to give the Pilots a three-point lead. The Gaels responded with a bucket at the other end before forcing a Portland turnover, meaning Saint Mary's had the game's final possession.
 
In the closing seconds, the Pilots forced a miss by Brianna Simonich, and the visitors held on for the victory as the clock ran out.
 
Andrews, Fowler, and Shearer each shot better than 50 percent for the game, and Fowler also had six boards and four steals. The Pilots combined for a 47 percent shooting percentage overall and they out-rebounded the Gaels 34-29.
 
Madeline Holland led Saint Mary's with 18 points.
 
The Pilots fell behind to begin the first quarter, but they quickly surged in front, courtesy an 11-2 run. Fowler had a traditional three-point play during the surge, and Rose Pflug capped the run with a corner three to made it a 21-18 game going to the second period. Twice the Pilots led by five in the second, with the help of a lay-in from Lauren Walker and consecutive field goals by Andrews. Portland led 31-28 at the break.
 
The Pilots captured some momentum in the third quarter, jumping ahead by 14 when Keeley Frawley buried a three-pointer from the right corner. The lead stayed in double figures as both Andrews and Fowler continued to click offensively and the Pilots repeatedly created SMC turnovers, but the Gaels used a 12-4 run to climb back into the game and set up the dramatic final 10 minutes.
 
The Pilots next make the trek to Stockon, Calif., to face the Pacific Tigers in another West Coast Conference contest on Saturday. Tip-off at the Alex G. Spanos Center is scheduled for 12 p.m.