PORTLAND, Ore. --- After falling behind San Francisco by 10 in the fourth quarter, the Portland Pilots nearly climbed all the way back and had a chance to tie the game at the buzzer, but the desperation three-pointer was off, and the Dons prevailed 74-71 in a West Coast Conference women's basketball game played on Sunday evening at the Chiles Center. The game was originally scheduled for Saturday, but was postponed due to wintery weather in the Portland area.
 
Haylee Andrews was huge for the Pilots (10-9. 7-6 WCC) in the second half when she scored 15 of her 19 points. Maddie Muhlheim also had a solid game, finishing with 12 points in her second game back since returning from injury.
 
Emme Shearer also continued her stellar freshman campaign, and it was her three-pointer that helped spark Portland's late rally after the Dons had built a 66-56 advantage with 4:24 left. Andrews followed with four straight points, and the rally was on.
 
The Dons did push their edge back to seven points, but that's when Keeley Frawley buried a three-pointer to cut into the deficit. Andrews then followed a San Francisco free throw with a lay-up, and when Muhlheim answered a Don bucket with a clutch three-pointer, Portland was within two with 16 seconds showing on the clock.
 
Portland was forced to foul from there, but the Dons were only able to convert one of two at the line to set up a final chance for the Pilots, who were down three with just under 10 seconds left. Out of timeouts, the Pilots couldn't advance the ball, and their last second attempt from near mid-court was off the mark.
 
Shearer scored in double digits for the fifth time this year, finishing with 11 points. Frawley also added 11 points for the Pilots.
 
The Dons (12-9, 8-7 WCC), who shot 50 percent for the game, were led by Amalie Langer with 21 points.
 
Both teams opened the game red hot from the field, and Muhlheim and Kelsey Lenzie each connected on three's in the first quarter to help Portland surge in front 12-4. The Dons would then embark on a run that stretched to 15-3, and they led 20-17 going to the second quarter.
 
Alex Fowler opened the second with an and-one, and Liana Kaitu'u followed with a lay-up to put the Pilots back in front. The two teams exchanged buckets from there before the Dons suffered through a scoring drought that reached nearly five minutes. Frawley drained a three-pointer late in the half, and Portland was on top 36-30 at the break.
 
A Muhlheim three gave the Pilots their biggest lead at 39-30 in the third quarter, but the Dons responded with an 11-2 outburst to tie the score. It was back-and-forth from there, and San Francisco took a five-point edged to the final frame.
 
The Pilots next head on the road for a pair of WCC games later this week, beginning with a trip to San Diego, Calif., to play the San Diego Toreros on Thursday. Tip-off at the Jenny Craig Pavilion is scheduled for 6 p.m.