SAN DIEGO, Calif. â€" The USD women's basketball team (9-5, 2-1) knocked off Portland 59-52 Thursday evening inside the Jenny Craig Pavilion. It was a back and fourth game that featured 15 lead changes and nine ties, but the Toreros took the lead midway through the fourth quarter and then played lockdown defense to secure their second WCC win of the season.

Maya Hood led the Toreros with 17 points and a game-high seven rebounds. Aubrey Ward-El had 15 points, going 8-for-8 from the line. Sydney Williams chipped in 10 points as well.

The Pilots scored the first five points of the game, but then the Toreros scored the next six. After that, neither team led by more than three points for the remainder of the first half.

Aubrey Ward-El hit a jumper with just under two minutes in the third quarter to put USD up 40-37. The Pilots then closed out the quarter on a 7-0 run to give Portland a 44-40 lead entering the fourth quarter.

The Toreros responded with 5-0 run to retake the lead at 45-44 to start the fourth quarter. After the Pilots took a 48-45 lead, the Toreros went on a 7-0 run, highlighted by a Sydney Williams three, to put USD up 52-48 with three minutes left. The Toreros wouldn't trail again.

The Toreros then went cold from the field, but turned up their defense, forcing five turnovers in the final five minutes. Aubrey Ward-El went 6-for-6 from the free-throw line in the final minute to seal the victory for the Toreros.

The Toreros return to action on Saturday when they host Saint Mary's at 2:00 p.m.