PORTLAND, Ore.  – The San Diego women's basketball program (6-6, 0-1 WCC) nearly completed a comeback from double digits, but ultimately fell, 84-81, to Portland (7-5, 1-0 WCC) on Saturday night at the Chiles Center.
 
Portland native Laura Erikstrup and Ayanna Khalfani each tallied 14 points to lead the offense, while Kylie Horstmeyer added 12 points.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The two sides opened up the game with some hot shooting that never cooled down, with San Diego and Portland shooting over 40 percent in each quarter.
• Erikstrup got the Toreros off to a strong start, with four of the first 10 points for a 10-5 advantage.
• However, the Pilots responded and took a 21-18 lead through the first quarter.
• While Kasey Neubert found her shot in the second, the Pilots increased their advantage to as high as 10 points in the period.
• Neubert recorded six points and two rebounds, but Portland hit two three pointers to pull ahead by nine at halftime.
• San Diego began to mount a comeback in the third quarter, starting on an 8-2 run. Erikstrup had six of those points and the Toreros cut the lead to three with 6:54 remaining.
• Portland was able to take an 11-point lead with just under eight minutes left in the game, but the Toreros would not go away.
• An 8-0 run to make it 67-64, led by six points from Khalfani, got the Toreros right back in the game.
• Needing a response after the Portland lead grew to 80-73, Myah Pace had an answer, starting with a pair of free throws and then a critical jumper with 23 seconds left to cut the Portland lead to 80-78.
• Down four with six seconds remaining, Kiera Oakry hit a three pointer to give the Toreros a chance at 82-81.
• However, two Portland free throws went down and a buzzer beating attempt from Khalfani rimmed out as the Pilots secured the win.

 
TORERO TIDBITS

• The 27-point fourth quarter by the Toreros was the highest scoring quarter of the season and the most since the WNIT game against New Mexico last season.
• The Toreros finished with their highest scoring output of the season and highest field goal percentage (.554).
• Horstmeyer continued her recent success against the Pilots and has averaged 14.0 points per game over her last two games against Portland.
• Erikstrup and Harsimran Kaur each made the first start of their San Diego careers.

 
UP NEXT
The Toreros will continue conference action on Monday, making the short trip to Spokane, Wash., to face No. 23 Gonzaga at 6 p.m. The game will be streamed via the WCC Network.