PORTLAND, Ore. -- Kaitlin Mathewson hit a layup on Lewis & Clark's first possession of the second half to extend the Pioneers five-point halftime lead to seven. After that basket, though, the Pios made only 7 of their next 31 shots, opening the door for a comeback by the Willamette Bearcats in a 64-57 loss on Saturday night at Pamplin Sports Center.

The loss is Lewis & Clark's third straight and their ninth overall when having a halftime lead. Lewis & Clark has been held to single-digit scoring in at least one of the second half quarters in their last three games, including nine points in Saturday's third period.

Following a 5 of 8 performance in the first half, Miyah Leith went 1 of 7 over the third and fourth quarters, finishing with a team-high 18 points. Mathewson ended the night with a double-double, scoring 10 points and hauling in a game-best 11 rebounds. Cianna Ochoco had the team's best shooting night, putting in 4 of 7, with three of her made baskets from 3-point range, for 11 points.

"We did a pretty good job in the first half. We played our hearts out," said Ochoco. "There's just these three to five minutes where we have mental collapses."

The Pios fell behind early 11-6 halfway through the first quarter, but used a pair of Kelley Koeppen scores, layups from Sara Hogman and Leith and an Alyx Crager 3-pointer to end the quarter up 15-14.

Their momentum carried into the second quarter when Ochoco's 3-point shot and three consecutive layups, two by Leith and one from Ayisat Afolabi, gave the Pioneers nine of the period's first 11 points. Leith and Ochoco each made an additional three in the quarter's final five minutes, helping Lewis & Clark to a 34-29 halftime lead.

Willamette (11-6; 3-5 Northwest Conference) started its comeback with layups from Alex Wert and Mary Eckenrode in a slow-starting third quarter. Following Mathewson's score to open the quarter, Lewis & Clark was held without a field goal until there was 4:29 remaining in the period, an over-five minute drought. Meanwhile, the Bearcats were slashing through the Pios' defense, as lay-ins by Madi Andresen, Whitney Anderson and Wert brought Willamette within one, 41-10, with 1:03 left. Natalie Kelly's jumper before the end of the quarter moved the Pios up three entering the fourth.

In the final quarter, Willamette scored three times in the first minute, giving the Bearcats their first lead since the 1:41 mark of the opening period. Willamette went on to outscore the Pios 24-14 in the quarter to close out the win.

Willamette got 19 points from Anderson, while Marisa Hamilton contributed 11 points off the bench. The Bearcats held a 20-11 advantage in bench scoring and a 45-37 edge in rebounding.

Despite the loss, Ochoco said it was nice to be playing at home after a lengthy time away. Aside from a game against George Fox on Jan. 8, the Pioneers had only played in Portland once since Nov. 24. Lewis & Clark (2-15; 1-7 NWC) hosts Whitman on Friday and Whitworth on Jan. 30.

"We are a much better team than we were back at the 'Whits,' but I'm sure they are too," said Ochoco. "We have to bring our A-game and play a full 40 minutes."

The Pios lost 67-42 in the first meeting with Whitworth the day after Ochoco's last-second shot missed in a 61-60 loss at Whitman.

Other Northwest Conference Scores - Saturday

Puget Sound 87, Whitworth 69
Linfield 59, Pacific 53
Whitman 76, Pacific Lutheran 53