PORTLAND, Ore. — An up-and-down contest Sunday that featured 11 lead changes landed right-side up for the University of San Francisco women's basketball team, as the Dons surged ahead of host Portland in the third quarter and held on for an exciting, 74-71, win at the Chiles Center.
 
Redshirt sophomore point guard Amalie Langer led the Dons' (12-9, 8-7 West Coast Conference) second-half surge. She scored a game and career-high 21 points including three 3-pointers, while dishing five assists. She scored eight points in the third quarter alone, while scoring or assisting on four different baskets that tied the game or gave USF the lead.
 
"Amalie Langer was fantastic on both ends of the floor," said San Francisco head coach Molly Goodenbour. "Jess(ica McDowell-White) pushed the ball up the floor and found open teammates. They played really well together and I'm very proud and happy for both of them."
 
The Dons never trailed in the fourth quarter, expanding their lead over Portland (10-9, 7-6 WCC) to as many as 10 points with free throws from Langer at the 4 minutes, 24 seconds mark. But the defending WCC Tournament champions weren't yet finished on their own home floor.
 
Portland scored eight points in the game's final 60 seconds, including two 3-pointers. Ioanna Krimili, who scored 16 points on 6-for-12 shooting, put in a clutch layup with 23 seconds to play, pushing the Dons' lead to five. After the Pilots' second 3-pointer, Lucie Hoskova tallied a free throw to make it a three-point contest. Maddie Mulheim's last-second game-tying 3-point attempt went errant at the buzzer and the Dons preserved the victory.
 
"It was a great team win," said Goodenbour. "I thought we came out in the second half with a lot of resolve. Made shots when we needed to, shared the ball and played really sound defense for the most part."

The Dons shot 50.0% as a team (29 for 58), including 47.4% from 3-point range. Krimili's 16 points included four treys, moving her into solo possesion of third place all-time for 3-pointers in a single season at USF. She now has 72, just three behind Shay Rollins' 75 in 2007-08. The Dons also blocked five shots.

San Francisco will play its final three regular season games at home, starting with Santa Clara on Saturday. Fans can find all live coverage links at USFDons.com.