PORTLAND - It was another slow start for Oregon and this deficit turned out to be just a bit too much to overcome.

Portland built a 15-point lead in the first half and held off a couple of Oregon rallies to defeat the Ducks 78-74 in a nonconference women's basketball game in front of 256 Sunday afternoon at the Chiles Center.

Oregon got within one point on three occasions in the middle of the second half but could never move into the lead.

"I was really happy how we kept fighting, we kept going and going and going and that was good to see," said freshman center Ellyce Ironmonger, who had 18 points and 14 rebounds. "It is just disappointing to see that when we can do things, we just don't start the game that way."

That has become a trend as Oregon (4-3) has scored more points in the second half than the first in each of its past four contests. The Ducks trailed 34-28 at halftime before scoring 46 points in the second half.

"It's a young team that has to learn the first half is very important," Oregon coach Bev Smith said. "The first four minutes are very important to keep the tempo of the game and control of the game in your hands and I think we weren't as aggressive as we needed to be against their pressure in the first 10 minutes and we dug a hole for us."

Portland's pressure contributed to 27 Oregon turnovers.

"We started off slow and the turnovers really killed us in the end," said sophomore guard Taylor Lilley, who scored a team-high 19 points. "The good thing is we fought back and we almost had them but we didn't win the game. The beginning of the game is what hurt us in the end."

Oregon last got within one point at 50-49 when Victoria Kenyon made two free throws with 10:27 left in the game, but Portland's Kendra Morris answered with a three-pointer and Oregon got no closer than two points the rest of the way.

"In the second half, we have an opportunity to make a stop down by one and if we make the stop we have a chance to take the lead and we just can't get that defensive rebound," Smith said. "That discipline consistently across the board really hurts us because usually when we score 74 points, we win."

Portland (6-2) finished with 13 turnovers after committing at least 19 turnovers in each of its first seven games.

"That's the first time we've taken care of the ball all season long," Portland coach Jim Sollars said. "We've been a turnover waiting to happen, but we did a little better job."

Oregon closed within 58-56 when Lilley made a three-pointer with 6:17 left in the game but Portland scored on seven of eight possessions to go ahead 71-63 with 1:52 remaining in the game.

Oregon trailed 75-72 following a driving basket by Tamika Nurse with 25 seconds left and then Morris made two free throws. Micaela Cocks scored with 12 seconds remaining to cut the lead to 77-74 before Laiken Dollente sealed the game with a free throw.

"What it comes down to is Portland did a great job weathering our storms," said Oregon guard Kaela Chapdelaine, who had nine points and five assists. "We did fight and we came within one and had that grit but getting over the hump is where our focus needs to be."

Dollente scored a game-high 21 points for Portland.