The Portland Fire held their own against the Las Vegas Aces through the first half, but the reigning champs pulled away after the break to take a 105-89 win Thursday night at Moda Center.
Brandi Carleton hit a short fadeaway shot in the lane, followed by a 3-pointer on her next trip down the floor to put Portland up 28-24 late in the first quarter. Sarah Ashlee Barker hit a layup, followed by a triple of her own for a 42-36 lead midway through the second quarter.
But Las Vegas finished the first half on a six-point surge to take a 56-50 lead into the locker room.
The Aces would stay a step ahead the rest of the way.
Aja Wilson hit a 3-pointer and four minutes into the second half Las Vegas was pulling away with a 16-point lead.
Portland made one last run at it when Carla Leite swiped a steal that set up Barker for a layup to bring the Fire within four points early in the fourth quarter. But the next seven points went to the Aces and the margin was back to double digits.
Wilson finished with a game-high 32 points, while Vegas teammate Chelsea Gray went 9-for-13 from 3-point range to add 29 points. Her nine makes from distance were a career high.
Leite led the Fire with 18 points.
Portland (6-8) hosts Dallas (8-4) at the Moda Center at 5:30 p.m. Saturday. The Fire are on a four-game losing skid.