Portland, OR - Portland opens its first practice of the 2002-2003 season Tuesday, October 15 at 1:30 p.m. in the Chiles Center. Portland returns two starters, seven letterwinners and adds seven newcomers to its roster in 2002-2003. The 2001-02 team recorded a 13-15 overall record, 5-9 in WCC play. The past three seasons UP’s top player has gone down early on with an ACL injury, forcing the program to call upon less experienced players. This season Portland has seniors Ashlee Giles and Erica Moldenhauer returning after making full recoveries, along with 2001-02 honorable-mention all-WCC selection Khalila O’Rielly-Williams. Jim Sollars embarks on his 26th season overall and his 17th season as Portland's head coach with a 417-302 (.580) career record. The Pilots are picked to finish eighth in the 2002-03 WCC women’s basketball preseason poll.
Khalila O’Rielly-Williams, a 2001-02 honorable-mention all-WCC selection, led the team last season in scoring (14.5 ppg) and rebounding (7.0 rpg). She started in 25 of the 28 games and was among the WCC statistical leaders in six out of the 12 (50 percent) categories. Ashley Giles, Portland’s biggest defensive threat, is back for her senior season and will split time between the guard and small forward positions. She started and played in 15 games before going down with an ACL injury last season. Giles averaged 13.3 points per game, 4.2 rebounds per game, 3.5 assists per game and 3.3 steals per game in 2001-2002. Erica Moldenhauer went down with an ACL injury last season and saw time in just eight games. After making a full recovery, she will see time at the guard position this season. Hanna Seltzer stepped in as a freshman last season, seeing time in 28 games with one start. Seltzer averaged 22.8 minutes per game, 5.3 points per game and 2.3 rebounds per game in 2001-2002.
Jamie Medley, a 5-11 sophomore guard from Gaston, OR, averaged 13.5 minutes per game in 28 games played last season. Amy Botto was a big physical presence for the Pilots last season. She added the extra depth and speed to Portland’s system and can swing between the wing and small forward positions. Junior Cecily-O’Rielly-Williams is ready to play in 2002-2003 after sitting out last season due to NCAA transfer rules. Transfer Ashley Orndorff will sit out this season and will return to the court in 2003-2004. She led Nevada-Reno in free-throw percentage (.881) and rebounds per game (10.5) in 2001. During high school, Orndorff was ranked in scouting services as one of the top 30 players in the nation and was named a USA Today honorable mention all-American in 1999 and was the USA Today Nevada Player of the Year in 1998.
Portland will have seven newcomers on this year's team. The Pilots inked Rachel Byers, a 6-2 Center from Beaverton, OR; Michaela Dalgleish, a 5-11 guard from Oxenford, Australia; Shonda Graham, a 5-11 forward from Colorado Springs, CO; Whitney Grant, a 5-6 guard from South Medford, OR; Ashley Orndorff, a 6-2 guard from Hawthorne, NV; Kacy Owens, a 6-1 center from Colorado Springs, CO and Rose Sauer, a 5-11 forward from Newport, WA.
Portland's newcomers tallied many awards and accolades in their high school careers and look for continued success at the college level. Byers was a McDonald’s all-American nominee in 2002, a 2002 first-team all-Metro League and 2002 second-team all-state selection. Dalgleish was a 2002 ABA Northern Conference team MVP and was ranked No. 5 overall in the ABA. Graham was a three-time all-Metro league selection and an honorable-mention Denver Post and Rocky Mountain all-league pick. Grant was a three-time Southern Oregon all-conference pick, a 2002 second-team all-state tourney team selection and all-state pick, and a Wendy’s High School Heisman semi-finalist. Owens was a three-time, first-team 5A all-league pick and a three-time, first-team all-academic selection. Sauer was a three time, first-team Great Northern all-league selection and a two time 2A all-state pick.
“The kids have returned in good shape and everyone is anxious to get on the court on Tuesday,” says Head Coach Jim Sollars. “As always, it will take a lot of work and effort to maintain and improve upon our seasons of past, but that is our intention. We have a really tough start, opening our season at Montana State and Montana. Then, we are back at home with Oregon State, Tulane and Pacific, and then on the road facing Oregon. All of those teams have made it post-season play and we’ll use the non-conference part of our schedule to get us ready for WCC play. We are definitely looking forward to getting started.”
The Pilots' first practice will be on Tuesday from 1:30-4:00 p.m. in the Chiles Center. For regular scheduled practice times, please contact Julie Lapomarda. All practices are open to the public and to the media. Portland plays the first of two exhibition games on Thurs., Nov. 14 at 7:00 p.m. in the Chiles Center. The Pilots open their regular season on the road against Montana State on Fri., Nov. 22, at 7:00 p.m.
Please Note: Portland women's basketball practices are open to the media and public. To set up interviews for after practice with Head Coach Jim Sollars or Pilot players, please contact Julie Lapomarda of the sports information office.
