PORTLAND, Ore.- The University of Portland women’s basketball team honored its only senior, Khalila O’Rielly-Williams tonight, but unfortunately, the ball bounced Gonzaga’s way and the Pilots dropped an 83-71 decision at the Chiles Center. It was the last regular-season home game for Portland and with the loss, the Pilots fall to 11-14 overall, 6-6 in the WCC. Gonzaga improves to 15-10 on the year and 8-4 in WCC play.

“We didn’t have the defensive energy and intensity that we needed from the start tonight and that made the difference in the game,” said Pilot head coach Jim Sollars. “That seven-minute stretch at the end of the first half was deadly for us and we never really recovered.”

The Pilots opened play with a Whitney Grant trey, followed by an O’Rielly-Williams floater in the lane, and a made free-throw for an early 6-2 lead. The Zags came back and tied the game with 16 minutes left, but another three-pointer by Grant put the Pilots ahead once again. The Zags made a 10-4 run for a three-point lead at 12:21 in the first, but Hanna Seltzer’s three-pointer with 11:38 on the clock tied the game at 16 each. But then Gonzaga pulled ahead at the seven-minute mark and never looked back. They opened a 13-point cushion as time winded down and headed into the lockerroom leading 44-31.

Although the Pilots out-rebounded the Zags 20-17 in the first half, Gonzaga shot 50 percent (16-32) from the floor, compared to Portland’s 33 percent (9-27). O’Rielly-Williams led Portland with nine points and five rebounds before the break, while Gonzaga’s Ashley Burke and Shannon Mathews tallied double-figures early on.

After the break Gonzaga managed to keep a double-digit lead, that at one point extended to 19 points. It seemed as though every time Portland scored, Gonzaga responded. The Pilots went to the line 31 times, but converted only 21 free-throws, while Gonzaga managed to shoot 80 percent (16-of-20) from the stripe. Portland made a great second-half effort and their shooting improved as the game went on, but a seven-minute lag late in the first half hindered any hopes of a comeback.

O’Rielly-Williams and Ashlee Orndorff combined for 19 second-half points for Portland, while Grant added eight points in the final period. Portland shot 50 percent (13-26) from the floor, but the Zags shot 60 percent (14-23) in the second half and out-rebounded the Pilots 36-29 for the game. Portland committed 17 turnovers in the game, giving up 22 points. The Zags also held the advantage on the block, scoring 30 points to Portland’s 18.

“Tonight was bittersweet for me,” said Khalila O’Rielly-Williams. “We were just on the wrong side of this one and if we can play consistently, we’ll improve and do well the rest of the season.”

“Khalila has done a great job for the past four years and has improved every year she’s played,” said Sollars. “She is consistency for us in our program.”

For the game, Portland’s lone senior, O’Rielly-Williams led the way with 19 points, six rebounds, and five steals. Grant added 16 points, knocking down three treys in the game, while Orndorff ended the night with nine points.

Five Zags scored double-figures in the game with Mathews totaling 21 points. Burkes followed with 19 points, while Raeanna Jewell scored 14 points. Ashley Anderson and Katy Ridenour tallied 13 and 11 points, respectively.

“We have to get ourselves focused, mentally prepared and ready to play every night,” said Sollars.

The Pilots wrap up the regular season with two games on the road. Portland travels to San Diego on Thurs., Feb. 26, and is at Santa Clara on Sat., Feb. 28. Both games are slated to tip-off at 7:00 p.m.