PORTLAND, Ore. - The Portland Pilots led for most of the game before Portland State took control in the second half and went on to win 66-56 in a non-conference women’s basketball game Sunday afternoon at the Chiles Center. It was the home-opener for the Pilots who drop to 0-2 on the season. The Vikings start the season at 2-0.
Portland sophomore Meagan Bermingham led the way with 18 points. Senior point guard Whitney Grant chipped in with 11 points, while junior center Rachel Warren had 13 rebounds, her second straight game with double-figures in boards.
Center Brianna Thompson scored a game-high 20 points for the Vikings, while also grabbing 13 rebounds. Guard Heather Arns also posted a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds.
The Pilots were again plagued by turnovers as they totaled 30 for the game, after losing the ball 27 times in a loss to Idaho on Friday. The Vikings turned those turnovers into 15 points.
"We have to play harder and smarter," head coach Jim Sollars said. "We have to understand how precious that basketball is and if we don’t take care of the basketball, we won’t win games."
Portland led almost the entire first half that was marred by turnovers by both teams. UP racked up 16 to the Vikings 13. Bermingham had the hot hand for the Pilots as she had 10 points at the break helping Portland to a 29-23 lead.
The lead exchanged hands several times in the second half and 11 times for the game. The Vikings led 51-46 with 5:34 to play when Bermingham and Grant hit back-to-back three-pointers giving the Pilots the lead at 52-51. The Vikings regained the lead with a three from Thompson, but UP quickly tied it at 54-54 on a jumper from Bermingham.
It was all Portland State after that as the Vikings ended the game on a 12-2 run. Senior guard Sharon Wahinekapu scored six of the Vikings’ points during the run and finished with 10 points.
Portland shot 34.5 per-cent (20-58) from the field while Portland State hit 37.5 per-cent (24-64) of its shots. PSU outrebounded UP 43-40 and outscored the Pilots 23-18 in the paint. Portland scored 10 points off of 27 Viking turnovers.
Bermingham finished the day going 7-12 from the field and 3-6 on her three-pointers.
Portland stays at home for another non-conference game against the Oregon Ducks on Tuesday, Nov. 22, with tip-off slated for 7 p.m.
Portland State vs Portland
11/20/05 2:00 PM at Portland, Ore. (Chiles Center)
At Portland, Ore. (Chiles Center)
PORTLAND STATE 66, PORTLAND 56
PORTLAND STATE (2-0)
Thompson, Brianna 8-16 3-4 20; Arns, Heather 6-13 0-0 12; Wahinekapu, Sharon
2-5 6-6 10; Kahle, Kelsey 2-12 4-6 8; Ritter, Jenni 3-8 0-0 8; Conway,
Delaney 3-6 1-3 7; Bellotti, Keri 0-3 1-2 1; Bostwick, Kailey 0-1 0-0 0;
Garski, Marci 0-0 0-1 0. Totals 24-64 15-22 66.
PORTLAND (0-2)
BERMINGHAM, Meagan 7-12 1-2 18; GRANT, Whitney 4-17 2-2 11; GRANER, Anne 3-8
2-3 8; WASSOM, Jennifer 3-6 0-0 7; WARREN, Rachel 2-7 2-2 6; SIEVERS,
Allyson 1-4 3-5 5; KOEBEL, Carly 0-1 1-2 1; BURRIS, Karlie 0-0 0-0 0;
STRATTON, Rachel 0-1 0-0 0; SAUER, Rose 0-2 0-0 0; AFA'ESE, Amanda 0-0 0-0
0. Totals 20-58 11-16 56.
Portland State................ 23 43 - 66
Portland...................... 29 27 - 56
3-point goals-Portland State 3-8 (Ritter, Jenni 2-4; Thompson, Brianna 1-1;
Bellotti, Keri 0-1; Arns, Heather 0-2), Portland 5-19 (BERMINGHAM, Meagan
3-6; GRANT, Whitney 1-8; WASSOM, Jennifer 1-2; GRANER, Anne 0-3). Fouled
out--Portland State-None, Portland-None. Rebounds-Portland State 43
(Thompson, Brianna 13), Portland 40 (WARREN, Rachel 13). Assists-Portland
State 17 (Thompson, Brianna 6), Portland 12 (GRANT, Whitney 4). Total
fouls-Portland State 19, Portland 20.
