Laiken Dollente

Freshman Laiken Dollente becomes the first Pilot since 2002 to score 30 points

PORTLAND, Ore. --- Freshman guard Laiken Dollente scored 32 points as the Portland Pilots held off the Portland State Vikings 75-70 in a non-conference women’s basketball game Saturday afternoon at the Stott Center. Dollente is the first Portland player to score 30 points since 2002.

It’s the third straight win for the Pilots, who improve to 7-4 on the season. The Vikings drop to 2-6.

32 points are a season and career-high for Dollente, who scored a previous career-best 23 points in Portland’s win over Denver on Tuesday. She hit nine of 15 shots, including one for three from behind the three-point arc, and converted 13 of 17 free throws. The Yakima, Wash. native added three rebounds and three assists.

Fellow freshman Laura Thomas also had a big game for the Pilots, who were plagued by foul problems all game. Thomas matched a season and career-high with 18 points and just missed recording a double-double with nine rebounds.

Senior forward Anne Graner and sophomore forward Allyson Sievers both fouled out for the Pilots. Junior center Rachel Warren was whistled for four fouls and played only 20 minutes.

Graner finished with eights points, while freshman guard Kendra Morris chipped in with seven points.

Kailey Bostwick, who hit both of her three-point attempts, led the Vikings with 17 points. Kelsey Kahle scored 14 and Jenni Ritter finished with 10.

The Pilots raced out to a 21-point lead in the first half before Portland State climbed back after the break. Sievers gave Portland its first double-digit lead when she hit a jumper to make it 19-9 12 minutes in. Moments later, Morris scored on a break away lay up after sophomore forward Jennifer Wassom intercepted a Portland State pass. Morris’ hoop gave UP a commanding 26-10 lead.

Dollente then scored on a nifty lay-up and was fouled. She converted the free throw to give Portland its biggest lead at 39-18 with two minutes left in the first half. PSU ended the first period on a 9-2 spurt to climb within 14 (41-27) at the break.

The Vikings continued their run after the half and made it a five-point game with 10 minutes left. Kahle hit a lay-up to cut the Portland lead to 54-49. The Pilots then got hoops from Thomas and Dollente as the lead grew back to eight.

The persistent Vikings kept the game close and pulled within two points after a pair of free throws from Bostwick made the score 65-63 with 2:24 left on the clock. Sievers and Dollente followed with hoops for Portland before Dollente put the game on ice by making four free throws down the stretch.

The Pilots shot a season-high 51 percent from the field on 25 of 49 shooting. UP hit four of nine three-pointers and went 21 for 35 from the line. The Vikings shot 35 percent (20 for 57) from the floor, hit six of 16 three-pointers and were 24 for 35 from the charity stripe.

Portland dominated the paint outscoring PSU 38-24 in the lane. UP outrebounded the Vikings 40-32.

Khalila O’Rielly-Williams was the last UP women’s basketball player to score 30 points when she put up 35 against Idaho on Feb. 7, 2002.

The Pilots now have a week off for final exams and return to action on the road against Sacramento State on Dec. 17.