Laiken Dollente

PORTLAND, Ore. --- Portland sophomore Laiken Dollente scored a game-high 21 points to help lead the Pilots to a 78-74 non-conference win over the Oregon Ducks at the Chiles Center on Sunday. Dollente, who is shooting 90 percent from the charity stripe this season, shot 13-for-14 from the free throw line for the second straight game.

As a team, Portland missed just one free throw (21-for-22) and improves its record to 6-2 this season. Oregon, which was hampered by 27 turnovers, drops to 4-3. The Pilots scored 28 points off of UO’s miscues, while the Ducks converted 13 UP turnovers into 14 points.

Dollente led four Pilots in double figures. Junior Allyson Sievers finished with 12 points, while senior Rachel Warren and sophomore Laura Thomas each scored 10.

Thomas just missed the double-double with nine boards, five of which were offensive. Junior Karlie Burris handed out a game-high six assists as the Pilots finished with 20 assists on 26 field goals.

Taylor Lilley led Oregon with 19 points, Ellyce Ironmonger netted 18 and Victoria Kenyon scored 10. The Ducks outrebounded the Pilots 43-26, led by Ironmonger’s game-high 14 boards.

Five minutes into the game, Oregon led 11-10 before the Pilots went off on a 22-6 run to take a 15-point lead, UP’s biggest of the afternoon. Junior Meagan Bermingham and Burris each drilled a three during the run.

The Ducks closed the half with an 11-2 run as Portland took a 34-28 lead into the break.

In the second half, Oregon closed the deficit down to one twice, before Portland regained some breathing room. With Portland nursing a slim lead with nine minutes left, Thomas made a steal at half court before racing the other way for an uncontested lay-up to make it 58-51 in UP’s favor.

Oregon would climb within two with 6:00 left, but Portland got timely three-pointers from Dollente and sophomore Kendra Morris and hit 13 of 14 free throws down the stretch to seal the win.

The Pilots shot 42.6 percent (26-for-61) for the game and hit five of 15 three-pointers. Oregon shot a shade under 50 percent, connecting on 29 of 59 field goals. The Ducks were five of 13 from three-point range and hit 11 of 15 free throws.

The Pilots, who are 4-1 on their current seven-game homestand, next host the Montana Lady Grizz at the Chiles Center on Wednesday at 7:00 p.m.