Box Score
BOISE, Idaho --- The Boise State Broncos overcame 21 points from Portland junior Laiken Dollente to defeat the Pilots 68-59 in a non-conference women’s basketball game on Sunday afternoon at Taco Bell Arena. Sophomore Lauren Angel added 10 points for the Pilots.
After remaining close for most of the way, the Pilots (1-1) found themselves trailing by 13 late in the second half. With 3:38 remaining, BSU’s (2-0) Marisa Stotler gave the Broncos their biggest lead with a lay-up that made it 59-46.
But Portland didn’t falter and responded with a late 13-4 run in the closing minutes. Dollente scored nine points during the spurt, which was capped by a jumper from Angel that made it a 63-59 game with 49 ticks left on the clock.
From there, Boise State would make five free throws down the stretch and held on defensively to preserve the win.
Dollente hit three-three pointers and matched Stotler for a game high in points. Dollente has led Portland in scoring during both of its games this season after dropping 18 at Utah State on Friday.
Angel had six rebounds to go along with her 10 points. It’s her second straight game to reach double figures in scoring.
Sophomore Tara Cronin had another solid, all-around performance with seven points, seven rebounds and four assists. Freshman ReZina TecleMariam chipped in with eight points.
Stotler grabbed 12 rebound to record the double-double off of the bench. Tasha Harris had 19 points and Heather Pilcher scored 10 for the Broncos.
The Pilots, who were 10th in the nation in free throw accuracy last season, had an off day at the line, hitting 12 of 20 attempts. Overall, Portland shot 35.0 percent (21-for-60) from the floor and hit five three-pointers.
Boise State countered with 41.4 percent (25-for-60) shooting, hit two three-pointers and went 16-for-22 from the line.
The Broncos received a significant boost from their bench, outscoring the UP bench 39-13. Boise State also outrebounded Portland 46-37 and had 11 turnovers to UP’s 18.
After the teams went back-and-forth to begin the game, the Broncos opened a seven-point lead at 14-7 10 minutes in. The Pilots would hang around and eventually cut the lead down to one after Cronin drilled a three-pointer to make it 25-24. But BSU would score four of the final five points of the first half to take a 29-25 lead into the locker room.
The Pilots next head east for a game at Purdue on Thursday. Portland and the Boilermakers are set to play at 4:00 p.m. (PT) in West Lafayette, Ind. UP then moves on to the Hawkeye Challenge in Iowa City, Iowa, during the weekend. The Pilots play Providence on Saturday and either Iowa or Boston University on Sunday.
Portland doesn’t play its first game on The Bluff until Nov. 30, when the Pilots are set to play Sacramento State at the Chiles Center.
