Box Score
MORAGA, Calif. --- Portland sophomore Lauren Angel hit the game-winning shot as time expired to give the Pilots a dramatic 64-63 win over the Saint Mary’s Gaels in a West Coast Conference Women’s basketball game Saturday afternoon at McKeon Pavilion. The Pilots rushed the floor to celebrate the victory after Angel’s shot just beat the final buzzer.
“I was a little broken before I hit that shot, but now I’m feeling pretty good,” said Angel, who hit just two field goals on the day. “I didn’t even know it went in until all my teammates tackled me.”
The game was back-and-forth with neither team able to gain much of an advantage. After UP freshman Alexis Gannis had tied the game at 62-62 on a lay-up with 26 seconds remaining, the Pilots were whistled for a foul at the other end, sending SMC’s Louella Tomlinson to the line for two shots with 15 seconds left.
Tomlinson, the Gaels’ leading scorer, hit the first free throw, but missed the second. Angel grabbed the rebound and called timeout.
When action resumed, the Gaels tipped an attempted Portland pass out of bounds, setting up the final play with two ticks on the clock. With the Gaels defense focused on UP junior Laiken Dollente, Angel found herself wide open on the right wing. Senior Karlie Burris then found the open Angel, who calmly knocked down the jumper.
“I was open so I shot it,” Angel said. “We’re 4-0 on the road in the WCC and everybody’s on the same page, which is good. Now we need to get ready for Gonzaga next weekend.”
The Pilots have won all four of their conference road games this season and improve to 12-10 overall and to 5-2 in the WCC. The win, coupled with LMU’s loss at home to San Francisco on Saturday, moves Portland into sole possession of second place in the conference. The Pilots also match their conference win total from last season, when UP went 5-9 in the WCC.
The win improves upon UP’s best start to a conference schedule since 1996-97, when the Pilots opened league play a perfect 7-0.
Portland’s win against the Gaels sets up a WCC showdown next weekend in Spokane, Wash., as the Pilots will go for their fifth straight conference road win against the first-place Gonzaga Bulldogs. GU is 19-4 overall and a perfect 7-0 in the league. The Bulldogs are coming off a 109-73 win at San Diego on Saturday.
Gannis, who scored a career-best 20 points on 9-for-9 shooting during a win at San Diego on Thursday, had another solid outing for the Pilots. Against the Gaels, she finished six of 11 from the floor and had 13 points. The native of Phoenix, Ariz., also grabbed a career-high eight rebounds.
Sophomore Tara Cronin matched Gannis with 13 points and eight rebounds. Burris added 12 points and six assists, while Dollente finished with 10 points.
Tomlinson led all scorers and four Gaels in double figures with 21 points. She also had 13 rebounds for the double-double.
The Gaels entered the weekend tied for second place in the conference with Portland, San Diego and LMU. But after losses to Gonzaga and UP, Saint Mary’s tumbles to 7-15 overall and to 3-4 in the WCC.
Saint Mary’s led 29-23 at halftime and built a 13-point lead early in the second half. Trailing 39-26 with 15:15 remaining, the Pilots embarked on a 26-13 run covering 10 minutes to climb back into the game. After Cronin drilled a three-pointer to make it a one-point game, Dollente sank a pair of free throws to give Portland is first lead (54-53) since the 10-minute mark in the first half.
The final 4:41 of the game featured five ties and six lead changes, with the final lead change coming at the end of regulation.
UP shot 36.5 percent (23-for-63) for the game, went 4-for-13 on three-pointers and hit 14 of 18 free throws. SMC countered with 35.1 percent (20-for-57) shooting, went 1-for-6 from downtown and shot 22-for-31 from the line.
Both teams were hampered by turnovers, as Portland scored 23 points on 26 Saint Mary’s miscues. The Gaels had 18 points on 24 UP turnovers.
The Pilots and Bulldogs are set to play on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. at the McCarthey Center.
