Box Score
PORTLAND, Ore. --- After a somewhat of a rough start to the West Coast Conference schedule, the Portland Pilots have bounced back to win four straight games, the latest a 73-65 victory over the Santa Clara Broncos on Saturday afternoon at the Chiles Center. Junior guard Tara Cronin led the way with 17 points for the Pilots, who improve to 15-7 overall and to 4-3 in the WCC.
After trailing 39-35 at the half, Santa Clara (3-19, 1-6 WCC) began the second stanza on a mini run that would result in a 50-48 Bronco lead after a pair of free throws from Lorena Gipson six minutes in. The Pilots responded with an 18-6 outburst that was sparked by back-to-back highlight reel worthy plays from sophomore guard ReZina TecleMariam.
First, TecleMariam converted on a tough lay-up while getting fouled for her first field goal of the game. The Puyallup, Wash., native made good on the ensuing free throw for the traditional tree-point play, making it a 58-52 UP lead.
At the other end, TecleMariam came up with a steal to set up a fast break. Z then found junior forward Jessica Clemens with a behind-the-back pass for an easy two that pushed the lead to eight points.
Moments later, senior guard Laiken Dollente gave Portland’s its biggest lead with a lay-up to make it 66-56 with 5:34 showing on the clock.
From their, Santa Clara would pull within five, but the Pilots tightened up on defense and hit enough free throws down the stretch to preserve the win.
Cronin was efficient from the field, hitting five of seven shots overall, while going 3-for-4 from downtown. She also hit four of five from the free throw line and added five assists and four rebounds, helping the Pilots to a 41-34 edge on the glass.
Sophomore forward Alexis Gannis, who scored 20 points and grabbed 17 rebounds during Thursday’s win over San Francisco, was active once again, showing off a bevy of moves in the paint en route to 16 points. She hit eight of nine shots and corralled seven boards.
Dollente (14 points), who went 8-for-8 at the free line, also scored in double figures, as did Clemens (14 points). Dollente dished seven assists, while TecleMariam handed out five dimes and finished with a team-high nine rebounds. Junior Lauren Angel had eight boards to go along with seven points.
Gipson led the Broncos with a game-high 19 points. Megan Fulps and Alyssa Shoji each scored 13, while Ashley Armstrong had a team-high eight rebounds off the bench.
The Pilots, who had 20 assists on 26 field goals, shot 43.3 percent (26-for-60) overall, hit five three-pointers and went 16-for-20 at the line. Santa Clara was 23-for-63 (36.5 percent) from the floor, 9-for-25 from behind the three-point arc and 10-for-14 at the line.
Portland was helped by a 32-24 advantage in points in the paint, while turnovers weren’t really a factor.
UP’s lead would have been eight at the half if not for a rare four-point play by SCU’s Armstrong. With just seconds remaining in the half, Armstrong received a long pass at center court, took a couple of dribbles and banked in a desperation three-pointer from just inside the half-court line, while getting fouled. She would hit the free throw to make it a four-point game at the break.
The Pilots next welcome the first-place Gonzaga Bulldogs to the Chiles Center for a WCC game next weekend. Tip-off for UP and GU is set for 2:00 p.m. on Saturday.
