Box Score

BOZEMAN, Mont. --- Sophomore Sarah Kliewer scored a career-high 14 points to lead five Pilots in double figures as Portland raced to an 82-61 win over the Montana State Bobcats in a non-conference women’s basketball game on Friday night at Worthington Arena. Junior Natalie Day also scored 14 for the Pilots, who outscored the Bobcats 60-6 in points off the bench.

 

Portland improves to 7-3 on the year, while MSU drops to 2-8.

 

The night belonged to the Portland bench as junior ReZina TecleMariam was the only UP starter to reach double figures in points with 10. Freshman Cassandra Brown, a reserve guard, chipped in 10 points, while Jessica Clemens had the hot hand early and finished with 13.

 

Kliewer was five of six overall and she hit both of her attempts from behind the three-point arc.

 

The Bobcats hung around briefly in the first half and led 19-18 10:00 in. That’s when the Pilots woke up and embarked on a lengthy 23-5 run to take control of the game. Six different Pilots scored during the outburst, which was capped by a TecleMariam three-pointer to make it a 41-24 lead with 2:16 remaining. Clemens hit her first six shots from the field, helping UP to a 44-29 lead at the break.

 

It was more of the same during the second half as the Portland bench continued to flex its muscles. Kliewer hit her second three-pointer, Day added a couple of trey’s and Brown hit one from deep as the lead would grow to 27 points with under eight minutes to play. The Pilots would cruise from there en route to the easy win.

 

The Pilots also had a couple of highlight reel worthy fast break lay-ups. Freshman Alexis Byrd had a steal at one end and a lay-up at the other, but the play of the night perhaps belonged to TecleMariam. On a two-on-one, Z went around the back with a pass to find Tara Cronin, who easily finished.

 

The Pilots hit a program-record tying 12 three-pointers, led by Day who had four. This is the fourth time in team history and the second time this season to knock down 12 three’s in a game.

 

UP shot 47.6 percent (30-for-63) for the game and went 12-for-25 at the line. Montana State, which hit 22 of 58 from the floor, received a game-high 18 points from Katie Bussey.

 

Clemens (6) and Brown (6) helped the Pilots to a slim 39-35 edge in rebounds, while TecleMariam finished with game highs of eight assists and four steals.

 

The Pilots next make the drive to Missoula for a non-conference game against the Montana Lady Griz on Sunday. Tip-off is set for 1:00 p.m. (Pacific).