Postgame Press Conference

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – The Pacific Tigers started strong and never looked back in an 85-60 win over the Portland Pilots in the opening round of the 2018 West Coast Conference Basketball Championships at the Orleans Arena. The Pilots conclude the season with a 7-23 overall record, while the Tigers (14-16) advance to the tournament quarterfinals.

Junior guard Darian Slaga led the Pilots with 14 points, while Desire Finnie scored a game-high 21 points off the bench for the Tigers.

Seniors Ashley Gray, Sara Zaragoza and Rachelle Owens wrapped up their collegiate careers for Portland. Gray finished with nine points and four rebounds, Zaragoza collected a team-high seven rebounds and Owens had eight points, five rebounds and three assists.

The Tigers came out firing in the first quarter, closing the period on a 14-1 run to take a 27-10 lead. The Pilots struggled offensively, making just four field goals in the quarter and going 1-of-4 at the foul line. Pacific extended the lead to 53-27 at the half.

Portland opened the second half with consecutive baskets from Julie Spencer and Kate Anderson, but the Tigers thwarted the momentum with a three-pointer by Jessica Blakeslee and Pacific maintained a sizeable margin the rest of the way.

The Tigers shot 45 percent from the field and made 11-of-26 three-pointers. Portland finished at 34 percent overall and 5-of-16 from three-point range.

Turnovers were key for Pacific as they gained a 16-8 edge after forcing 17 Pilot miscues.

The Tigers move on to face the tournament's No. 2 seed Saint Mary's on Friday at 2 p.m. live on BYUtv and TheW.tv.