LAS VEGAS, Nev. -- The Portland Pilots rallied in the second half to erase what was at one point a 16-point deficit and defeat the Santa Clara Broncos 63-61 in the semifinals of the 2024 Credit Union 1 WCC Championships. The Pilots advance to the title game for the second year in a row and the third time in five seasons.
The Pilots (20-12) had three players score in double figures, led by Maisie Burnham, who had 17 points and six rebounds. Kennedy Dickie added a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds and Kianna Hamilton chipped in as well with 10 points from the bench.
How It Happened
Portland struggled out of the gate to put the ball in the basket, falling behind 18-6 at the end of the first quarter. The Pilots kept pace with the Broncos in the second quarter, but Santa Clara still held a 12 point lead 30-18 at halftime.
Following halftime, Portland found their stride, keeping the Broncos from growing their lead before going on a 10-0 run to trim the deficit to 36-34 with 3:59 to go in the third. Santa Clara countered and stretched its lead to 46-43 heading into the fourth.
Santa Clara tried to fend off the Pilots, but Portland put together a 10-0 run to seize a 61-55 lead with 1:22 to go in the contest. The Broncos narrowed the margin and had one last shot, but Lucy Cochrane rejected Heal in the paint with one second left to claim victory.
Game Notes
» Kennedy Dickie notched a double-double for the Pilots with 15 points and 11 rebounds. It's her second double-double of the season and the fourth by a Pilot this year.
» Portland rallied from a 12-point 30-18 halftime deficit to pick up the win. They trailed by as much as 16 in the game.
» This is the third time in five years the Pilots have made the championship game.
» The Pilots held the Broncos to only 39.2% shooting from the field.
» Maisie Burnham led the Pilots with 17 points.
» Lucy Cochrane had a game-sealing block on Tess Heal with just one second remaining.
» This is the third 20-win season in a row for the Pilots. It's just the third time the Pilots have had three years of 20 wins or more in a row and the first time since between the 1994-95 and 1996-97 seasons.
Up Next
The Pilots take on the 1-seed Gonzaga Bulldogs in the championship game tomorrow at 1 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ESPNU. Check PortlandPilots.com for more information.
Get Your Tickets Now!
Secure your spot now for any upcoming Portland Pilots ticketed home event by visiting PortlandPilots.com/Tickets or by downloading the Portland Pilots App. For group and fan experience package information, email pilotsboxoffice@up.edu.
Donate Today
Fans interested in making a contribution to the Pilot Athletic Fund can do so by clicking here. Your gift directly helps our nearly 300 student-athletes as they strive to make a difference in our community and achieve academic and athletic excellence. Thank you for support of Pilot Athletics!
Follow Along With the Action
Get the latest news and information about your favorite University of Portland athletic programs by visiting PortlandPilots.com. You can also follow along for the most dynamic coverage and team-centric content by following us on Twitter, liking us on Facebook, and following us on Instagram.