LONG BEACH, Calif. – The Portland Pilots are back in the win column after a strong second half propelled them past Long Beach State for the 94-58 win. The win – which was their biggest against a Division I team this season – puts Portland at 5-5 on the season.
 
Portland was led by Lainey Spear and Jada Kennedy. Spear had 14 points along with five rebounds, three assists and three steals while Kennedy posted her 14 points on a perfect 7-for-7 night. Julia Dalan nabbed her second double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds and added four blocks. She's had multiple blocks in seven games this season and now has 36 on the year, the most by a Pilot freshman since Rachel Warren in the 2005-06 season.
 
The Pilots outscored the Beach 63-30 in the second half to earn the win. Their 63 points are the second most points in a half this season and the most against a Division I team in program history. They forced 15 second half turnovers and scored 19 points off those turnovers, shooting 54.8% from the field in the final half. Portland forced 22 turnovers overall and had 11 steals. Every Pilot that played scored in the contest, and their 25 assists are tied for the most in any game this season for Portland and the most by any WCC team against a Division I opponent this year.
 
How it Happened
 
The first quarter saw the two teams go back and forth early, with neither team gaining a clear advantage. Portland hit a trio of 3-pointers and got seven rebounds early – including four on the offensive glass – from Julia Dalan to create some second chance opportunities. That proved to be the difference, with Portland holding a 17-12 lead after the first with the buzzer-beating trey ball from Nicole Anderson.

The second quarter saw much of the same, with defense defining the quarter. Portland built the lead to as big as nine, their largest of the first half, putting together a 9-2 run in the middle of second. The Beach ended the quarter with a 6-0 run of their own, but the Pilots still led 31-28 at the break.

The Pilots came out blazing in the third period. Portland went on a 22-2 run, with 10 of those points coming from Lainey Spear. Portland dominated on both ends of the floor, shooting 52.2% from the floor and forcing 10 turnovers while holding the Beach to just 30% shooting. Portland ended up outscoring the Beach 33-12 in the quarter for the 64-40 lead.

It was much of the same for the final quarter of the game, with Portland riding a 6-0 run early to put this game even more out of reach. Portland cruised the rest of the way for the 94-58 win.
 
Game Notes

• Spear and Kennedy led the Pilots with 14 points each. It's a season high for Spear and a career high for Kennedy.
• Dalan posted her second double-double of the season with 13 points and 12 rebounds. She's the first Pilot to post multiple double-doubles in their freshman year since Alex Fowler in the 2019-20 season.
• Dalan had four blocks on the day to put her at 36 on the year. That's the most by a Pilot freshman since Rachel Warren in the 2005-06 season.
• Rhyan Mogel has posted at least five assists in each of the last three games.
• As a team, the Pilots had 25 assists, tied for their highest total in a game this year. It's the most by any WCC team against a Division I opponent this season.
• Portland lit it up from 3-point land, knocking down eight treys in the game.
• Portland had a 47-41 edge on the boards in the win. Portland cleaned up on the offensive glass, collecting 18 offensive rebounds in the game.
• Portland outscored the Beach 63-30 in the second half for the win. It's their highest point total in a single half ever against a Division I team.
• Portland's 94 points are the most by the Pilots against a Division I team this season and the most in a game that ended in regulation since 2019, when they scored 96 against San Diego.

Up Next
 
The Pilots have a day game against the Oregon Ducks down in Eugene. The two teams play on Thursday, Dec. 18 at 11 a.m. at the Matthew Knight Arena. Check PortlandPilots.com for lives stats and video options. 

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