MORAGA, Calif. – The Portland Pilots earned a win in their West Coast Conference opener, taking down the Saint Mary's Gaels 63-59 for the road victory. The win puts Portland at 7-6 overall and 1-0 in WCC play.
 
Dyani Ananiev and Nicole Anderson were the double-digit scorers for the Pilots, pouring in 11 points each. Ananiev added three steals and Anderosn hit three 3-pointers. Ananiev has scored in double-digits in a team-high eight games this season.
 
Rhyan Mogel and Florence Dallow both stuffed the stat sheet, with Mogel posting nine points, five rebounds and seven assists while Dallow had eight points and a career-high seven rebounds with two steals. Julia Dalan added eight points and six boards along with three blocks.
 
Portland hit nine 3-pointers in the contest at a 40.9% clip. Defensively, the Pilots had eight blocks and eight steals with 14 turnovers forced.
 
Ananiev's three steals and Dalan's three blocks led the way, with Ananiev's 38 steals on the year being the most of any Pilot through their first 12 games played in the 2000s. Dalan's 43 blocks on the year are the most by any Pilot true freshman since Rosemary Adams had 66 in the 1990-91 season.
 
How it Happened
 
The Pilots took an early 5-2 lead, but the Gaels responded quickly, putting together a 16-2 run over a six-minute stretch to take a commanding lead. But the Pilots bounced back, including a late 3-pointer from Anderson to cut the Gaels' lead to four at 18-14. Portland scored 10 of their 14 points off turnovers.
 
The second quarter was even, with neither team gaining a significant advantage. The Gaels held the lead most of the way still, pushing their lead to as high as seven. But Portland hit five of their final six shots to keep themselves in it, cutting the lead to two points by halftime. Saint Mary's led 35-33 after the first 20 minutes.
 
The Pilots and Gaels traded buckets for most of the third quarter. Portland hit three 3-pointers in the quarter but struggled to control the ball, posting five turnovers. Portland came out strong in the fourth quarter, putting together a 7-0 run that gave them an early 56-53 lead. The Pilots continued to hold the Gaels in check offensively, holding the Gaels to just six points in the final quarter to win 63-59
 
Game Notes

• Ananiev and Anderson had 11 points each to lead the Pilots in scoring. Ananiev has scored in double digits a team-high eight times this year.
• Anderson has hit at least three 3-pointers a team-high four times this year.
• Ananiev had three steals to lead the Pilots as well. She now has 38 steals, the most by a Pilot through 12 games played since at least the 2000s.
• All nine of Mogel's points came in the second half.
• Mogel matched a career high with five rebounds and has posted at least five assists in five games this year.
• Dalan had three blocks in the contest to reach 43 on the season. She's got the most blocks by a Pilot freshman since Rosemary Adams in the 1990-91 season.
• Portland held the Gaels to just six points in the final quarter in the win.
• The Portland bench came alive, adding 20 points to the scoring output.
• The Pilots had nine 3-pointers on the day on 40.9% shooting from outside.
• Portland tallied 16 total assists in the game.
• The Pilots had eight blocks and eight steals as a team while forcing 14 turnovers.

Up Next
 
The Pilots remain in the Bay Area for a showdown against the San Francisco Dons. The two teams play on Tuesday, Dec. 30 at 6 p.m. at War Memorial Gym. Check PortlandPilots.com for live stats and video options. 

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