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Dyani Ananiev drives by her defenders against Nevada.

Women's Basketball

Pilots Host BYU in Saturday Showdown

PORTLAND, Ore. – The Portland Pilots welcome a Big 12 opponent to The Bluff, hosting the BYU Cougars for a nonconference bout at the Chiles Center. The two teams will play on Saturday, Dec. 6 at 5 p.m.
 
Saturday's game will be broadcast on KUNP as well as ESPN+. Check PortlandPilots.com for tickets, live stats and video options.
 
OPPONENT INFORMATION
Opponent: BYU Cougars (8-1, 0-0 Big 12)
Day: Saturday
Date: Dec. 5, 2025
Time: 5 PM
Place: Portland, Ore.
Arena: Chiles Center
TV: KUNP
Video: ESPN+
Audio: PortlandPilots.com
Stats: PortlandPilots.com
 
POR vs. BYU
Overall: 8-27 • Last 5/10: 3-2/4-6
H: 4-13 • A: 4-12 • N: 0-2
Last: POR 61, @BYU 49 (2022-23)
 
PEEK INTO THE PORT
  • The Portland Pilots are back at .500, winning both contests at the Portland Invitational Presented by Oxford Suites.
  • Portland defeated the Nevada Wolf Pack 65-52 on Saturday before beating the Eastern Washington Eagles 73-58 on Sunday to improve to 4-4 overall.
  • Julia Dalan was a top performer on both days, with the freshman center posting 12 points, eight rebounds and four blocks against the Wolf Pack and 10 points, 12 rebounds and five blocks against the Eagles.
  • Dalan's double-double was the first of her career and the first for a Pilot this season. Dalan's the first true freshman to post a double-double in a game since Alex Fowler in the 2019-20 season.
  • Portland has been stout defensively this season, leading the conference in turnovers forced per game (22.88), steals per game (11.8), and defensive field goal percentage (36.5%) and ranking second in blocks per game (6.4).
  • Nationally, they are 11th in blocks per game, 26th in turnovers forced and 40th in steals per game.
  • Dalan defensively has led the way, ranking first nationally in blocks per game (3.38) and fourth in total blocks (27). She leads all freshman in total blocks this season.
  • This is the highest block total through the first eight games for a Pilot true freshman in the 2000s.
  • Ananiev's steal totals keep the Pilots high in that category, with her 26 steals total ranking second in the WCC and her 3.25 average ranking first. She is 27th and 28th nationally in those respective categories.
  • Offensively, Portland's second in the conference and 31st nationally in assists per game (17.5). Overall, they're also second in scoring margin (14.3) and turnover margin (2.38).
  • 10 different Pilots are averaging five points or more on the year, with Florence Dallow's 11.1 points per game leading the way. Ananiev and Rhyan Mogel are the only two other Pilots in double-digit scoring at 10.8 and 10.0 points respectively.
  • Mogel's currently sixth in the conference in assist/turnover ratio (1.44) and eighth in assists per game (3.7).
A LOOK BACK AT HISTORY
  • The Pilots had a historic season in 2024-25, finishing 31-5 overall and 17-3 in WCC play to win a share of the 2024-25 WCC Regular Season Title. It's their fourth title, either tournament or regular season, in six seasons.
  • Their 31 wins were a program record and their 17 wins in WCC play were also a new high for the program.
  • Last year, they made the WCC Championships final for the fourth time under head coach Michael Meek and also qualified for the WBIT for the first time in program history.
  • In the WBIT, they beat the Stanford Cardinal and the Seton Hall Pirates on the road to advance to the quarterfinals before falling to Villanova Wildcats in that round. The wins were the first ever road playoff wins for the Pilots, the first win ever over Stanford and the first ever over a Big East squad.
  • Portland led the way in numerous statistical categories last season, leading the conference in points per game (75.7), scoring margin (12.4), steals per game (10.3), turnover margin (4.56), free throws made (16.44), free throw percentage (16.44), free throw attempts (21.08), assists per game (17.3) and assists-to-turnover ratio (1.16).
  • Nationally, they were fifth in free throws made per game, 16th in free throw percentage, 21st in assists per game and free throw attempts, 34th in assist-to-turnover ratio and steals per game and 35th in points per game and turnovers forced per game (19.47).
  • The Pilots set numerous program records at the Division I level, with the most points (2,726), points per game (75.7), field goals made (946), free throws made (592), free throw percentage (.780), rebounds (1,288), defensive rebounds (844), offensive rebounds (444) and assists (620).
  • The Pilots were picked to finish fourth in the WCC this season, with Dyani Ananiev named to the All-WCC Preseason Team.
  • Ananiev played in just 10 games last season, averaging 7.4 points per contest along with 1.8 steals. She was a 2023-24 All-WCC Freshman Team selection.
  • The Pilots return eight players from last year and add seven newcomers.
  • Of the eight returners, none started a game last year. Rhyan Mogel and Lainey Spear are the only two players to have played in every game, with Mogel's 20.6 minutes leading all returning players.
  • Florence Dallow, Natalie Fraley, Tiffany Barbosa, Ella Zimmerman and Caitlin Monahan also all return.
  • Michael Meek is in his seventh season as head coach of the Portland Pilots.
  • Meek has been dominant through six seasons, winning WCC Tournament titles in 2020, 2023 and 2024 and the regular season title in the 2024-25 season.
  • Meek has won at least 20 games in five of his six full seasons as head coach of the Pilots, including a program record 31 wins overall and 17 WCC wins in the 2024-25 seasons.
  • Meek is 364-101 in his career dating back to his time at George Fox. He is 132-66 in his time with Portland.
  • Meek ranks eighth among all active coaches in NCAA Division I with at least five seasons of experience in winning percentage at .783.
 
ABOUT THE COUGARS
  • The BYU Cougars are 8-1 on the year, most recently beating the Washington State Cougars 56-54.
  • Last year, the Cougars went 13-17 overall and 4-14 in Big 12 play.
  • The Pilots and Cougars were once conference foes, with the Pilots last playing the Cougars in their final year in the West Coast Conference. Portland beat them on the road 61-49 for the win.
  • This year, BYU was picked to finish 10th in the Big 12 with one player making the preseason team: Delaney Gibb
  • Gibb currently leads the Cougars in points per game at 16.3 a contest in just four games played. Olivia Hamlin's 109 points and 12.1 points per game lead the way for BYU.
  • Lee Cummard is in his first year as head coach of the Cougars.
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.

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