PORTLAND, Ore. -- Emme Shearer scored 21 points and Maisie Burnham added 20 as the Portland Pilots defeated the San Diego Toreros 81-65 at home Thursday. The win tonight means the Pilots can finish no lower than second in the WCC.
Shearer and Burnham's stellar scoring performances led the Pilots (25-3, 14-3) in the contest. Shearer tacked on three steals and Burnham added three assists and three steals. Alexis Mark also helped out with nine points, five assists, three steals and two blocks and McKelle Meek added eight points and seven assists.
Portland took advantage of excellent ball movement in Thursday's game, piling up 18 assists on 31 made field goals. Individually, Meek dished out the most for the Pilots with seven assists and zero turnovers.
How It Happened
After playing to a 14-14 tie early in the game, Portland went on a 5-0 run with 1:28 left in the first quarter to take a 19-14 lead, a score that would hold for the rest of the period. Portland put together another five-point run early in the second to make it 24-14, creating some separation. The Toreros cut into that lead, but the Pilots still enjoyed a 39-34 advantage heading into halftime.
An 11-0 run late in the third proved to be the difference-maker, expanding Portland's lead further to 57-43 with 2:04 to go in the third. Before the third period was over, the Pilots added three points to that lead and entered the fourth quarter with a 62-45 edge. The Pilots then held on for the victory.
Game Notes
» Portland tallied 18 total assists in the game. McKelle Meek's seven assists led the way.
» The Pilots turned 19 turnovers into 30 points on the offensive end. They had 14 steals total.
» Portland had a 33-24 edge on the boards in the win.
» The Pilots were active in affecting shots on the defensive end, recording eight blocks as a team. Trista Hull's three blocks led the way.
» Portland cleaned up on the offensive glass, collecting 17 offensive boards in the game.
» Emme Shearer led the Pilots with 21 points and Maisie Burnham added 20.
» Shearer's 21 points moved her to seventh all-time for the Pilots on the career scoring charts.
» Shearer's three steals also moves her to fourth all-time for Portland in total steals.
» Burnham's 20-point outing is her 12th of the year. She's the first Pilot since the 2019-20 season to have at least 12 20-point games this year.
» Portland got a team-high seven rebounds from Trista Hull.
» Portland's 25 wins are the most they've had through 28 games since the 1996-97 season.
» The Pilots have won 14 games at home this year, the most they've won in a single season since the 1984-85 season. It's the most they've won in a season since moving to NCAA Division I.
Up Next
The Pilots will play their final home game of the year against the Santa Clara Broncos. They play on Saturday, Feb. 22 at 5 p.m. Check PortlandPilots.com for tickets, live stats and video options.
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