PORTLAND, Ore. – The Portland Pilots lit up the scoreboard against the Saint Mary's Gaels, pouring it in from outside for the 68-42 victory. The win puts Portland at 12-10 overall and 6-4 in WCC play.
 
Nicole Anderson led the way for Portland offensively, scoring 18 points off six made 3-pointers, the most 3's made by a Pilot this season. The 3-point total also matched a career high, a mark she also set against Saint Mary's in 2024.
 
Dyani Ananiev stuffed the stat sheet as well, posting a stat line of 12 points, five rebounds, six assists and two steals. Her six assists matched a career high. Jada Kennedy added eight points, nine rebounds and four blocks, with her four blocks setting a new career best.
 
Portland was lights out from the field, hitting 59.2% of their shots overall and 62.5% of their 3-pointers with 10 total 3's. Their percentage from outside is a season high as well as their 10 made 3's. It was the highest percentage they've shot from outside since 2013, when they shot the exact same percentage against Washington. They added 21 assists to cross 20 assists for the eighth time this season.
 
Defensively, Portland had seven steals, seven blocks and forced 18 turnovers. The Pilots allowed no made 3-pointers and held the Gaels to just 26.8% shooting from the field, the second-lowest percentage a Division I team has shot against the Pilots this season. It's the second time the Pilots have held a team to no made 3-pointers as well.
 
How it Happened
 
The Pilots came out slow but got hot, putting together an 11-0 run halfway through the first to put together a 14-4 lead with just over four minutes to play. Anderson was electric from outside, hitting three 3-pointers all in the first six minutes. Saint Mary's bounced back, putting together an 8-0 run themselves to keep it close on the scoreboard. Portland's nine points off turnovers helped keep them in the lead after the first period 17-15.
 
The second quarter was even early, but the Pilots outscored the Gaels still 8-2 in the first six minutes to get the lead to eight points. After a pair of Saint Mary's free throws, Portland ripped off a 12-0 run, hitting two 3-pointers in the stretch to push their total to seven makes from outside. The Pilots led big after the run, holding a 37-20 advantage at the half after holding the Gaels to just five second-quarter points.
 
Portland kept it rolling in the third quarter, continuing to outpace the Gaels. A 9-2 run put the Pilots at a 24-point advantage that they would keep for the rest of the quarter. The Pilots continued to rain it in from outside, hitting three more shots from outside and shooting 54.2% overall in the half as they cruised to a 68-42 win.
 
Game Notes

• Anderson scored a team-high 18 points off six made 3-pointers. It's a season high for her in both points and 3-pointers.
• Her six made 3-pointers match a career high as well. She last hit six 3-pointers in a game against Saint Mary's in 2024.
• Ananiev stuffed the stat sheet with 12 points, six assists, five rebounds and two steals. Her six assists matched a career high.
• Kennedy had a career-high four blocks along with eight points and nine rebounds.
• Portland shot lights out, hitting 56.5% of their shots overall and 10 3-pointers at a 62.5% clip.
• The Pilots' 10 3-pointers matched a season high for the Pilots. Their 62.5% shooting percentage from outside is the best since the 2013 season, when they shot the same percentage against Washington.
• The Pilots had 21 assists, their eighth game of at least 20 assists this season.
• Portland had seven blocks, seven steals and forced 18 turnovers.
• The Pilots didn't allow a single 3-pointer on the day. It's the second time they've done that this season.

Up Next
 
The Pilots will be back in action at the Chiles Center for a matchup against the San Diego Toreros on Saturday, Jan. 31 at 5 p.m. Check PortlandPIlots.com for tickets, live stats, video and audio options.

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