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The Pilots hype themselves up ahead of the matchup against Pacific.

Women's Basketball

Pilots Head to Spokane to Battle Zags at the Kennel

SPOKANE, Wash. – The Portland Pilots are back on the road for a Pacific Northwest matchup against the Gonzaga Bulldogs. The two teams play on Saturday, Jan. 10 at 2 p.m. on ESPN+ and SWX Spokane. Check PortlandPilots.com for live stats and video options.
 
GAME INFORMATION
Opponent: Gonzaga Bulldogs (11-6, 3-1 WCC)
Day: Saturday
Date: Jan. 10, 2026
Time: 2 PM
Place: Spokane, Wash.
Arena: McCarthey Athletic Center
Video: ESPN+
Stats: PortlandPilots.com
 
POR vs. GON
Overall: 30-63 •  Last 5/10: 1-4/2-8
H: 14-29 •  A: 10-33  • N: 6-2
Last: @GON 66, POR 65 (1/16/2025)
 
PEEK INTO THE PORT
  • The Portland Pilots are 9-7 on the season with a 3-1 record in West Coast Conference play, coming off victories against the Washington State Cougars and the Pacific Tigers.
  • A strong defensive effort led the Pilots over the Cougars 62-49. The Cougars are the first Division I team the Pilots have held under 50 points this season.
  • Julia Dalan scored a career high 14 points and added seven rebounds to lead the Pilots. Nicole Anderson was the only other double-digit scorer at 11 points off the bench with three 3-pointers.
  • Anderson has scored in double digits in three of the last four games and is averaging 9.8 points per game in WCC play. She's hit at least three 3-pointers in six games this year.
  • Anderson is just seven points away from 1,000 career points. 
  • Against the Tigers, Portland took control in the second half for the win, starting the third quarter with a 15-0 run and never looking back.
  • Dyani Ananiev notched a double-double with a 17-point, 10-rebound performance, the first double-double of her career. She is the third Pilot to record a double-double this season.
  • Lainey Spear and Dalan both scored in double digits on the day with 11 points, with Dalan adding seven boards and five blocks. Dalan's had at least five blocks in five games this season.
  • Dalan's now at 55 blocks on the year and needs just 11 more to match the program record set by Rosemary Adams in the 1990-91 season for blocks by a true freshman.
  • Portland held the Tigers to just 26.7% shooting in the contest, the lowest shooting percentage for any Division I team that's played Portland this year. The Pilots have held 11 opponents under 40% shooting this season.
  • The Pilots lead the conference currently in assists per game (17.8), steals per game (11.6), turnovers forced per game (21.4) and defensive field goal percentage (37.4%) while ranking second in blocks per game (6.4), bench points per game (27.7), scoring margin (10.6) and scoring offense (71.8).
  • Nationally, Portland ranks seventh in blocks per game, 28th in assists per game, 32nd in steals per game, 33rd in bench points per game and 34th in turnovers forced per game.
  • Individually, Dalan's one of the top defensive players in the country, leading the nation in blocks per game (3.4) and total blocks (55).
  • Dyani Ananiev's steal total (43) and steals per game average (2.9) both rank first in the conference and rank 32nd and 36th nationally. Ananiev is fourth in both 3-point percentage (39.0%) and 3-pointers per game (2.0).
  • Ananiev is the leading scorer for the Pilots at 11.1 points per game. She's the only Pilot averaging double-digit points per contest.
  • Rhyan Mogel ranks second in the conference in assist/turnover ratio and ranks third in both total assists (77) and assists per game (5.1). She ranks 37th and 45th nationally in assists per game and total assists.
  • In WCC play alone, Mogel's' 7.3 assists per game leads the way while her 29 assists rank second.
  • The Pilots were picked to finish fourth in the WCC this season, with 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.
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).
MEEK AT THE HELM
  • 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 369-104 in his career dating back to his time at George Fox. He is 139-69 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 .780.
ABOUT THE ZAGS
  • The Gonzaga Bulldogs are 11-6 on the year with a 3-1 record against WCC opponents. They most recently beat the Seattle U Redhawks on the road before losing to the Santa Clara Broncos down in California.
  • Last season, the Zags grabbed a share of the WCC regular season title with the Pilots, posting a 24-11 record overall and a 17-3 WCC record. The Bulldogs took both contests against the Pilots last season.
  • The Bulldogs were picked to finish second in annual preseason coaches poll, with Zeryhia Aokuso making the All-WCC Preseason Team.
  • Lauren Whitaker is the leading scorer for the Zags, averaging 19.5 points and 9.9 rebounds per game. She is currently leading the conference in both categories.
  • Lisa Fortier is in her 12 season with the Zags, earning her 300th win last weekend. Her .789 winning percentage ranks sixth among all active coaches.
 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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