PORTLAND, Ore. – In a chaotic opening round showdown in the WNIT that featured 54 combined turnovers, the Portland Pilots defeated the Sam Houston Bearkats 62-59 to advance to the second round of the Women's National Invitation Tournament.
Dyani Ananiev had a team-high 18 points along with a career-high six blocks. Lainey Spear added 14 points along with nine rebounds and three steals while Brynn Smith scored 10 points off the bench. Smith's 10 points were the most for her in a game since she scored 10 points against Warner Pacific.
Defensively, the Pilots forced 24 turnovers and added 15 steals. Portland's eight blocks also led the way. Portland had 30 turnovers themselves. With the win, the Pilots earned their second ever home playoff victory and second win ever in the WNIT.
How it Happened
Sam Houston came out strong, hitting four of their first seven shots, but the Pilots didn't let that strong start deter them. They put together a 9-0 run – with Spear scoring six of those nine points – to take a 13-10 lead with just over three minutes to play. More turnovers from both sides followed, with both teams going scoreless in the final minute as the Pilots led 18-14 after one quarter.
Portland and Sam Houston battled it out in the second quarter, with both teams combining for 15 turnovers in the quarter. They had 14 turnovers each for 28 total through the first half. The Bearkats cut the lead to three for the Pilots, but Portland's 8-0 run towards the end of the second quarter gave them some separation. A late layup for the Bearkats cut Portland's lead to single digits, but the Pilots still led 34-25 at the half.
The Pilots struggled in the third quarter, scoring just six points. Sam Houston, meanwhile, struggled themselves, but still managed to put together a 12-0 run in the final five minutes of the quarter. The Pilots were held scoreless in the final six minutes to lose their lead and fall behind 42-40.
But Portland came back strong in the fourth, scoring the first 10 points to reclaim an eight-point lead. Sam Houston tried to claw their way back with a pair of 6-0 runs, but Portland kept pushing back. After cutting the lead to just one point, Ananiev hit two clutch free throws to put the game away and give Portland the 62-59 win.
Game Notes
- Ananiev had a team-high 18 points with a career-high six blocks and a steal.
- Ananiev's six blocks are the second most by a Pilot other than Julia Dalan this season.
- Spear and Smith were the only two double-digit scorers besides Ananiev, scoring 14 and 10 points respectively.
- Smith's 10 points are the most she's scored in a game since the game against Warner Pacific.
- The Pilots forced 24 turnovers with 15 steals.
- With the win, the Pilots earned their second ever playoff victory at home and their second in the WNIT.
Up Next
The Pilots will host the Lamar Lady Cardinals in the second round of the WNIT. The two teams play at the Chiles Center on Sunday, March 22 at 3 p.m.
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