LAS VEGAS – The Portland Pilots came out strong in the second half to bury the Washington State Cougars and win 72-62 in the third round of the 2026 Credit Union 1 WCC Women's Basketball Championships. Portland advances to the quarterfinals and improves to 18-13 on the year.
 
Rhyan Mogel led the way with a 19-point performance, adding five assists, four rebounds and two steals. Mogel's total was just one shy of her career high. Lainey Spear scored in double-digits as well with 16 points. Nicole Anderson and Florence Dallow scored nine points each and Dyani Ananiev eight points. Anderson now sits at 58 3-pointers this year, the eighth most ever by a Pilot in a single year.
 
The Pilots were stellar defensively, forcing 19 turnovers and adding 11 steals. Ananiev piloted Portland on that end, adding three steals and three blocks herself. She's now at 72 blocks this season, becoming the 22nd Pilot in program history to have at least 70 steals in a season. Offensively, Portland drained nine 3-pointers and shot over 50% from both the field overall and from outside.
 
How it Happened
 
It was an even first quarter, with both teams trading buckets as they worked it inside the arc. Portland had the biggest run of the quarter with a 6-0 run in the middle of the period. The lead changed hands three times, but a late 3-pointer at the end of the quarter from Tiffany Barbosa made it 18-15 Pilots.
 
Portland came out strong, scoring the first two buckets, Washington State responded themselves with an 8-0 run themselves. Portland bounced, with Mogel scoring eight of Portland's last nine points in the quarter including two 3-pointers. Mogel's last jumper with three seconds to go put the Pilots up 33-30 at the half.
 
The Pilots came out with a fury in the second half. Portland put together a 15-2 run, smothering the Cougars with their press. Portland wreaked havoc in the quarter, forcing six steals and 10 turnovers total. The Pilots hit three 3-pointers in the quarter and fended off a late push from the Cougars with a 6-0 run to make it 56-41 Pilots through three.
 
The Cougars tried to make a comeback, but the Pilots cooled them off after a 6-0 run and kept working their way inside and to the line. The Pilots cruised to a 72-62 win.
 
Game Notes

• Mogel's 16 points led the way for Portland. She added five assists, four rebounds and two steals as well. It's the fourth time she's led Portland in scoring this year and 12^th double-digit scoring game.
• Mogel's point total was just one shy of matching her career high, which she set against Washington State earlier this season in Pullman.
• Spear scored 16 points as well to round out the double-digit scorers, her 11^th this season.
• With two 3-pointers, Anderson moved into sole possession of eighth on Portland's all-time list for 3-pointers made in a single season.
• Ananiev's three steals moves her to 72 on the season. She's the 22nd Pilot in program history to have at least 70 steals in a season.
• Portland shot 50% from the field overall and 50% from outside, draining nine 3-pointers in the process.
• The Pilots have won at least one WCC Tournament game in six of their seven seasons with Michael Meek as head coach.
• The Pilots improve to 11-3 in the WCC Tournament under Meek.

 
Up Next
 
The Pilots will now play the 4-seed Oregon State Beavers tomorrow at 11:30 a.m. at the Orleans Arena. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+. Check PortlandPilots.com for live stats, video and audio options.

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