PORTLAND, Ore. – The University of Portland Pilots women’s basketball team saw its four-game winning streak come to an end Saturday, falling to the Santa Clara Broncos 77-66 at the Chiles Center.
The loss drops Portland to 15-11 overall and 9-5 in West Coast Conference play. Santa Clara improves to 16-10 on the season and 8-6 in conference action.
Forward Lainey Spear led the Pilots in scoring with a career-high 20 points, 16 of which came in the second half. Florence Dallow added 13 points and a career-best nine rebounds, narrowly missing a double-double. Rhyan Mogel contributed 10 points and four assists.
Portland shot 40% from beyond the arc, connecting on eight 3-pointers, and finished with 17 assists as a team.
How it Happened
Santa Clara started the game strong, opening with a 7-0 run. Portland responded with a 7-2 run of their own, but couldn’t seize the lead. A three-pointer from Ananiev with 1:43 remaining in the first quarter left the score at 15-14 in favor of the Broncos after the opening period.
The second quarter saw a back-and-forth battle. Portland went on an 11-0 run to establish an eight-point advantage, but Santa Clara quickly answered with an 11-0 run of their own to regain the lead. The Pilots then responded with another 10-1 run, before a late Santa Clara layup made the halftime score 37-33 in Portland’s favor.
Portland continued its momentum at the start of the third quarter, extending its lead after conceding an early basket. However, Santa Clara clawed back with an 8-0 run, bringing the game within one point. Late jumpers from Spear helped the Pilots maintain a 52-49 lead heading into the final period.
The fourth quarter proved decisive. Santa Clara opened with a 10-0 run, taking a seven-point lead with just under seven minutes to play. Portland attempted to close the gap, getting within three points, but ultimately couldn’t overcome the Broncos’ strong finish. Santa Clara sealed the victory by hitting all six of their free throw attempts in the final minutes.
Game Notes
- Spear’s 20-point performance was the first of her career and the third 20-point outing by a Pilot this season.
- Spear scored 16 of her 20 points in the second half.
- Dallow’s nine rebounds were a career high.
- Mogel rounded out the double-digit scorers with 10 points.
- Portland connected on eight 3-pointers in the game.
Up Next
The Pilots will be back on the road next week, facing a pair of Pacific Northwest opponents. They will first travel to Corvallis to take on the Oregon State Beavers on Thursday, Feb. 19, at 6:00 PM at Gill Coliseum.
