The Portland Pilots women’s basketball team closed their regular season with a 92-91 overtime victory against the Gonzaga Bulldogs at home, marking their first regular season win over Gonzaga since 2009 and their first at the Chiles Center since 2001. The Pilots finished the season with a record of 17-13 overall and 11-7 in West Coast Conference play.
Nicole Anderson led Portland with a season-high 20 points, including four three-pointers and eight points in overtime. Florence Dallow, Lainey Spear, and Dyani Ananiev each contributed 15 points, while Rhyan Mogel and Tiffany Barbosa added 10 points apiece. All of Dallow’s points came in the fourth quarter.
Portland made a season-high 13 three-pointers and converted on 27 free throws, also a season best. The team recorded 19 assists during the game. Due to foul trouble late in the game, only six players were available for overtime.
On defense, the Pilots forced Gonzaga into 26 turnovers and collected 15 steals. Dallow, Mogel, Ananiev, and Barbosa each registered three steals.
In describing how the game unfolded, Portland started strong but faced several runs from Gonzaga throughout regulation. The second quarter saw Portland take control defensively before Gonzaga responded late to cut the lead to four at halftime. The third quarter belonged to Gonzaga as they scored 29 points and briefly took command.
Dallow sparked a comeback for Portland in the fourth quarter by scoring all her points during that period, including three consecutive three-pointers to tie the game at 66. After Gonzaga went ahead by three with just over eight seconds left in regulation, Dallow hit another three-pointer to send the contest into overtime.
Anderson opened overtime with two quick three-pointers that gave Portland a six-point lead. The Pilots maintained their advantage throughout extra time despite having limited players due to fouls. A last-second shot from Lauren Whittaker of Gonzaga was not enough as Portland secured the win.
Game notes highlight Anderson’s achievement of reaching 20 points for the first time this season and tying for eighth-most single-season threes by any Pilot with her total of 56 this year—the most since Maddie Muhlheim’s mark of 60 during the 2019-20 campaign. This was also Portland’s first overtime win of the current season.
Looking ahead, Portland awaits its placement in the upcoming Credit Union 1 West Coast Conference Basketball Championship tournament scheduled from March 5 through March 10. Additional information about tickets is available on PortlandPilots.com. Fans interested in supporting University of Portland Athletics can donate via this link.
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