The Portland Pilots women’s basketball team secured a 72-62 victory over the Washington State Cougars in the third round of the 2026 Credit Union 1 WCC Women’s Basketball Championships held in Las Vegas. This win advances Portland to the quarterfinals and brings their season record to 18-13.
Rhyan Mogel led the Pilots with 19 points, five assists, four rebounds, and two steals, coming within one point of her career high. Lainey Spear also reached double digits with 16 points. Nicole Anderson and Florence Dallow each contributed nine points, while Dyani Ananiev added eight points. Anderson’s two three-pointers in this game brought her season total to 58, ranking eighth for most threes made by a Pilot in a single year.
Defensively, Portland forced 19 turnovers and collected 11 steals. Ananiev stood out with three steals and three blocks, raising her season total to 72 steals and making her the 22nd player in program history to reach at least 70 steals in a season. Offensively, the Pilots shot over 50% from both the field and beyond the arc, hitting nine three-pointers during the game.
The first quarter saw both teams trading scores inside the arc before Tiffany Barbosa hit a late three-pointer to give Portland an 18-15 lead. The second quarter featured an early push from Portland followed by an eight-point run from Washington State. Mogel responded by scoring eight of Portland’s last nine points in the half, including two three-pointers that put them ahead at halftime.
Portland dominated early in the second half with a decisive 15-2 run while forcing six steals and ten turnovers from Washington State during that period. The Pilots maintained control through consistent defensive pressure and effective shooting.
In the final quarter, despite efforts from Washington State to close the gap with a six-point run, Portland maintained their lead by focusing on getting inside shots and drawing fouls.
Coach Michael Meek has now led Portland to at least one tournament win in six of his seven seasons as head coach. Under Meek’s leadership, the Pilots hold an 11-3 record in WCC Tournament play.
Looking ahead, Portland will face fourth-seeded Oregon State Beavers tomorrow at Orleans Arena at 11:30 a.m., with coverage available on ESPN+.
For tickets or more information about upcoming games or supporting University of Portland Athletics programs, visit PortlandPilots.com/Tickets or contact pilotsboxoffice@up.edu for group packages.
