Alexander Fisher

PILOTS WIN THE 2020 WCC CHAMPIONSHIP OVER SAN DIEGO 64-63 (OT)

Confetti rains down as the Pilots celebrate their first WCC title since 1994.

First year Head Coach Michael Meek led the team to a 21-11 record, including an upset over No. 11 Gonzaga in the WCC Semifinals.

TICKET PUNCHED

The Pilots advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1997.

THE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

The Portland Pilots completed their improbable run by holding off the San Diego Toreros in overtime, winning 64-63 to claim the 2020 University Credit Union West Coast Conference Tournament Championship at the Orleans Arena on Tuesday afternoon. It's only the second WCC tournament title in the history of the Portland women's basketball program, and it secures the Pilots' first trip to the NCAA Tournament since 1997.

GAME RECAP

Haylee Andrews came through with two clutch shots during the win, one at the end of regulation to force overtime, and she hit what would prove to be the game-winner in OT.

PILOTS IN THE NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT

Andrews, Portland women NCAA bound, upset San Diego 64-63 (ESPN)

FULL STORY

Canzano: No regrets in Las Vegas for NCAA Tournament-bound University of Portland Pilots (Oregon Live)

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Portland’s WCC Title Run, By The Numbers (Forbes)

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Faraudo: Portland Completes Title Run (WCC Sports)

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AP: Portland Pilots women's basketball team heading to NCAA Tournament (KGW)

FULL STORY

THE ROAD TO THE 'SHIP

Pilots Advance to Semifinals with win over Pacific 76-69

Portland standout freshman Alex Fowler poured in 27 points, sophomore Haylee Andrews added 16, and the Pilots held off the Pacific Tigers to win 76-69 in the quarterfinals of the West Coast Conference Championships at the Orleans Arena on Saturday. The win sends the Pilots to Monday's semifinals, where they'll face the top-seeded Gonzaga Bulldogs.

The Pilots, who entered the game as the WCC's No. 4 seed, improve to 19-11 overall, giving the program their most wins in a season since 1997-98. It's also Portland's first trip to the conference semi's since 2011.

GAME HIGHLIGHTS

PRESS CONFERENCE

THIS. IS. MARCH

Pilots Topple 11th-Ranked Gonzaga to Advance to the WCC Title Game

In a game that Gonzaga led by 20 in the first quarter, the Pilots and No. 11 Bulldogs battled until the end, and it was sophomore Haylee Andrews who hit the game-winning shot with three seconds left to give Portland a dramatic 70-69 win and secure a spot in tomorrow's West Coast Conference Championship game at the Orleans Arena. Portland will be making its first appearance in the WCC title game since 1997 after their semifinal win on Monday.

GAME RECAP

PRESS CONFERENCE

The reaction of Pilot Nation says it all...

Andrews Game Winner Goes Viral (on her Birthday)

Happy Birthday, Haylee!

Portland Trailblazers Star Shows Love to Andrews on Twitter

Haylee was serenaded with 'Happy Birthday' as she arrived in the locker room after hitting the game-winning shot

ON TO THE TITLE GAME...

"We didn't come here to beat Gonzaga, or beat Pacific... we came here to win this tournament. Let's refocus and come ready do that tomorrow." – Coach Meek

Here. We. Go

THE GAME

1st Quarter

San Diego (20-11) scored the game's first eight points as the Pilots committed some early turnovers. Portland cleaned it up from there and scored eight straight points to tie the score. Andrews fueled the run with consecutive lay-ins.

2nd Quarter

The Toreros held a slight 12-11 edge going to the second, but the Pilots quickly surged ahead. Maddie Muhlheim cut across the lane and banked one in while getting fouled, and she'd convert another lay-in soon after that on a nice feed from Keeley Frawley. Fowler then produced in the post, and Jayce Gorzeman finished with the left hand to put Portland on top 26-16.

3rd Quarter

Muhlheim buried a corner three to begin the third quarter, but San Diego then made a run to jump ahead. The Pilots answered with an elbow jumper by Fowler, and a driving lay-up from Andrews evened the score 37-37. Toreros then opened a six-point lead, but the Pilots didn't falter. Kate Andersen found Fowler down low, and Frawley scored with a nice hesitation move as the score was tied 43-43 going to the final frame.

4th Quarter

The fourth quarter featured seven ties and five lead changes, and again it was Andrews who provided the clutch shot in the closing minutes. As the final seconds rolled off the clock at the end of regulation, the Pilots went to Andrews, and as she has repeatedly this season, she hit a tough shot to send the game to overtime.

Overtime

Down two, the Toreros' Jordyn Edwards drilled a step-back three-pointer to put San Diego back in front with 1:27 left. The Pilots and Toreros would exchange turnovers from there, and the Pilots had the ball down one with just under a minute left to play. That's when they turned to their all-conference point guard Andrews, and just like she did against No. 11 Gonzaga in the semifinals she calmly buried the go-ahead bucket. Andrews gained possession in the left wing, backed down her defender, and hit a turn-around floater to give Portland the one-point lead.

The Final Play

With less than 40 seconds to go and clinging to a one point lead, the Pilots forced a turnover, but on the ensuing possession they couldn't control the offensive rebound after a miss, setting up one last effort for San Diego with 10 seconds remaining. The ball ended up in the hands of Erica Martinsen, and as time expired her three was off, clinching the championship for the Pilots!

GAME RECAP

IN THE LOCKER ROOM

The team celebrates with Coach Meek after winning the WCC Championship

There's no better feeling than cutting down the nets as WCC Champions

Picked to finish last in the WCC preseason poll, the Pilots became the 'Cinderella Story' of the college basketball world

Alex Fowler was named the Tournament MVP after averaging 23.3 points over Portland's three games. Fowler also landed on the all-tournament team and was joined by Andrews.

For the first time since 1997, the Pilots celebrated as they punched their ticket to the NCAA Tournament

Created By

Alexander Fisher

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