Box Score
PORTLAND, Ore. --- Portland senior guard Tara Cronin scored a game-high 14 points as the Pilots outscored the Seattle Pacific Falcons by 13 in the second half en route to 67-61 win in an women’s basketball exhibition game at the Chiles Center on Thursday night. Junior Alexis Gannis added 13 points as the Pilots next set their sights on the regular season.
The Falcons showed up to play on Thursday and took a 31-24 into the locker room at the half. But the Pilots came out energized in the second half and began to work the ball down low for some easy shots.
Gannis took full advantage, scoring 10 points after the half, with most coming on lay-ups. The forward grabbed seven rebounds, helping the Pilots to a 37-28 edge on the glass. Portland also finished with a hefty 42-18 advantage in points in the paint.
Cronin was efficient from the field, hitting five of eight attempts overall and three of four from behind the three-point arc.
Juniors Natalie Day and ReZina TecleMariam also reached double figures in scoring, registering 11 points each. TecleMariam handed out a game-high eight assists, while Day matched Gannis and senior post Lauren Angel with seven boards.
Five Falcons scored in double figures, with Caitlyn Rohrbach and Melissa Reich each scoring 11.
Gannis’ 5-for-6 shooting helped the Pilots improve their shooting percentage to a 40.6 percent (26-for-64) clip for the game. UP hit four three-pointers, while making 11 of 15 foul shots. Seattle Pacific hit 20 of 46 (43.5 percent) from the floor, connected on eight three pointers and went 13-for-19 at the foul line.
SPU turned the ball over 25 times, which led to 26 points for the Pilots. UP countered with 18 turnovers, leading to just nine points for the Falcons.
Portland, which defeated Concordia 103-55 in an exhibition game on Monday night, next opens the regular season at Boise State on Friday, Nov. 12 at 3:00 p.m. UP’s regular season home opener is against Washington State on Thursday, Nov. 18.
