Box Score

PORTLAND, Ore. --- Tara Cronin scored a game-high 17 points and ReZina TecleMariam added 15 as the Pilots overcame the Hawai’i Rainbow Wahine in a non-conference women’s basketball game at the Chiles Center on Saturday night. Natalie Day chipped in with 14 points for the Pilots, who improve to 6-3 on the year.

 

The game was close throughout, as the Pilots and Rainbows (4-4) were never separated by more than six points. The game also featured nine ties and eight lead changes.

 

The last tie came when UH’s Breanna Arbuckle hit a lay-up to make it 49-49 with 6:31 to play. Moments later, the UP lead was five after jumpers from Day and Lauren Angel, and a free throw from Cronin.

 

The Rainbows would then pull back within one before Day hit a big-time three-pointer from the right corner with 3:42 on the clock. That would be the last field goal for  the Pilots, who would hit nine free throws down the stretch to seal the win.

 

UH’s Meagan Tinnin did connect on a couple of three-pointers to keep things interesting in the closing minutes, but TecleMariam and Cronin combined to go 8-for-8 at the foul line during the final 30 seconds to give UP the win.

 

TecleMariam shot seven of 10 overall at the line, while also finishing with five rebounds and five assists. Cronin opened the game on fire from downtown en route to three three-pointers. She went 6-for-7 the charity stripe as Portland finished 14-for-20 as a team.

 

Day hit a pair of three-pointers to score in double figures for the eighth time this season.

 

Cronin and Angel each grabbed a team-high six rebounds, but the Pilots were outrebounded 47-34 by the Rainbow Wahine, who got an impressive 18 boards from Kamilah Jackson.

 

Jackson also scored 18 points to register the double-double. Breanna Arbuckle also notched a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds, while Tinnin matched Jackson with a game-high 18 points.

 

Day’s scoring helped the Pilots to a 23-2 advantage in bench points.

 

UP shot 40.4 percent (23-for-57) for the game, while UH was 23-for-63 (36.5 percent) overall. The Pilots took care of the ball, finishing with a season-low 13 turnovers. Meanwhile, 19 UH miscues led to 23 Portland points. The Pilots also registered a season high in blocks with eight, with Alexis Gannis accounting for a career-high five of those.

 

Portland next endures a stretch of five straight road games, beginning on Friday night at Montana State. Tip-off between the Pilots and Bobcats is set for 6:00 p.m. (Pacific) in Bozeman, Mont. Portland then plays at Montana, at Pacific, at UC Irvine and at Portland State before returning to the Chiles Center on Dec. 30 to face Idaho.