PORTLAND, Ore. --- The Portland Pilots women's basketball team will play the first of two scheduled exhibition games on Tuesday night as the Willamette Bearcats visit the Chiles Center for a 7 p.m. tip-off. The Pilots will also host Warner Pacific on Saturday evening.
 
Portland's official season opener comes on the road when they travel to Davis, Calif., on Friday, Nov. 11 to face the UC Davis Aggies.
 
Portland returns a veteran squad in 2016-17, which marks the third year for head coach Cheryl Sorenson. Headlining the group of 10 returners is a deep supply of guards, led by senior point guard Kaylie Van Loo. Last season Van Loo averaged 7.9 points per game and 2.7 rebounds, and she ranked fifth in the WCC in assists, handing out 3.7 dimes per contest.
 
Just behind Van Loo on the scoring charts is sophomore Darian Slaga, who enters her second season on The Bluff after a successful freshman campaign. Slaga ended the year on fire, averaging 12.1 points per game covering the final seven games of the season. Sharpshooting senior Holy Blades, who buried a team-high 50 three's last year, also returns, as does the team's top returning rebounder, junior forward Ashley Gray (4.1 rpg). 
 
Portland's three newcomers feature a pair of freshmen, guard Kate Andersen and forward Keala Quinlan, and sophomore transfer Jojuan Carrington, a forward who comes to UP from Diablo Valley JC.
 
Portland's regular season home opener will take place on Sunday, Nov. 27 when the Pilots host the Washington Huskies at the Chiles Center. Portland begins play in the West Coast Conference at home against Pacific on Dec. 29.