PORTLAND, Ore. --- The 2017-18 women's basketball season is officially here as the Portland Pilots opened the campaign with their first practices of the year at the Chiles Center. Head coach Cheryl Sorenson enters her fourth year at the helm of the Pilots, who take on a new look this season with seven newcomers.
 
Headlining Portland's seven returners are a trio of veteran posts, in seniors Ashley Gray and Sara Zaragoza and junior Julie Spencer. Spencer is coming off a breakout year for the Pilots as she averaged career bests of 9.5 points and 7.5 rebounds per contest. She also claimed four double-doubles, and corralled18 rebounds during one game, which was the most boards by a Pilot since 2013. Spencer is the team's top returning scorer and rebounder.
 
Making her return to Portland's backcourt is redshirt-senior Rachelle Owens, who only appeared in one game last year before an injury cut her season short. Junior scorer Darian Slaga is also back after averaging 8.6 points per game as a sophomore. Twice Slaga scored more than 20 points last winter, which included a 24-point outburst against the Washington Huskies.
 
Sophomore guard Kate Andersen and sophomore forward Keala Quinlan return for their second years in Portland purple.
 
New to The Bluff is a sizable group of seven newcomers, which features six true freshmen and a junior transfer. Forward Lisa-Marie Kaempf comes to Portland from Midland College and will have two years of eligibility remaining with the Pilots, while forward Jayce Gorzeman, forward Erik Kankfelt, guard Josie Matz, guard Maddie Muhlheim, center Lauren Walker, and forward Kristina Wooldridge are freshmen in their debut seasons.
 
Joining Sorenson on the bench are assistant coaches Steve Lowe and Brianna Chambers, who are both in their fourth year on the staff, along with third-year assistant coach Drew Muscatell.
 
Portland opens the regular season at home on Friday, Nov. 10 against Hawai'i. The Pilots also have an exhibition game slated for Saturday, Nov. 4 vs. Western Oregon at the Chiles Center.