Pilot Women Conquer Concordia 63-53

PORTLAND, Ore. --- Senior Laiken Dollente and sophomore Alexis Gannis both scored 15 points as the Pilots defeated the Concordia Cavaliers 63-53 in a women’s basketball exhibition game on Wednesday night at the Chiles Center. UP junior Tara Cronin ripped down a game-high 13 rebounds.

The Pilots got off to a slow start as Concordia built a 29-28 lead at the half. But Portland stepped up the defensive pressure in the second half, holding the Cavaliers to just 29.5 percent shooting en route to the win.

Portland used a 12-0 run midway through the second half to put the game out of reach. Four different players scored during the spurt, which included back-to-back lay-ins by Gannis that made it 54-37 in UP’s favor with 4:30 left to play.

Dollente hit all seven of her free throws on the night and handed out a game-high five assists. Gannis also went seven of seven from the line, while adding eight rebounds.

Sophomore transfer Natalie Day was impressive in her UP debut, scoring 12 points on the night.

Danielle Clauson led the Cavaliers with a game-high 17 points.

Neither team exactly lit it up from the field as the Pilots finished at 35 percent shooting, which was up from 30 percent at the half. UP also hit just three-pointers, while going 17-for-22 at the foul line.

Concordia hit 14 of its 15 free throws and went 3-for-12 on three-pointers.

The Pilots next host the Warner Pacific Knights in its second and final exhibition game next week at the Chiles Center. Portland and Warner Pacific are set to tip off at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 11.

Portland opens the regular season at home against Eastern Washington on Saturday, Nov. 14.