Pilots @ LMU; @ USD; @ SCU – Jan 19, 24, 26

Based upon the RPI’s of the respective teams and the Pilots’ performance to this point in the season, the experts are predicting UP will not win another game, and go 0-16 in league play.

I will continue to be optimistic they’ll eventually win a game or two just based upon the freshman/sophomore dominated team’s development over the last 45 days.

They’re great kids, and they’re keeping their chins up, for the most part. But with all the work they put in over the break, and now being in back in class, it’s got to be tough to press on without some reward besides getting better.

Three on the road.....it should bring the team even closer together!

Pilots defy the RPI and win @ LMU, 63-59!

UP Recap

Finally!

Hard work and teamwork DOES pay off! In the previous WCC games this year the Pilots have had one player after another step forward for a big scoring game without a win, but today at LMU it was just a gritty team effort that resulted in a 63-59 WIN FOR THE PILOTS.

Freshman Annika Holopainen hit the go-ahead lay-up with six seconds remaining and Jazmyn Johnson followed a steal with a pair of game-clinching free throws as the Portland Pilots claimed the win.

I doubt the ladies will swagger into their game next Thursday at San Diego, but I know they’ll be feeling a lot more confident in the knowledge they’ve started a winning streak….

The Pilots (6-12, 1-4) remain on the road after downing LMU last week and take on a very tough San Diego team (11-7, 2-3).

The Toreros defeated the Pilots 69-63 at the Chiles Center less than three weeks ago and have won five straight games against Portland.

Total rumor only:
Coach Sollars has 546 wins as a college coach; 392 of the wins are in D-1. The rumor is Coach Sollars will retire if he can get 8 more wins….I hope the young Pilots win at least 8 more, not necessarily because I want to see him retire, but I would love to see a resurgence of the Pilots Women’s Team to what it once was in the ‘90’s.

The women were in way over their head last night in San Diego and were crushed by a superior opponent.....

SOME good play, but the Pilots were killed on the boards.

It only gets tougher against SCU on Saturday afternoon.

Twitter says it was a wild finish but Pilots finish it off and win 71-68 at SCU.

Looks like it was pretty close the whole way. Only seven Pilots played today. Nurmi and Luttinen each had 15 and 5 rebs, Byrd with 11 (good to see her scoring again), Pupa with 7 and 7 rebs.

Portland shot 39% from the field and turned it over 17 times, but forced 20 SCU TOs and was 19-23 from the line. Doesn't look pretty but they won on the road.