2021-2022 Schedule/Season

A_Fan wrote:I've never understood why, since Jabbar's time, more players, especially taller players have not developed a good hook shot.

WOMEN’S MID-SEASON ALL-WCC FIRST TEAM:  Haylee Andrews, Portland; Alex Fowler, Portland; Shaylee Gonzales, BYU; Lauren Gustin, BYU; Melody Kempton, Gonzaga.

BEST QUIET START BY A WOMEN’S TEAM: Portland will enter WCC play with a four-game win streak and a 10-2 record — the program’s best through 12 games since starting 27-1 in 1996-97. Coach Michael Meek’s Pilots are second in the conference in both offense (74.8 points) and defense (57.3 points). Their only losses came against a pair of Top-25 teams from the Pac-12: Stanford and Oregon.

Two years ago at the University Credit Union West Coast Conference tournament in Las Vegas, Portland guard Haylee Andrews created a moment she’d never experienced in her basketball career. Then she did it again the next day.

“I was literally speechless,” Andrews said, recalling the shot she made with 3 seconds left to beat 12th-ranked and top-seeded Gonzaga 70-69 in the tournament semifinals. “I’d never done that, hit a game winner.”

Twenty-four hours later, she not only made a game-tying shot to force overtime against San Diego in the championship game, she then delivered the go-ahead basket in the final minute as the Pilots captured their first WCC tournament title since 1994 with a 64-63 triumph.

“Two days in a row was definitely overwhelming,” Andrews said. “I was so happy for my teammates, my coaches, everyone in the UP community.”

But the unlikely saga of a team that was picked to finish last in the conference did not come with a storybook ending. Virtually the day after the WCC tournament ended, the COVID-19 pandemic took hold, shutting down everything, including the NCAA tournament to which Portland had qualified for the first time in 23 years.

Which brings us to this season and a mission that continues to drive the Pilots. Portland never found a rhythm last season amid the pandemic and its complications but this year’s Pilots are 10-2, with losses only to Stanford and Oregon — both Top-25 teams at the time. Andrews suggested her team has unfinished business.

“Getting to the NCAA tournament is obviously every college player’s dream,” she said. “Thinking about those emotions we went through, it would be really nice to experience that environment.”

It won’t be easy. The Pilots were picked fifth in the WCC preseason coaches poll, and first up on their conference schedule — after two postponements a week ago — is Gonzaga. Who else?

BYU, 10-1 and ranked 18th in the AP Top-25, has so far lived up to the coaches’ projection as the WCC favorite. But the perennially powerful Zags remain formidable, especially on defense, and bring a 9-3 record to Portland on Thursday night.

“Gonzaga has as much talent as anybody,” third-year Portland coach Michael Meek said. “They played a lot without their key seniors in last year’s league tournament and were still able to win. They’re really good.”

“Obviously, we’re all really exited to play a game,” said Andrews, the returning All-WCC standout from Townsville, Australia. “Gonzaga has always been a great program to play against. It will be a really good test to see where we are.”

Portland lost by an average of 25 points in two matchups last season against the Zags, who went on to claim their 12th NCAA tournament bid. Gonzaga has won 41 of the past 43 meetings with its Northwest neighbor, and the Pilots haven’t beaten the Zags at home since the 2000-01 season.

“Oh wow, that is a long time,” said Andrews, who had not yet celebrated her first birthday at that point.

A generation later, the Pilots are better prepared to take on the league’s elite.

“I don’t think there’s any question in the three years that our staff has been here, this is the most talent we’ve had,” said Meek, noting that the Plots are older, deeper and bigger. “We still have a ways to go. We haven’t arrived as a program, but we’re getting closer.

“Gonzaga probably looks at us different than maybe even a couple years ago.”

Along with two-time All-WCC forward Alex Fowler (16.7 points, 8.0 rebounds), and a mix of youth and experience in the backcourt, the Pilots also have Lucy Cochrane, a 6-foot-6 sophomore, who provides more than her nightly average of 8.4 points and 7.0 rebounds.

Cochrane opted to remain at home in Sydney, Australia a year ago during the first peak of the pandemic, and her presence this season is telling. “The effect Lucy has in the paint has really changed the way we play defensively,” said Andrews, referring to Cochrane’s NCAA-leading 4.0 blocked shots per game. “I don’t feel as guilty now when I get beat.”

In her fourth season, Andrews remains the Pilots’ leader on the floor, organizing them and doing a little bit of everything. She is second on the team at 12.2 points per game, averages 4.8 rebounds and leads the WCC in assists at 6.0 per outing.

In the team’s two most recent games, wins over Stephen F. Austin and Fresno State, Andrews twice flirted with triple-doubles, averaging 15.5 points, 10.0 rebounds and 7.5 assists.

“There’s so many good things about Haylee,” Meek said. “She’s definitely a kid that thrives in the moment. She’s really tough and really wants to win, and she does it in such a good teammate-type way.”

wrv wrote:Interested in thoughts on whether Pilots are done (they may be given scholarships and considering returning players) or may again venture into recruiting available players? Or whether they are set and should stand pat with their roster?

Dean Murdoch wrote:I’m here for the baseless speculation, memes, and low-grade analysis!