Frustrating might be an understatement describing the Portland Pilots women’s basketball team season thus far. Coming into this season, the Pilots have had three straight winning seasons including two trips to the postseason. This season, they currently have a 9-17 record and are 2-10 in the West Coast Conference and next year, their leader in scoring, blocked shots and rebounds, Natalie Day, will graduate.
But not all might be gloomy in the City of Roses. Sophomores Alexis Byrd leads the team in assists, and Cassandra Brown, third leading scorer, will be returning. Perhaps the best news for the Pilots next season will be the debut of then junior Erin Boettcher, a transfer from New Mexico, who will be eligible to play next year. At 6’3”, Boettcher has the potential to be a dominating force down low which the Pilots have been missing this year. The Pilots may be in the best position not next year but in two years, they currently have nine underclassmen on the team with no juniors and only three seniors.
With four games left on the season, it does not get any easier for the Pilots to rise in the conference standings before the WCC tournament in Las Vegas. Santa Clara, San Francisco, and San Diego are their last three games, with their next game perhaps being the most intriguing: at home against the Pepperdine Waves this Thursday in Portland at 7PM.
The last time the Waves and Pilots met in Malibu in January, it was the most exciting finish to a women’s WCC basketball game this year. Unfortunately, for the Pilots, it was at their expense. With under ten seconds to go, the Pilots were up 63-60, until senior guard Katie Menton drained a three ten feet behind the arc with just over two seconds left on the clock to tie it up. Ensuing a Pilots’ timeout, they threw the inbounds pass to half court and it was intercepted by junior Shay Cooney-Williams, who then threw up the half court shot, the ball simultaneously went through the cylinder as the buzzer went off and the game was over 66-63 with the Waves pulling the come from behind win.
The Pilots will have their shot at revenge this Thursday, but will not be favored. The Waves, who are 7-5 in the WCC, will also have senior forward Skye Barnett back in the starting lineup, who was missing due to injury in their last meeting. Along with senior guards Katie Menton and Jazmine Jackson, the Waves will have many different players the Pilots have to shut down, including Cooney-Williams who put up 19 in that last meeting.
In order to get out of the play in game for the conference tournament this is a must win for the Pilots while the Waves are still trying to climb the conference ladder to the fourth spot, they are currently fifth, to receive a first round bye in the tournament. Both teams will show up ready to play and if the game is anything similar to their last meeting, you will not want to miss it.
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