University of Portland Athletics : Pilots Navigate South to San Diego before Hosting Santa Clara

PORTLAND PILOTS (4-9, 0-2 WCC)
WEEK 8: at San Diego / vs. Santa Clara
San Diego Toreros (8-5, 1-1 WCC)
Day:
Thursday
Date: Jan. 4, 2018
Place: San Diego, Calif.
Time: 6:00 PM
Gym: Jenny Craig Pavilion
Live Video:TheWtv.com
Live Stats:USDToreros.com
POR vs. USD
Overall: 32-40 • Last 5/10: 0-5/1-9
H: 17-15 • A: 10-21 • N: 5-4
Last: USD 74, POR 47 (3/2/2017 at WCC Tourney)
Santa Clara Broncos (4-9, 0-2 WCC)
Day: Saturday
Date: Jan. 6, 2018
Place: Portland, Ore.
Time: 2:00 PM
Gym: Chiles Center
Live Video:TheWtv.com
Live Stats:PortlandPilots.com
POR vs. SCU
Overall: 30-42 • Last 5/10: 0-5/2-8
H: 15-15 • A: 11-24 • N: 4-3
Last: @SCU 68, POR 56 (2/2/2017)
THIS WEEK • The Pilots play another split schedule this week, heading south to San Diego to face the San Diego Toreros Thursday night before hosting the Santa Clara Broncos on Saturday afternoon. • Tip-off with the Toreros on Thursday at the Jenny Craig Pavilion is set for 6 p.m., while the Pilots and Broncos are set for 2 p.m. on Saturday at the Chiles Center. • A live stream for both games is available at TheW.tv., and kids in the sixth grade and under receive free admission at the Chiles Center on Saturday.
LAST WEEK • Portland opened the WCC schedule with a pair of set-backs, succumbing to BYU 72-58 last Thursday at home before the San Francisco Dons rallied past the Pilots in the second half at USF on Saturday to prevail 84-75. • Against the Cougars at the Chiles Center, Julie Spencer scored 21 points in the second half to finish with a career-best 25, and Josie Matz collected a career-high 13 boards, but the Pilots were unable to overcome a double-digit deficit. • In SF on Saturday, the Pilots led for most of the game and were ahead by 11 in the third quarter, but the Dons were red-hot down the stretch to claim the comeback win. • Rachelle Owens, who was one of four Pilots to score in double figures, reached a new career high with 14 points.
ABOUT THE PILOTS • The 101 points scored by the Pilots against Saint Francis on Dec. 20 mark the first time the Pilots reached the century mark since 1997 when they scored 104 against Idaho. • The 106-101 loss to the Red Flash was also the first game to go to double overtime for the Pilots since a 78-73 win at Pepperdine in 2011. • Darian Slaga's career-best 27 points, which came on 10-for-14 shooting, against Saint Francis are the most scored by a Pilot since Cassandra Brown poured in 30 at Pepperdine on Jan. 17, 2015. • Portland's game vs. Weber State on Dec. 17 was the 100th in the career for head coach Cheryl Sorenson, who is in her fourth year at the helm of the Pilots. • Portland opened the campaign at 3-0, which was start to a season since the 2010-11 squad opened 4-0. • The Pilots rank in the top five of the West Coast Conference in a handful of categories, including free throw percentage (4th, .698), offensive rebounds (4th, 15.1), rebounding defense (5th, 35.6 rpg), and rebounding margin (5th, +4.3). • In their two WCC games, the Pilots are second in both three-pointers made (14) and three-point percentage (.318). • Individually, Kate Andersen ranks third in the WCC in free throw percentage (.844) and is 10th in steals (1.7), Lisa Kaempf is eighth in offensive rebounds (2.9), Maddie Muhlheim is eighth in three-pointers made (20), Rachelle Owens is 10th in assists (3.6), and Julie Spencer is 11th in scoring (13.2). • In two conference games, Spencer ranks second in scoring (19.5). • The Pilots are a young squad with seven newcomers, which features six true freshmen and a junior transfer. • Portland's top returning scorer and rebounder from last season is junior forward Julie Spencer, who averaged career bests of 9.5 points and 7.5 rebounds per contest as a sophomore; she claimed four double-doubles, and she corralled 18 rebounds during a game vs. Pacific, which was the most boards by a Pilot since 2013. • Spencer has two double-doubles this season, with 15 points and 10 boards against Hawai'i and 14 points and 10 rebounds vs. Portland State; she scored a career-high 24 points on 12 of 15 shooting at Cal State Fullerton. • Redshirt-senior Rachelle Owens, who only appeared in one game last year before an injury cut her season short, scored a career-high 14 points last weekend at San Francisco; she handed out a career-best seven assists vs. Utah Valley earlier this season. • Junior guard Darian Slaga missed a handful of games recently with an injury, but she returned on Nov. 28 to hit three three-pointers and score 15 points off the bench against Portland State; Slaga is second on the team in scoring (12.0 ppg) and she recently poured in 27 points against Saint Francis. • Slaga currently ranks third all-time at UP in career free throw percentage (.808). • The Pilots were selected to finish 10th in the WCC, finishing just two points behind ninth-place Pepperdine in the preseason coaches' poll. • 2017-18 marks the fourth year for head coach Cheryl Sorenson, who was previously an assistant for the Pilots; she assumed the reins of the program after long-time head coach Jim Sollars retired following the 2013-14 season. • Sorenson, who starred collegiately at the Washington, was a high school All-American at nearby Clackamas High School. • Portland has been to four NCAA Tournaments (1994-97), two WNIT's (1998 & 2009) and one WBI (2010).
ABOUT THE OPPONENTS • The San Diego Toreros split their opening WCC weekend, winning at USF before losing at Pepperdine. • The Toreros are out-scoring their opponents by an average of 70.7 to 63.8. • Senior guard Aubrey Ward-El (14.8 ppg) is one of four Toreros scoring in double-figures, while fifth-year senior and Preseason All-WCC selection Maya Hood is averaging 11.8 points and 7.2 rebounds. • 13th-year head coach Cindy Fisher has led USD to 20 wins in five of the last six seasons. • The Santa Clara Broncos opened the WCC slate with losses to Pepperdine and Gonzaga. • The Broncos are 10th in the WCC in scoring offense (55.1) but are first in scoring defense (57.5). • Senior forward Morgan McGwire is averaging team-bests of 9.9 points and 8.5 rebounds per game, and she leads the WCC in blocks (2.0). • Head coach Bill Carr is in his second year at Santa Clara.