BYU Looks to Extend Hot Start Against Portland PORTLAND, Ore. (Interstat) — The surging BYU women’s basketball team, off to its best start in years, hits the road to face the Portland Pilots at Chiles Center on Saturday. The Cougars (9-1) have won eight of their last nine, including a narrow 56-54 home victory over Washington State on Wednesday. BYU’s lone loss came in a road contest against Vanderbilt on Nov. 29. Portland (4-4) has been inconsistent but is coming off a 73-58 win over Eastern Washington last Sunday. The Pilots are 3-1 at home this season. A key matchup will feature BYU guard Arielle Mackey-Williams against Portland’s Rhyan Mogel. Mackey-Williams is averaging 9.7 points per game and is coming off a 14-point performance against Washington State. Mogel, the Pilots’ floor general, is averaging 8.4 points and 4.0 assists, and dished out eight assists in the team’s last outing. BYU’s strength has been a balanced offense and staunch defense, holding opponents to an average of 59.2 points per game. Olivia Hamlin, who also scored 14 points Wednesday, provides a consistent secondary scoring option. The Pilots will need to contain BYU’s perimeter attack and find offensive rhythm beyond Mogel. Dyani Ananiev and Florence Dallow have provided recent scoring boosts, each posting 10 and 11 points, respectively, in the win over Eastern Washington. This is the final non-conference tune-up for Portland before West Coast Conference play begins next month. BYU continues a tough stretch of road games before opening Big 12 Conference action at the end of December. Saturday’s contest tips off at 2 p.m. PST.