LONG BEACH, Calif. (Interstat) — The Portland Pilots routed Long Beach State 94-58 in a nonconference women’s basketball game Thursday night at Walter Pyramid. Portland seized control early and exploded after halftime, outscoring the 49ers 63-30 in the second half. The Pilots’ defense was relentless, forcing 21 turnovers and converting them into easy offense. JaQuoia Jones-Brown led all scorers with 25 points for Long Beach State. Portland had a balanced attack, with Lainey Spear scoring 14 points and Jada Kennedy adding 14 off the bench. Julia Dalan contributed 13 points and four blocks for the Pilots. Portland improved to 5-5. Long Beach State fell to 0-9.

LONG BEACH, Calif. (Interstat) — The Portland Pilots turned a competitive first half into a decisive rout with a dominant third-quarter surge, cruising to a 94-58 victory over the Long Beach State 49ers in a nonconference women’s basketball game Thursday night at the Walter Pyramid. The game’s pivotal shift came immediately after halftime. Leading by just seven points, 31-28, Portland unleashed a 33-point third quarter, outscoring Long Beach State by 21 points in the period to break the game wide open. The Pilots used a stifling defensive effort to fuel their offense, forcing a series of turnovers that led to easy baskets in transition and a commanding 64-40 lead entering the final quarter. Portland’s defense was the story, generating 21 turnovers from the 49ers and converting them into 30 points. The Pilots also recorded 11 steals and six blocked shots, with Julia Dalan protecting the rim with four blocks. Offensively, Portland shared the ball effectively, tallying 11 assists to just three for Long Beach State, and dominated the glass with 18 offensive rebounds leading to 20 second-chance points. Despite a game-high 25 points from Long Beach State’s JaQuoia Jones-Brown, the 49ers struggled to find consistent offense. Portland’s defensive pressure limited Long Beach State to 20-of-56 shooting from the field and just five assists for the game. The Pilots showcased a balanced scoring attack. Lainey Spear scored 14 points in just 17 minutes, while Jada Kennedy matched that total off the bench, also in limited action. Dalan added 13 points to go with her four blocks, and Florence Dallow contributed eight points. Rhyan Mogel directed the offense with a team-high six assists. For Long Beach State, Brynna Pukis joined Jones-Brown in double figures with 11 points. Kennan Ka dished out six assists but the 49ers could not overcome their ball-handling issues and Portland’s relentless pressure. The first half was a tighter affair. Portland led 17-12 after a quarter and saw its advantage trimmed to 31-28 by halftime as Jones-Brown kept the 49ers within striking distance. The narrative changed completely in the third quarter, as Portland opened with a 16-4 run over the first five minutes, highlighted by consecutive steals and layups from Spear, to seize control for good. With the win, Portland evens its season record at 5-5. The Pilots will travel to face Oregon on Dec. 18. Long Beach State remains winless at 0-9 and will visit UCLA on Dec. 20. The announced attendance was 620.

Preview: Portland Pilots at Long Beach State 49ers LONG BEACH, Calif. (Interstat) — The Portland Pilots and Long Beach State 49ers, two teams seeking momentum, will meet in a nonconference women’s basketball game Thursday night at Walter Pyramid. Portland (4-5) enters after a difficult 87-53 home loss to BYU on Saturday. The Pilots had previously won two straight, defeating Eastern Washington and Nevada during the final weekend of November. Long Beach State (0-8) is still searching for its first win after a 75-45 road loss at UC San Diego on Saturday. The 49ers have lost their games by an average of 19.5 points. A key matchup will feature Portland’s interior presence against Long Beach State’s versatile forward. Pilots junior Julia Dalan has been a consistent defensive force, blocking 23 shots over the last seven games. She is coming off a 13-point, five-block performance against BYU. For the 49ers, freshman Judit Oliva Fernandez has been a bright spot, averaging 8.0 points and 5.1 rebounds. She recorded a double-double (12 points, 11 rebounds) against California Baptist on Nov. 12 and scored 11 points with three blocks against UC San Diego. Portland’s offense will look to rebound from a season-low scoring output. Beyond Dalan, guards Rhyan Mogel and Lainey Spear will be relied upon for production. Long Beach State’s offense has struggled, failing to reach 60 points in any game this season. Support for Oliva Fernandez has come from guards Kennan Ka and Brynna Pukis, who led the team with 12 points last outing. This game represents a final nonconference tune-up before both teams turn their focus to league play. Portland will begin West Coast Conference action in late December, while Long Beach State opens Big West play on Jan. 3. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. PST.