SANTA CLARA, Calif. (Interstat) — The Portland women’s basketball team used a dominant second half to defeat Santa Clara 73-66 on Thursday night at Leavey Center. The Pilots trailed 27-23 at halftime but erupted for 26 points in the third quarter to seize control. Dyani Ananiev led Portland with 22 points, while Florence Dallow added 17. Ashley Hawkins paced Santa Clara with 15 points and eight assists. Portland improved to 10-8 overall. Santa Clara, which outrebounded Portland 18-6 on the offensive glass but shot just 31.6% from the field, fell to 15-5.

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (Interstat) — The Portland Pilots, led by a dominant second-half surge from Dyani Ananiev, snapped the Santa Clara Broncos’ four-game winning streak with a 73-66 victory in a West Coast Conference women’s basketball game Thursday night at a sparsely attended Leavey Center. In a contest defined by defensive intensity and offensive struggles, Portland overcame a sluggish start and a halftime deficit to outscore Santa Clara 50-39 in the final two quarters. The Pilots improved to 10-8 overall, while the Broncos, who entered the game with a 15-4 record and a 58% win probability according to National Statistical’s ELO system, fell to 15-5. The game’s pivotal shift occurred in the third quarter. Trailing 27-23 at halftime after scoring just 23 points in the first half, Portland’s offense ignited. The Pilots erupted for 26 points in the period, spearheaded by Ananiev. The 6-foot-1 sophomore from St. Andrews, Australia, scored 11 of her game-high 22 points in the quarter, attacking the rim and hitting a crucial three-pointer that capped a 7-0 run and gave Portland a lead it would not relinquish. Santa Clara, which shot a frigid 24 of 76 from the field and 7 of 31 from three-point range for the game, could not mount a consistent response. Despite holding an 18-6 advantage in offensive rebounds, the Broncos failed to convert those extra chances efficiently, hampered by Portland’s formidable interior defense. Pilots’ center Julia Dalan anchored that effort with a staggering eight blocked shots, altering countless others and limiting Santa Clara’s paint effectiveness. Portland’s backcourt duo provided essential support for Ananiev. Florence Dallow, a 6-2 guard from Auckland, New Zealand, added 17 points, while point guard Rhyan Mogel of Happy Valley, Oregon, orchestrated the offense with 15 points and five assists. Their combined efforts helped Portland withstand 16 turnovers against an aggressive Santa Clara defense that recorded 15 steals. The Broncos were led by Ashley Hawkins, who tallied 15 points and eight assists. Kylee Fox and Ava Schmidt each contributed 12 points, with Schmidt adding five blocks defensively. Maia Jones also scored 12 for Santa Clara. However, the team’s overall shooting woes, compounded by an 11-of-21 performance from the free-throw line, proved insurmountable. Portland’s defense was the ultimate difference. Beyond Dalan’s shot-blocking clinic, the Pilots held Santa Clara to an offensive rating of 78.6 points per 100 possessions. While not sharp offensively themselves with an 85.7 rating, the Pilots were more effective from the floor, shooting 42% compared to Santa Clara’s 31.6%, and made key plays down the stretch. After Santa Clara closed to within four points late in the fourth quarter, Portland sealed the game at the free-throw line. Dallow, who played 28 minutes, calmly sank four consecutive free throws in the final minute to extend the lead and secure the road victory. The win marks a significant conference road result for Portland, which had lost its previous WCC road game at Gonzaga. Santa Clara, which had notable non-conference wins over Washington State and Grand Canyon this season, will look to rebound from its first home loss in WCC play. Portland returns home to face Seattle on Saturday. Santa Clara continues its conference schedule with a road game at Saint Mary’s, also on Saturday.

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (Interstat) — A surging Santa Clara squad looks to continue its strong West Coast Conference start when it hosts the Portland Pilots on Thursday night at Leavey Center. The Broncos (15-4) have won six of their last seven games, including a high-octane 98-92 road victory at Washington State last Saturday. They are powered by guard Ashley Hawkins, who is coming off a dominant 26-point, six-rebound, eight-assist performance. Over her last five games, Hawkins is averaging 16.4 points and 8.4 assists, orchestrating one of the league’s most efficient offenses. Portland (9-8) arrives after a 55-69 loss at Gonzaga, which snapped a two-game winning streak. The Pilots will lean on guard Rhyan Mogel, who has been a consistent facilitator. Mogel recorded a double-double with 14 points and 10 assists in a narrow loss at San Francisco on Dec. 30 and is averaging 7.0 assists over her last five contests. The matchup presents a stark contrast in recent momentum. Santa Clara’s only loss since Dec. 21 was a narrow 85-92 defeat at Loyola Marymount. Portland has shown resilience on the road, with key conference wins at Saint Mary’s and Portland State, but has struggled against the league’s top tier. For Portland, containing Hawkins will be the primary defensive challenge. Nicole Rodriguez, who led the Pilots with 14 points against Gonzaga, will need to provide scoring support alongside Mogel. Santa Clara boasts multiple weapons, as seen in the win at Washington State where Ava Schmidt (22 points) and Maia Jones (23 points) also shined. This game is the first of two regular-season meetings between the teams, with the rematch scheduled for Feb. 14 in Portland. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. PST.