LAS VEGAS, Nev. – The fifth-seeded Pacific women's basketball team (17-14, 9-9 WCC) put in a second-half fight, but fell 76-69 to fourth-seeded Portland (19-11, 11-7 WCC) Saturday afternoon in the quarterfinal round of the UCU West Coast Conference Basketball Championships at the Orleans Arena.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:
First Half
- The Tiger defense held Portland scoreless for a stretch of the final 3:12 of the first quarter while catching up to the Pilots after a sluggish start. Lianna Tillman buried a triple at the 1:08 mark of the first quarter to bring Pacific into the game within one at 15-14 before Jordan Cruz put Pacific in the lead for the first time with a three of her own.
- In the midst of Portland's scoreless stretch, Pacific put in work on the other end of the floor with a 12-2 run to close out the first quarter while outrebounding the Pilots 15-10 through 10 minutes.
- Pacific spread the rebounding love around in the first half, collecting 24 for a 24-18 advantage at halftime. Every player who checked in in the first half had a board, led by four apiece from Callie Kaiser and Savannah Whitehead.
- Higgins didn't skip a beat in her second game back, going for 13 points on 4-of-8 shooting and 5 of 5 from the free throw line. 11 of the 13 game in the second quarter.
- The Tigers held Portland scoreless from deep on an 0-of-11 clip while outscoring the Pilots 26-19 in the second quarter.
Second Half
- Brooklyn McDavid muscled through for a tough and one in the third quarter, bringing the Pacific deficit under 10 to 52-43.
- Pacific brought their rebound total to 38 through three quarters, upping the quota to 79 for the Tigers through two games at the 2020 WCC Tournament.
- McDavid pulled down five rebounds in the third quarter alone, finishing the afternoon with seven.
- Pacific entered 40-rebound territory for the eighth time in the 2019-20 season and second time in as many games at the 2020 WCC Tournament.
- Higgins and Tryggedsson paced Pacific in the fourth quarter with six points apiece.
NOTABLE PERFORMANCES:
- Pacific pulled down 49 rebounds against the Pilots, eclipsing 40 for the second time in as many games. 21 of the 49 were on the offensive glass.
- Higgins eclipsed the 20-point mark for the eighth time this season, finishing with 21 points on 6-of-13 shooting.
- Pacific held the Pilots to just 1 of 17 from three-point range all game.
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