No. 15 BYU Women Escape Upset Bid From Portland In WCC Tournament

LAS VEGAS – Just hours after earning its highest ranking in program history, BYU women’s basketball began its postseason on Monday. The No. 15 Cougars took the floor against one of the two teams that defeated them in the Portland Pilots.

Through the first 39 minutes, it had the makings of being another potential upset as the four-seed Pilots were only down by two entering the final minute of action.

#BYU avoids the upset! The Cougars take down Portland 59-52. 🤙

Will play in the WCC Tournament Championship Game tomorrow at 2 p.m. (MT).#BYUWBB #GoCougs #KSLVegasMayhem pic.twitter.com/kC4NUbHW0q

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) March 7, 2022

BYU’s high-powered offense, which struggled through the first three quarters, got off to a strong start in the fourth quarter, with reliable senior guard Maria Albiero knocking down a layup to open the final period. But Portland then answered with a quick bucket of their own.

Then BYU’s offense stalled again with a three-minute scoring drought. Portland took a 46-42 lead with 5:41 remaining in the game, giving the Pilots hope that they would pull off the first upset in this year’s WCC Tournament. Then BYU answered back with a Tegan Graham three spearheaded a 7-0 run.

The sizable number of BYU fans that attended the Monday matinee tilt made their voices heard as the Orleans Arena sounded like a game in Provo after BYU went on a run.

Then Albiero made those cheers louder, knocking down a corner three to extend BYU’s run to 10-0 and giving them a 52-46 advantage.

Portland ended the bleeding with a pair of free throws from Lucy Cochran. However, BYU gave the Pilots life with a costly turnover from Graham that led to a mid-range bucket from Cochran, putting the Pilots down by two.

Throughout the game, there was no shortage of physical play. Both teams showed why March basketball with dives for loose balls, hard fouls to save field goal makes. Paisley Harding experienced that physical play that sent her to the line in the final minute. She knocked down both free throw attempts to put BYU back up by two possessions.

Portland hit one of two free throws, which were then followed by a lengthy stoppage in action due to a clock malfunction. An excessively long delay for a game had so much intensity and had such high stakes.

After the long delay, Portland began playing the foul game, sending Gonzales to the free-throw line. She buried both of her attempts to build BYU’s lead to five. Portland attacked the hoop and was fouled with Maisie Burnham at the line. She only made one of two to keep BYU up by four with 20.5 seconds remaining.

#BYU can always turn to WCC Player of the Year @shayleegonzales. #BYUWBB #GoCougs #KSLVegasMayhem

📷: @BYUphoto pic.twitter.com/foq8SW0lFV

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) March 7, 2022

Gonzales hit another free throw. Then Portland couldn’t capitalize with a wide-open corner three that clanked off the rim. Finally, BYU’s Graham iced away the game with a pair of free throws to give BYU a 59-52 victory.

The WCC Player of the Year, Gonzales, finished with 20 points six rebounds to lead BYU.

BYU was tough on the glass, outrebounding the Pilots by 11, 47-36, but couldn’t capitalize on many second chances. The Cougars only scored eight points in second-chance opportunities.

BYU ended up shooting 35% from the field to Portland’s 32%. The three-point was similar too as BYU shot 27% to the Pilots 24%.

Next Up

BYU women’s basketball will face the Gonzaga/San Francisco winner in the Championship Game of the West Coast Conference Tournament at 2 p.m. on ESPNU.

Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for sports.ksl.com and host of the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (Saturday from 12–3 p.m.) on KSL Newsradio. Follow him on Twitter: @Mitch_Harper.

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