In a stunning turn of events that left Gonzaga's 24-game winning streak snapped the unheralded Portland Pilots soared to an unlikely victory, clinching the West Coast Conference women's basketball title with a razor-thin 67-66 win over the No. 14 Bulldogs. According to OregonLive, the triumph in Las Vegas is certainly one for the books, especially considering Portland was decimated by Gonzaga in their regular-season finale just two weeks prior, falling hard with a score of 90-40.
Despite the fact they were facing a dominant team, the Pilots showed no sign of intimidation and, pulling off what might be remembered as the season's most remarkable upset, secured their second consecutive NCAA Tournament bid. The Score notes that Kennedy Dickie led the charge with a 16-point game, while Portland's dreadful defeat in the prior meeting seemed a distant memory in light of their championship performance.
Gonzaga, touted as favorites with a record of 30-3, found themselves battling in vain against a Pilots team that seemed to rewrite the narrative of their season in 40 minutes of basketball. As reported by The Athletic, despite entering the game as 20.5-point underdogs, Portland stunned with a level of play that belied their previous encounter with the Bulldogs.
The victory came despite Portland surrendering 25 offensive rebounds to Gonzaga, which, led by WCC player of the year Yvonne Ejim's 17 points and 11 rebounds, failed to capitalize on its opportunities. In total, Gonzaga pulled down 25 offensive rebounds, which, serving as a testament to their perseverance, unfortunately, didn't translate to a win with the Bulldogs' worst-shooting game against a league opponent this season. The Score highlighted that Gonzaga's usually reliable 3-point shooting (40.4 percent on the season) fizzled out during the critical matchup, managing only a 25 percent success rate from behind the arc.
Portland's road to the championship was paved with resilience, notably coming from behind to win their semifinal game, and finally overcoming the Bulldogs' biggest lead, which never exceeded five points. According to OregonLive, the game saw 17 ties and 23 lead changes before the Pilots took control in the final quarter, setting the stage for a dramatic conclusion where they persevered, despite multiple held balls and turnovers in the tense final minute.
