Dec. 29, 2009

Box Score

OREM, Utah -- Utah Valley struggled offensively and on the boards in a 78-40 home loss to Portland in women's basketball action on Tuesday. The Wolverines (3-11) suffered their sixth straight defeat in the first game back off of an 11-day Christmas layoff.

Jenna Johnson led UVU with 13 while Erika Newbold had 10 points and seven rebounds, but 27.8 percent shooting from the field and a 22-rebound disadvantage helped the Pilots (10-3) to their seventh straight win.

Portland hit 44 percent for the game including 54.1 percent in the second half and also were able to get off 21 more field goal attempts.

Laiken Dollente led the Pilots with 19 points, 10 assists and five rebounds. Alexis Gannis also had a double-double with 10 points and 13 rebounds while Natalie Day finished with 15 and Lauren Angel had 14. Jessica Clemens also pulled down 10 rebounds for UP, which out-rebounded the Wolverines 53-31 and also held a decided 22-0 edge in second-chance points.

Portland used a 17-4 run midway through the first half to take control of the game and build a 27-11 lead. The Wolverines trailed 33-18 at the break and after scoring on their first possession of the second half, got within 13.

The Pilots scored the next eight points, six coming from Angel, to push the lead to 21, 41-20, with 17:21 remaining. Portland led by as much as 40 in the second half.

The home loss for Utah Valley is the first for either team in the all-time, six-game series with Portland, which now holds a 4-2 edge.

The Wolverines will make the short trek north to Logan to face in-state foe Utah State on New Year's Eve at 7 p.m. at The Spectrum.