It was an experience the Portland Pilots have wanted for three years.
The result was not.
Saturday night’s 85-63 loss to Oklahoma in the first round of the NCAA women’s basketball tournament in Pauley Pavilion was not the happy ending the Pilots envisioned.
After having its NCAA dreams dashed in 2020 because of the pandemic, Portland got its first taste of the tournament in 26 years. The Pilots got to live the high of being an NCAA tournament team on UP’s campus for more than a week, then went through two days of festivities while in Los Angeles.
The two hours that mattered most weren’t the Pilots (23-9) finest of the season. Oklahoma, the 5-seed, turned a five-point halftime lead into a second-half rout of 12-seed Portland.
“Things happen in March. Ups and downs for everyone. But I’m so proud of my team, my coaching staff, UP, everyone. It’s been fun,” said forward Alex Fowler, who scored 18 points to lead the Pilots.
Senior guard Keeley Frawley said everyone in the locker room afterward “had their eyes filled with tears.” Within 15 minutes of the game’s end, most the Pilots sat quietly in the end zone of Pauley Pavilion, eating dinner with family and friends while watching UCLA play Sacramento State.
“It’s not the end of the world. We still came away with the WCC championship. It’s a credit to everyone here for getting us in the first place,” Frawley said. “We love this experience so much, and we love playing with each other. We’re all best friends, and I think that’s why we’re so emotional.”
The rally, a hallmark of this Portland team all season, never materialized. The Pilots bounced back from a season-ending loss to one of their best players, Haylee Andrews, in mid-January to finish a close second to Gonzaga during the regular season. In the WCC tournament, the Pilots erased an 11-point halftime deficit to beat Gonzaga in the championship game.
Why not one more time? Because Oklahoma, deep with talent and experience, wouldn’t allow it.
The Sooners had so many answers. They pounded Portland on the boards, particularly on the offensive glass. Oklahoma didn’t allow UP to get easy looks from three. The Sooners’ defensive pressure minimized open shot opportunities.
“The rebounding count, we struggled with that. They were more aggressive than we were,” Frawley said.
Portland coach Michael Meek took the loss hard. The Pilots trailed 39-36 early in the third quarter when he was whistled for a technical foul. That triggered a run by the Sooners that Portland was unable to overcome.
“I don’t think (the technical) was helpful. I apologized to our team about that, because those kind of things can really sway momentum in a big way,” Meek said.
After the game ended, Meek walked slowly from the floor, his hands on his hips.
“I felt like maybe I could have done more to help this team,” Meek said. “It was a very physical game and I don’t think I did the job I needed to do prepare them for that.”
Portland returns to campus Sunday, and many of the team’s thoughts will be on the future. Several fourth and fifth-year players have an option to return – including Fowler, a four-time all-WCC forward. Meek will await those decisions before finalizing the roster.
One thing that doesn’t concern Meek is the transfer portal. It’s a concern at most schools, but the Pilots have been reasonably stable under Meek. None of his 13 scholarship players went in the transfer portal last year. Meek believes a repeat of that will happen this offseason.
“I feel confident that our kids love their experience and the amount of care we give,” Meek said. “We have a great group that continues to stick together. I’m not worried about it.”
Meek is confident the Pilots are not one-and-done in the NCAAs.
“I think it was a great first run,” Meek said. “Our goal should be to get back here again.”
Whether Fowler is back or not, she says don’t count out the Pilots.
“Who knows. This team might be back again next season and we’ll have more experience and more knowledge of how to deal with teams and how to get wins,” Fowler said. “I’m super proud of my team.”
Nick Daschel reported from Los Angeles
–Nick Daschel | ndaschel@oregonian.com | @nickdaschel
