This week in Pilot sports, the men’s and women’s basketball teams picked up crucial conference wins, women’s tennis competed at the beach tennis winter invite and at Portland State. The Pilot’s track teams hosted their first indoor track meet, and men’s tennis competed against Texas Christian University and Wichita State.
Men’s Basketball
The men’s team traveled to Provo, Utah to take on BYU on Jan. 22 where they lost 65-78. Guard and forward Tyler Robertson picked up 15 points and guard Chris Austin picked up 11 points.
On Jan. 27th the Pilots returned home for the first game in a month and picked up their second WCC win against Pacific University. They won 64-56 — with forward Moses Wood making 19 points and Austin with 15.
The Pilots then traveled to Spokane, WA to take on nationally ranked #2 Gonzaga. The Pilots fought hard but in the end, lost 104-72. Guard Mike Meadows had 19 points and Robertson had 17.
The Pilots return to Chiles on Feb. 3 to take on St. Marys after the women’s team takes on BYU.
Women’s Basketball
The women’s basketball team traveled to Spokane, WA on Jan. 20 to play Gonzaga. They fell to the Bulldogs 65-76. Both guard Emme Shearer and forward Alex Fowler put up 17 points each.
The women’s team returned to Chiles on Jan. 22 to take on Santa Clara. They earned their second conference win in overtime 76-71. Guard Maddie Mulehim picked up her 1000th career point and Fowler had a season-high of 32 points in the game.
The Pilots hit the road again on Jan. 27 to take on the San Diego Toreros. They won 68-55 and Fowler again led the team in points picking up 21 and guard Haylee Andrews had 12 points.
The Pilots were set to take on Pepperdine on Jan. 21, however, the game was postponed due to COVID-19 protocols. They are now set to take on BYU on Feb. 3 at home in the Chiles Center. The men’s basketball team will follow in a doubleheader against St. Marys.
Men’s Tennis
The men’s tennis team traveled to Fort Worth, Texas to compete against TCU on Jan. 29 and Wichita State on Jan. 30. TCU is currently ranked #4 in the nation and has four nationally ranked players on their roster. The men’s team lost 0-4.
In their matchup against Wichita State, the team lost 1-4. Senior Sema Pankin picked up the lone win for the Pilots, picking up his first dual win of the season.
The next tennis fixtures are on Feb. 5 in Seattle, WA against San Diego State.
Women’s Tennis
The women’s tennis team competed at the Beach Tennis Winter Invite on Jan. 21-23. The first day of the competition they picked up wins in three doubles and two singles matches. Sophomore Rimona Rouf won both her singles and doubles matches. On the second day, both junior Iva Zelic and freshman Sally Pethybridge picked up singles wins. Finally, on the third day, the Pilots won three of their four doubles matches.
The women’s team picked up a win against Portland State on Jan. 28. Junior Jana Tanevska had a three-set win. Zelic had another win for the pilots, as did Pethybridge.
The women’s team next competes against Eastern Washington in Eugene, OR on Feb. 12.
Men’s Track and Field
The men’s team competed at the Portland Indoor Two Jan. 22-23.
Sophomore Parker Wilkerson won the men’s 600-meter run and finished with the second-best all-time finish. Redshirt senior Chris Morzenti won first-place overall in the men's 800m run with a time of 1:53.83. This gave him the seventh all-time record. Sophomore Chris Anderson finished with an individual victory in the men's mile and a new PR of 4:18.55.
The men also competed at the UW Invitational on Jan. 29. with Wilkerson finishing second in the men’s 800.
The men’s track team next competes at home on Feb. 5 in the Portland Indoor Three.
Women’s Track and Field.
The women’s track and field team also competed at the Portland Indoor Two meet on Jan. 22 and 23.
Sophomore Laura Pellicoro had the sixth-best all-time finish in the women's 400-meter dash with a time of 58.74. Junior Ellie Erikson placed first overall in the women's 800 meter run with a time of 2:21.49. Sophomore Lauren Block placed second overall in the women's mile with a time of 5:15.92 and junior Tara Fuiten placed second in the women's 200m dash in a time of 26.45.
The women’s team also competed at the UW Invitational on Jan. 29. where Pellicoro placed fourth overall in the mile run.
The women’s team next competes at the Portland indoor three meet on Feb. 5 in the Chiles Center.
Wilder Isom is a Sports Reporter for the Beacon. She can be reached at isomw24@up.edu.
