Portland Pilots women’s basketball beat the No. 2 seeded Stanford 69-68 in their first game of the Women’s Basketball Invitation Tournament (WBIT) March 20.
The WBIT is an annual 32-team postseason invitation tournament for women’s basketball, separate from the NCAA D1 Tournament. The tournament was created in 2023 by the NCAA to make postseason play opportunities more equitable, as the men’s side’s invitational tournament was created in 1938. This postseason run is the program’s first in the WBIT.
After entering the half down by 11, Portland battled back, ending regulation tied at 60. The Pilots and Cardinal traded leads throughout the overtime periods, culminating in a 68-68 tie with 1.8 seconds to go after graduate student guard Emme Shearer got the foul call. After missing the first free throw, Shearer sank the second, advancing the Pilots with the 69-68 overtime win.
Shearer led the Pilots throughout, matching a career-high 28 points on the night. Maisie Burnham contributed 14 points, eight rebounds and two steals and senior Trista Hull added eight points, six rebounds, two steals and two blocks.
With the win, the Pilots advance to play Seton Hall (23-9) at 1 p.m. March 23.
Maggie Dapp is the Sports Editor at The Beacon. She can be reached at dapp26@up.edu.
