Sievers` Last-Second Shot Propels Pilots Past the Dons

Salem-News.com SPORTS

Salem-News.com SPORTS - Portland sophomore forward Allyson Sievers hit the game-winning shot with three seconds left as the Pilots defeated the San Francisco Dons 54-52 in a West Coast Conference women’s basketball game Thursday night at the Chiles Center.

Tied at 52-52 with ten seconds left, freshman point guard Laiken Dollente fed Sievers with a pass in the middle of the key.

Sievers made a quick move to the right before drilling a the game-winner from 10 feet.

Following a 30 second timeout, the Dons’ Nykia Peace got off a desperation heave from half court the came up short.

The win snaps a five-game losing streak for the Pilots, who improve to 10-18 overall and 2-11 in the WCC.

San Francisco drops to 9-19 and 3-10 in the conference.

Sievers finished with a team-high 16 points for the Pilots.

It’s the second straight game in double figures for Sievers, who recently missed five games with an injured ankle. She also grabbed six rebounds and handed out four assists.

Nine different Pilots scored during the game. Dollente finished with 11 points, which included two clutch free throws down the stretch.

Fellow freshman guard Kendra Morris also netted 11.

Junior center Rachel Warren, who missed the past eight games with a foot injury, played 23 minutes off the bench and blocked four USF shots. She also scored four points with a team-high eight rebounds.

Dominique Carter scored a game-high 18 points for the Dons, to go along with nine rebounds.

Nickie Warren added 14 points and six rebounds.

The game was a back-and-forth battle with neither team able to gain much of a lead.

San Francisco enjoyed its biggest lead at 24-18 with 3:54 left in the first half.

Portland responded by scoring the half’s final six points to tie the game at 24-24 at the break.

In the second half, Portland enjoyed its biggest lead after Sievers scored seven straight points to help give the Pilots a five-point lead at 45-40 with 7:47 left in the game.

The lead was still five three minutes later after Warren hit a lay-up to make it 47-42 with 4:22 on the clock.

Carter then hit a jumper, a three-pointer and two free throws to give the lead back to San Francisco at 49-47 with 1:40 left.

Sievers followed with a clutch three-pointer from the top of the key to give the lead back to Portland.

Carter tried to reclaim the lead for the Dons, but her shot was off the mark at the other end.

On Portland’s ensuing possession, Dollente’s jumper was off the mark, but she was able to grab the rebound before being fouled.

The top free-throw shooter in the conference made both attempts from the line to make it 52-49 in Portland’s favor with 22 ticks left.

Shay Rollins then hit a three from deep in the left corner to tie the game with only 15 seconds showing on the clock.

Portland called a time out before Sievers’ game-winning shot.

The Pilots shot 38 percent for the game (21-for-55) and had 14 total assists. Portland hit four three’s and converted eight of 10 from the free throw line.

The Pilots scored 10 points off of 17 USF turnovers, while the Dons turned 16 UP turnovers into 16 points.

Portland scored 11 second chance points, while San Francisco scored just three. The Pilot bench outscored that of USF 21-8.

San Francisco shot 37 percent (20-for-54) from the floor, hit three of 10 three-pointers and went nine-for14 from the line.

The Pilots next host the San Diego Toreros at 2:00 PM on Saturday for the final regular season home game at the Chiles Center.

Portland will honor its two seniors, Anne Graner and Nicole Rowe, before the game.

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