THE PORTLAND Pilots delivered an outstanding third quarter in their matchup against the Gonzaga Bulldogs, which proved to be a catalyst for their four-point triumph in the NCAAW.

The two sides clashed earlier on Wednesday at Orleans Arena, with Gonzaga coming in as favourites given its ranking as the 16th best side in the nation and losing just three games prior to this matchup. However, it was the Pilots that held on for a victory, recovering from a shaky second term to take the lead in the second half and hold on for a tense triumph.

An elite two-way performance from guard Maisie Burnham was a big factor in the result of the match. She was enormous on both ends of the court, and came up with some big plays when it mattered most.

Portland Pilots (64) def. Gonzaga Bulldogs (60)

Maisie Burnham – 19 points, six rebounds, two assists, four steals

There was no more impactful player in a Pilots jersey than Burnham, who worked hard both offensively and defensively to ensure her side had the best opportunity to get the win.

Her 19 points were the most of any Portland player, and although it was not the highest total in the match, she was the leader of an offence that moved the ball with rapid pace to create the best scoring opportunity.

She drained six of her 13 attempts from the field, and while it was not her most accurate performance of the season, the shots she took were consistently high-percentage, and she earned the license to continue to fire them off.

Unafraid to take shots from all three levels, Burnham chimed in for some baskets from three-point territory. She went 3/7 (42.8 per cent) from downtown, and showcased confidence in her shooting motion that proved successful.

Defensively, Burnham was constantly hounding the opposition both on and off the ball, and proved to be a thorn in Gonzaga’s side.

Her four steals were the highest amount of any player in the match, consistently chiming in frequently to disrupt the Bulldogs as they looked to score. Even when she didn’t record a steal, Burnham’s constant pressure was a massive factor in Portland causing havoc on the defensive end of the court.

Burnham was terrific on both ends of the court in Portland’s thrilling win, forcing Gonzaga into some sloppy turnovers before taking the ball in transition and punishing them with some terrific offence.