UOP – Thursday @ 7 and SMC (Super-Senior Day) – Saturday @ 2

1. GU 14-2
2. BYU 13-4
3. UOP 11-5
4. USD 11-6
5. SMC 10-6
6. UP 7-9
7. LMU 5-11
8. SCU 5-11
9. USF 4-12
10. PU 1-15

Much the same as the men’s team, the women are fighting to hold onto 6th place in the WCC….and it would be nice if Pilots could get just one more win to clinch the spot outright.

UP split their series with LMU and SCU, their closest rivals for 6th, and those two teams play each other Thursday night……so, if the Pilots don't win this weekend, it may come down to whichever team beat the highest seed that will determine which team gets the first round bye in the tournament.

I believe UP currently holds the tie-breaker by virtue of their wins over UOP and USD earlier in the season.

It may be that Saturday’s SMC game, which is “Super-Senior Day,” as it is Coach Sollars last game in the Chiles Center, will be an emotional affair that could even mean the difference in WCC Tournament seeding.

The women lost to Pacific tonight, and this is how it looks going into the last game of the season at home against St. Mary's at 2 PM on Saturday:

1. GU 15-2
2. BYU 13-4
3. UOP 12-5
4. USD 11-6
5. SMC 10-7
6. UP 7-10
7. LMU 6-11
8. SCU 5-12
9. USF 5-12
10. PU 1-16

Remember, it's Super-Senior Day at the Chiles Center on Saturday as we say goodbye to our seniors, Amy Pupa, Alexis Byrd, and Elyse Snyder, and our Super-Senior, Coach Jim Sollars, as he retires after 28 years at the Pilots' helm.

(I'm pretty sure there will be FREE food in the Hall of Fame Room after the game...  )

I was asked about the tournament seeding....

I believe UP owns 6th place by virtue of beating USD once, and if the results on Saturday go to form, the Pilots will draw a first round bye in Las Vegas and face UOP (again) on Friday at 2:30.....

But I suppose we could just wait and see.  

Unassuming Jim Sollars about to say goodbye to a 28-year basketball coaching career for Portland Pilots

For the final time of his 28-year women’s basketball coaching career at University of Portland, Jim Sollars will walk the sidelines Saturday afternoon at Chiles Center when the Pilots play Saint Mary’s.....

From Nick Daschel and the Oregonian: http://www.oregonlive.com/pilots/index.ssf/2014/02/unassuming_jim_sollars_about_t.html

You won't see Jim in a crouch like this anymore.....

Jim getting a jump start on retirement before the game.

UP loses a thriller by four points to St. Mary’s on Super-Senior day, but the Pilots clinch 6h place in the WCC and will face #3 Pacific in the second round at 2:30 next Friday in Las Vegas.

There was a wonderful goodbye reception for Coach Sollars after the game, but what made it extra special was the return to the Bluff of many of the student/athletes from Jim’s 28 years at UP……lots of wonderful ladies; I can’t help but think Jim had a positive influence on their lives after basketball.   

Oh, and there was a full compliment of dance team members at the game as some of the team members that graduated in 2013 joined the squad for the final home game of the year.