The Titans dominated the 1st and 4th quarter in a 96-38 victory over visiting Portland.
How it happened: The Titans had the first 15 points of the game in fewer than four minutes of play. Mya India Thomas capped off the end of the 1st by making a three off a pass from Maddy Carrier to give the Titans a 32-3 lead.
The Titans had seven steals and forced a crazy 16 turnovers in the quarter and the Panthers only shot 7.7 percent. Portland's three points is tied for the second fewest points allowed in a quarter since the Titans allowed only three points to Mt. Hood in 2016.
The Titans shot 54.2 percent and made 6-10 threes. Megan Fossen had 11 points; Megan Still had eight points, two rebounds and two steals; Mya India Thomas had seven points and three assists.
The 2nd quarter was a much slower start for the Titans, they conceded the first seven points and didn't score themselves until the 6:29 mark when Meagan Briggs made a free throw. Portland would score four points until Kalina Rojas made two free throws at the 5:18 mark. Megan Still hit a three going into half to cap off a 14-6 run and a 47-20 halftime lead.
Megan Still had eight more points, a rebound and a steal; three other players had two points. The Titans shooting dropped to 38.5 percent and 22.2 percent from three; they also had eight turnovers and only forced two.
Mya India Thomas and Kylie Guelsdorf had the Titans first nine points of the 3rd, but the Titans were minus one in the first five plus minutes. The Titans would pick up their defense and finished on a 13-4 run in the final 4:56.
The Titans worked around another tough shooting quarter from three, 0-9, and managed a 40.9 percent shooting and only two turnovers. Mya India Thomas had six points; Megan Fossen had three points and four rebounds; Kylie Guelsdorf had three points, three rebounds, two assists and a steal; Kalina Rojas had four points, two rebounds and a steal.
Portland scored five points in the first 2:09, but the Titans finished on a 25-1 run to close out a game that the Titans struggled with in the middle 15 minutes but won by 58.
The Titans shot a game-high 61.1 percent from the field and had only five combined turnovers and fouls. Kalina Rojas and Amanda Tobey each had six points; Kelly O'Malley and Meagan Briggs each had four rebounds; Kylie Guelsdorf had two points and three of the Titans eight assists in only four minutes on the court.
What/who stood out: The Titans outscored Portland 59-9 in the 1st and 4th quarter…20 steals is the fourth game this season with 20 or more…11 fouls are the fewest committed this season…49 rebounds give the Titans 40 or more in nine of their last 10 games…The bench had 22 of their 49 rebounds…25 assists give the Titans six straight 20 plus assist games.
Amanda Tobey had 12 points off the bench in 11 minutes….Kylie Guelsdorf narrowly missed a triple-double with nine points, nine assists, eight rebounds; she added three steals and a block to her afternoon…Megan Still led the Titans in scoring again with 21 points and added five steals and four rebounds…Kalina Rojas had 14 points, eight rebounds, three blocks, two assists and two steals…Kelly O'Malley, Meagan Briggs and Maddy Carrier combined for 16 rebounds off the bench.
What it means: The Titans lead the south at 4-0 and have an NWAC leading 16 wins (16-1).
What's next: The Titans get a bye this Wednesday and host 2nd place Mt. Hood (12-5, 3-1) Saturday, Jan. 19 at 2 p.m.