Box Score (PDF)  |  Box Score (HTML)

POCATELLO, Idaho – Kaela Oakes and Ashleigh Vella combined to score 12 of Idaho State's final 16 points and the Bengals held on down the stretch for a 63-59 victory over visiting Portland State on Thursday in Big Sky Conference action.

Oakes had seven points and Vella five as the Bengals broke free from a 47-47 tie with 9:22 to go to stop a streaking Portland State team.

The Vikings had won a conference best five-straight games, but shot just 31.8 percent from the floor, including a dismal 16.7 percent from three-point range.

With the loss, PSU fell to 13-10 overall and 6-4 in the Big Sky. They dropped from a tie for third into fifth place.

Portland State hit four of its first six shots in jumping out to a 8-2 lead, before Idaho State rallied to go in front, 12-10. The score went back-and-forth over the next few minutes and was tied at 16-16 at the 10:20 mark of the first half. The Bengals took control, though, using a 16-3 run to make it 32-19.

While the Vikings were able to comeback and tie the game up four times in the second half, they were never able to regain the lead.

Kelli Valentine recorded her third double-double in the past four games for Portland State, leading the team with 15 points and 11 rebounds.

Shauneice Samms also added a double-double for PSU, her second straight game doing so, with 12 points and 12 boards.

For Idaho State, Chelsea Pickering had 19 points and seven rebounds, Oakes added 15 points and Lindsey Reed scored 11.

NOTES: Idaho State's win evened the all-time series between the two schools at 21-21 ... Valentine is averaging 13.0 points and 9.3 rebounds the past four games. Samms is averaging 8.3 points and 7.8 boards over that span ... ISU improved to 15-7, 6-3 Big Sky ... Portland State returns to action on Feb. 17, hosting Weber State at 7 p.m.