PORTLAND, Ore. – Courtney Cremer has always been a shot blocker. At 6-foot-3, it's tough not to be one. But, a year ago this time she wasn't seeing much action on the floor for the Portland State women's basketball team, which meant her defensive abilities were not on display.

Now in her final season with the Vikings, Cremer is getting a chance to showcase the shot-blocking capabilities that helped her be named the Oregon 4A Player of the Year as a senior at Stayon High School. With three weeks left in the regular season, Cremer already has 27 blocks, matching her career-high set during her sophomore campaign in 2008-09.

Cremer always believed that she could play at this level, but being in the Vikings' system for four years has really helped her this season, she said.

"I have always been a shot blocker," said Cremer, who is fourth in the Big Sky, averaging 1.2 per game, "but knowing our defensive system for four years now helps put me in the right place at the right time. The addition of more minutes this year also helps add to that number as well."

In her first two seasons on the Park Blocks she played in almost every game and averaged over 12 minutes per contest while ranking in the top 10 in the conference in blocked shots. But last year her minutes fell off and she finished with only five blocks. That's what makes the fact that she is a key role player this season even all the more sweeter.

"For me personally, after not really playing a ton last year, I couldn't have asked for more. It is a great feeling that I contribute more on the court during games than I did the previous season. I really feel like I have found more of a role and embraced the ways that I can help contribute to us winning.

"I learned a lot from last year, not only as a player, but as a person, and it helped me grow. I took the things I learned with me into the offseason and really tried to improve so I could contribute more on the court this year. So it is nice to have that pay off."

Portland State Head Coach Sherri Murrell said she has seen an improved Cremer this season and credits that to the fact that Cremer worked hard over the summer.

"When she got here from high school she really didn't know how much work it would take in the offseason as far as weights and conditioning," said Murrell. "It took her a few years to figure it out, but she made the commitment to stay here this summer and work out and get better, and it's definitely made a difference in her game."

Cremer has had some big-time defensive performances this year, blocking six shots against Corban on Jan. 3, while blocking at least two shots in seven other games. Earlier this season she etched her name in the PSU career record book for blocked shots and currently sits in a three-way tie for seventh place with 82. Next up on the list is Karen Johnson, who had 92 blocks in her career in the early 80s.

Like several other players on Portland State's roster, Cremer is an Oregon product that has the luxury of having her parents in attendance at every home game. Her dad,  Dave, and mom, Venita, can usually be found sitting a few rows up behind the Vikings' bench.

"It means so much to me that my family is able to see me play all of the time. It makes it that much more enjoyable to share it with them, especially after all they put into helping me get to this point. It shows how much they support me, which is so great," said Cremer, who will graduate next fall with a degree in business marketing. "Being close to home has also allowed my grandparents and aunt and uncle to come to many of my games."

Cremer, much like other four-year seniors Lexi Bishop, Kelly Marchant and Kelli Valentine, wants to help bring Portland State its first-ever Big Sky regular season championship. The Vikings' quest for a conference title hit a snag early as they lost three of their first four league games, but they have bounced back by going 5-1 since then to climb back into the race.

"We hit a rough patch at the beginning of conference play," said Cremer, "but I really feel like as a team we are hitting our stride now and that rough patch only made us closer as a team."

Last March, the Vikings got to enjoy the experience of March Madness and Cremer says there would be no better way to end her career.

"After getting a taste of the NCAA tournament last year, I wouldn't want to go out without experiencing that again. Winning a Big Sky Conference title would only add to that. Our group of four seniors has had our sights set on both of these since we first got here as freshmen and the one thing we have yet to accomplish is a Big Sky title. But, ultimately, we want to go back to the NCAA tournament."