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THIS WEEK: The Portland State women's basketball team heads to Laramie, Wyo., to face the University of Wyoming on Wednesday at 6 p.m. PT, in a Women's National Invitation Tournament (WNIT) first round game.

GAME NO. 32
Portland State (20-11) at Wyoming (22-8)
Wednesday, March 16  •  6 p.m. PT
Laramie, Wyo.  •  Arena-Auditorium (15,028)

COVERAGE
Internet Audio: GoViks.com
Play-by-Play: Teri Mariani
Video: WyomingAthletics.com ($7.95)
Live Stats: WyomingAthletics.Com

SERIES INFORMATION
All-Time: WYO leads 3-2
At WYO: WYO leads 2-0
Streak: WYO 3
Last PSU Win: PSU 65, WYO 59; 1/9/87 @ PSU
Last WYO Win: WYO 71, PSU 61; 1/20/89 @ WYO

TOURNAMENT COVERAGE: Wednesday's game can be heard on GoViks.com with Teri Mariani calling the action. Wyoming will provide Gametracker (live stats) and live video through their website: WyomingAthletics.com. The live video feed requires a subscription and costs $7.95. Links for everything can be found by clicking on the LIVE EVENTS tab on the front of GoViks.com.

SCOUTING WYOMING: The Cowgirls are 22-8 on the season and finished third in the MWC with a 12-4 mark ... they are 12-3 at home ... Wyoming received one of 33 at-large bids into the WNIT ... this will be Wyoming's fifth postseason appearance in eight years under Head Coach Joe Legerski. This will be their fourth trip to the WNIT. The Cowgirls reached the second round in 2006, won the title in '07 and then went to the third round last spring ... Wyoming last played on March 9, losing to New Mexico, 67-61, in the MWC tourney ... the Cowgirls are led by 5-11 senior guard Aubrey Vandiver, who is averaging 18.8 ppg and 9.1 rpg, and 6-3 senior forward Hillary Carlson, who is averaging 16.7 ppg and 7.2 rpg ... Legerski has a 158-89 record, including this year ... Wyoming returned four starters and 10 letterwinners off last season's team that went 21-12 ... the Cowgirls are ranked in the top 100 in the NCAA in 13 categories, including first in fewest personal fouls per game (12.1).

MAKE IT THREE STRAIGHT POSTSEASON APPEARANCES: While the Vikings fell one victory shy of their ultimate goal of reaching the NCAA tournament for the second consecutive year, they will be playing in the postseason for the third straight season. Portland State made its first postseason appearance in 2009, reaching the second round of the WNIT. The Vikings hosted and defeated cross-town rival Portland, 57-51, on March 19, before losing at Oregon State, 59-47, two days later. Last year, ninth-ranked Texas A&M defeated the Vikings, 84-53, in the first round of the NCAA tourney in Seattle.

ONE VICTORY SHORT: After winning their first-ever Big Sky regular season title, the Vikings earned the right to host the conference tournament, March 10-12, at the Stott Center. The Vikings had an automatic bye into the semis, where they defeated sixth-seeded Eastern Washington, 73-62. PSU shot just 26.7% over the first half and went into the break tied with the Eagles, 26-26. But the Viks shot 68% over the final 20 minutes to pull away for the victory. Courtney VanBrocklin led PSU with 17 points, including 14 in the second half, and also added nine rebounds, while Kelli Valentine had 14 points and 10 rebounds. The Vikings moved on to face fourth-seeded Montana in the championship game on Saturday, where they played catchup all night long. PSU didn't get on the board until the 15:07 mark of the first half and trailed 31-30 at halftime. But when Eryn Jones put the Vikings up 52-46 with 8:04 remaining on an old-fashioned 3-point play, it appeared the Vikings had the momentum. The lead was shortlived, however, as Montana held the Vikings scoreless over the next 6:32 and went on to advance to the NCAA tourney for the 19th time under Head Coach Robin Selvig with a 62-58 victory.

TWENTY, AGAIN: The Vikings secured their third 20-win season in four years under Head Coach Sherri Murrell with their 73-62 victory over Eastern Washington on March 11, in the semis of the Big Sky tourney. The Vikings went 22-9 in her first season on the Park Blocks, then 23-10 in her second year. Last season, the Viks finished 18-15. The three 20-win seasons are the only times PSU has accomplished the feat since they joined the Big Sky.

NATIONALLY RANKED: Eryn Jones and Courtney VanBrocklin are the only Vikings to be ranked in the top 100 in the NCAA statistical rankings as of March 13. After her splendid 3-point shooting the past eight weeks, Jones is ninth nationally in 3-point field goal percentage (44.0%). In the Feb. 3 rankings, Jones was all the way up to third in the country. She is also 29th in FT percentage (85.6%), 55th in assists per game (4.8) and assist/turnover ratio (1.69), and 68th in 3-pointers made per game (2.3), while VanBrocklin is 72nd in FT percentage (81.9%). As a team, PSU is 56th in 3-point FG percentage (34.5%), 73rd in scoring offense (68.7 ppg), 79th in 3s made per game (6.2), 69th in assist/turnover ratio (0.87), 79th in fewest turnovers per game (16.1), 87th in free throw percentage (71.5%), 84th in win-loss percentage (64.5%), 95th in assists per game (13.9), 56th in 3-point FG defense (34.5%) and 60th in fewest personal fouls per game (15.5).

WINNING VERSUS LOSING: There are several numbers that stand out as to what has helped the Vikings to their 20 victories this season. Comparing their shooting percentage, rebounding numbers and scoring in their victories to their losses shows some glaring differences. In their 20 wins, PSU is outscoring the opposition 74.6 ppg to 62.2 ppg, but in their 11 losses they are getting outscored 70.5 ppg to 57.9 ppg. Shooting wise, PSU is outshooting their opponents 44.1% to 37.8% in their victories, but is getting outshot 44.0% to 34.0% in their loses. On the boards, the Vikings are outrebounding their opponents 40.5 to 37.5 in their victories, but getting outrebounded 42.8 to 35.4 in their losses.

FINISHING THE JOB: Since the 2005-06 season, Portland State has won 87.4 percent (83-12) of its games when taking a lead into intermission. In 2005-06 they were 6-1, followed by a 9-0 record the next year. In Sherri Murrell's first season, PSU went 21-3, then 21-1 in 2008-09 and 12-4 last year. They took a 27-25 lead into the break in this year's season opener at Washington, but eventually fell 51-50, and are currently 14-3 when leading at intermission in 2010-11.

MORE KEYS TO A VICTORY: Another key to victory for the Vikings since 2005-06 has been winning the shooting percentage battle. Over the past five seasons, Portland State is 74-10 (88.1%) when outshooting its opponent, including 62-7 (89.9%) under Sherri Murrell. PSU went 11-3 last season, 17-1 in 2008-09 and 17-2 in 2007-08. This year they are 17-1, with the lone loss coming in the Big Sky tourney title game against Montana. The Viks outshot the Lady Griz, 38.2%-37.5%, but fell 62-58.

BISHOP AND VALENTINE SET BIG SKY ALL-TIME GAMES PLAYED RECORD: Lexi Bishop and Kelli Valentine set the Big Sky's all-time record for games played on Friday against Eastern Washington, appearing in the 125th game of their careers. They now have played in 126 games after facing Montana on Saturday.