PORTLAND, Ore. ? Kelsey Kahle scored 27 points to lead Portland State past visiting Sacramento State, 81-66, on Friday night in the Big Sky Conference opener for both schools.

Kahle went 8-of-11 from the field and 10-of-12 from the free throw line, and finished with at least 20 points for the third straight game.

The Vikings controlled the momentum almost the entire way in a game that wasn't as close as the final score. The win upped their record to 8-5, while Sacramento State fell to 2-12.

Both teams started slowly and the Hornets held their only lead, 4-3, at the 16:44 mark. A layup by Erin Jones gave PSU the lead back and they didn't trail the rest of the way.

Jones' basket started a 11-0 Vikings run that made it 14-4 with 11:56 remaining. It also ignited a 21-5 run that put PSU up 24-9 with 5:51 until halftime.

With 2:38 to go, Kahle made one of two free throws and the Viks led 34-14. Fittingly, Kahle made two more free throws with 14 seconds left that gave PSU a 45-20 lead at the intermission.

Jones finished with 12 points and was 6-of-6 from the free throw line, and also had two steals. It was the fourth straight game that she has started and she is averaging 10.5 points over that span.

"I'm just starting to feel more comfortable and starting to know my role now," said Jones, who had about a dozen friends and family at the game from her hometown of Lynnwood, Washington. "I'm starting to fit into the team and working into the offense and the defense."

Katia Hadj-Hamou added 10 points for the Viks, while Kate DePaepe and Kelli Valentine each had eight points. Kahle had a team-high six rebounds.

Charday Hunt led the Hornets with 19 points and Emily Christensen added 14 more. Erika Edwards paced Sac State with nine boards.

PSU outrebounded the Hornets, 43 to 34, and only had 14 turnovers to Sac State's 22.

The Vikings continue conference play this Sunday when they host Northern Arizona at 2:05 p.m.

GAME NOTES: The Vikings have won six straight over Sac State ... Claire Faucher had a game-high six assists for the Viks ... PSU shot 80.8 percent from the free throw line (21-of-26) and 40.0 percent from the floor (28-of-70) ... The Hornets shot 44.9 percent from the field (22-of-49), including 57.1 percent from 3-point range (4-of-7) ... Kahle and Lexi Bishop each had three offensive rebounds for PSU.