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PORTLAND, Ore. – Composure and resiliency.

Those are the two words Portland State Head Coach Sherri Murrell emphasized after watching her team storm back from a 18-point first half deficit to take down visiting Eastern Washington, 77-70, on Thursday night in Big Sky Conference action.

Portland State's win secured the school the first ever Dam Cup, with a 9-8 edge in points over the Eagles. The first-year rivalry series between the two Northwest universities included five sports: football, women's soccer, volleyball and men's and women's basketball.

After trailing by as much as 18 points in the opening period, and finding themselves down 42-30 at halftime, the Vikings came out of intermission a different team. PSU used a 15-3 run to tie the game up and went in front on two Eryn Jones free throws after Eastern Washington Head Coach Wendy Schuller was called for a technical foul.

Eastern Washington struck first in the second period, getting an old-fashion three-point play from Brianne Ryan. Eryn Jones then answered back with a 3-pointer to start a stretch of 15 straight points by the Vikings.

After Jones' three, Courtney VanBrocklin scored the next four points, and then Allie Brock drove down the left side of the lane and banked in a running left-hander. Jones followed on the next possession by cutting through the Eagles defense and making a layup while getting fouled. She converted the free throw and then VanBrocklin tied it up at 45-45 with a three-pointer from the right wing with 15:51 to go.

Karley Lampman later gave the Vikings a 57-49 lead with two free throws.

Defense proved critical for PSU during its run. After Ryan's bucket at the 18:40 mark, the Eagles missed their next 13 shots and only scored four points, all on free throws. By the time Chenise Pakootas ended the drought with three-pointer, the Vikings had used a 36-10 run to take control and held Eastern Washington without a field goal for a stretch of 10 minutes, 18 seconds.

Portland State (10-9, 3-3 Big Sky) held the Eagles to just 22.9 percent shooting over the final 20 minutes, after Eastern Washington shot 48.6 percent in the opening period.

"In the beginning of the game we were forcing shots and we were tentative so we were turning the ball over," said Murrell. "I thought it all boiled down to composure and resiliency. Once we gained our composure we were able to get back in the game."

The Eagles scored the first five points of the contest on a jumper by Carrie Ojeda and a 3-pointer by Ryan. The teams traded buckets before the Vikings knotted it up at 7-7 after Jones hit a trey and Kelli Valentine knocked down a jump shot.

PSU momentarily went in front, 12-11, on a basket in the paint by Jones, but Eastern Washington took the momentum from there by scoring 11 unanswered points for a 22-12 lead. The Eagles would lead by as many as 18 points, before Portland State used a small run late in the half to get within 42-30 at the break.

VanBrocklin keyed the Vikings' offense in the second half, scoring 17 of her 21 points in the period. Jones added 13 of her 18 points in the half.

Courtney Cremer came off the bench to chip in 14 points, while Valentine tallied 10 points and seven rebounds.

Eastern Washington (8-10, 4-2 Big Sky) got 11 points and 12 rebounds from Ojeda, 19 points from Ryan, and nine points and 11 boards from Julie Piper.

NOTES: Thursday's rally marked the second consecutive season the Vikings have come back from a huge first half deficit to win. On January 9, 2010, PSU rallied from a 20-point first half deficit for a 69-62 win over Montana State at the Stott Center ... PSU is 7-1 at home this year and has won six straight at the Stott Center against EWU ... Jones shot 3 of 6 from three-point range is 15 of 24 (62.5%) over the past four games ... Jones (5-5) and VanBrocklin (7-8) combined to go 12 of 13 at the free-throw line ... PSU outscored the Eagles 47-28 in the second half ... PSU moved into a three-way for fourth place in the Big Sky with Idaho State and Montana ... the Vikings hit the road for their next game, playing at Sacramento State on Saturday at 1:05 p.m.