Box Score (PDF)  |  Box Score (HTML)

PORTLAND, Ore. – Portland State won its fifth straight game and stopped the Big Sky's hottest team in its tracks on Saturday afternoon, taking down first-place Northern Colorado 67-60 at the Stott Center.

The Bears entered the game on a seven-game winning streak, but after a fast start in which they looked like they'd win their fourth in a row over Portland State, they watched as the Vikings took control.

Northern Colorado jumped out to a quick 10-2 lead as the Vikings missed seven of their first nine shots. Things started to turn around for PSU when Kelli Valentine hit a 3-pointer at the 13:25 mark of the first half, making it 13-7 in favor of the Bears.

UNC went up 18-10 on a basket by D'shara Strange, but Portland State responded by scoring the next nine points of the contest.

Shauneice Samms got the run started with a close-in jumper and Eryn Jones followed by sinking two free throws after the Bears were called for an intentional foul. Karley Lampman's three brought the Vikings to within one, before a Courtney Cremer jumper gave PSU a 19-18 lead with 8:11 until halftime.

Courtney VanBrocklin later put the Viks up 26-23 and Cremer added a pair of buckets over the final two minutes. PSU eventually went into the break up 30-27.

After halftime, PSU pushed its lead to 41-31 on a Jones' 3-pointer, but then the Vikings had to fight off several Northern Colorado rallies.

The Bears slowly chipped away at the lead and when Lauren Oosdyke hit a jump shot with 5:29 remaining, UNC was within 54-51. Northern Colorado then brought it to 56-54 after a three-point play by D'shara Strange.

Just when it looked like the Bears had the momentum, Samms found Valentine down low for a basket to stop UNC's momentum. Valentine returned the favor moments later, hitting Samms for a fastbreak layup. Jones then made a reverse layin with the shot clock winding down to give Portland State a 62-54 lead with 1:58 to go.

Portland State's victory snapped a three-game losing streak in the series with Northern Colorado and kept them in a tie with Montana for third place in the Big Sky at 6-3. PSU is now 13-9 overall and has won six of its last seven.

VanBrocklin led the Vikings with 18 points, while Jones and Valentine each had 10. Samms had her best performance after missing most of January with a knee injury, tallying 12 points, 10 rebounds and four blocked shots.

Oosdyke had 16 points to lead Northern Colorado, which fell to 13-10, 8-2 Big Sky.

NOTES: PSU shot 56% in the second half and 45.5% for the game. They were 13 of 16 (81.3%) from the free-throw line ... Jones didn't make a field goal in the first half, but made several key baskets late the game ... Valentine had three steals ... Samms, a junior transfer, recorded the first double-double of her short career at PSU ... Northern Colorado made 7 of their first 13 shots, but then went 14 of 37 (37.8%) the rest of the way ... the Vikings hit the road for their next game, playing at Idaho State on Thursday at 6:05 p.m. PT.