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POCATELLO, Idaho – Angela Misa recorded her third double-double on the season, but poor shooting and 15 turnovers in the first half added up to a 11-point deficit at the break proved too much for the Vikings to overcome. Portland State fell 63-50 to Idaho State in its Big Sky Conference opener, falling to 5-4 on the season.

“We would have been ahead of the game if we didn't turn the ball over in the first half,” Vikings' Head Coach Sherri Murrell said following the loss. “Breakdowns on the defensive side hurt us.”

Sophomore forward Mikaela Rivard led the Vikings with 11 points, 10 coming in the second half, while Misa added her team-best third double-double of the season with 10 points and 11 rebounds.

Portland State (5-4 overall, 0-1 Big Sky Conference) jumped out to an early seven point lead at 9-2 with just over five minutes gone in the first half. Idaho State then went on a 9-2 run of its own to tie the game at 11-11 with 12:31 left in the first half.

A Lindsey Reed free throw gave Idaho State (6-3, 1-1) its first lead of the game at 12-11. The teams traded baskets and were tied at 14-14 before Idaho State went on a 14-3 run to close out the half and take a 28-17 lead to the break.

Reed had 11 first half points for the Bengals and finished the game with 15 points. Kaela Oakes recorded a game-high 16 points with nine of those coming in the second half.

Idaho State was a perfect 7-7 from the free-throw line in the first half and ended the game going 14-17 from the line; the Vikings attempted only 10 free throws in the contest.

The Bengals opened the second half on a 12-2 run, opening a 19-point lead at 40-21 with just over 16 minutes left in the game.

The Vikings closed the gap to eight points, 52-44, with 7:33 remaining thanks in part to 10 second half points by Rivard and nine by senior guard Courtney VanBrocklin. VanBrocklin finished with 10 points, but left the game with 4:50 left after hitting the floor hard going for a rebound.  She did not return.

Idaho State increased its lead back up to 15 points before taking the game 63-50.

Portland State shot .345 from the field while Idaho State shot .489, the highest shooting percentage by a PSU opponent this season.

The Vikings cleaned up their game in the second half committing only eight turnovers but finished with 23 which turned into 23 Idaho State points.

Portland State outrebounded Idaho State 41-26 including 19-3 on the offensive glass. The Vikings outscored the Bengals 12-0 in second chance points.

The Vikings now head to Ogden, Utah to take on the Weber State Wildcats Saturday at 11 a.m. PT. Weber State fell to 0-10 on the season earlier Friday with an 88-60 loss to Eastern Washington.

NOTES: PSU was 5-10 from the free-throw line … PSU gave up a season-high .489 field goal percentage to Idaho State … Portland State outrebounded Idaho State by 15, its second largest margin this year … Portland State outrebounded Idaho State 19-3 on the offensive glass and outscored Idaho State 12-0 in second chance points … Portland State committed 23 turnovers turning into 23 Idaho State points … Portland State is 2-3 in its last five games having lost three straight.