Box Score

Box Score (HTML)

PORTLAND, Ore. – A strong start to the second half and solid shooting all afternoon long propelled Portland State past visiting Northern Arizona, 73-59, on Saturday afternoon in Big Sky Conference action.

The Vikings scored the first eight points of the second period to break open a two-point game and shot a season-high 55.4 percent on their way to their second straight victory. They are now 13-9 overall and 5-5 in the Big Sky.

Northern Arizona dropped to 7-16, 2-9 Big Sky with their 12th loss in their past 14 games.

The Lumberjacks opened the game by scoring the first six points, prompting Vikings Head Coach Sherri Murrell to call a time out less than two minutes in. Whatever she said worked, as Portland State responded with 11 unanswered points.

Eryn Jones pulled the Vikings within two on a 3-pointer, Karley Lampman tied it up with a long jumper and then Courtney VanBrocklin put them in front on a layin after the Vikings kept the possession alive with three offensive rebounds. Following a Northern Arizona basket, PSU scored on three straight trips down the floor to make it 17-8 at the 11:32 mark.

After a VanBrocklin jumper in the paint made it 21-12, the Lumberjacks slowly fought back to tie the game. A three-pointer by Amanda Front got them within 21-19, and following a pair of free throws by Jones, back-to-back buckets from Kyhra Conerly and Amy Patton helped NAU knot the score at 23-23.

Four points from Shauneice Samms contributed to the Vikings taking a 31-24 lead with 1:17 left in the period, but Northern Arizona scored the final five points, including a long three from Tyler Stephens-Jenkins just before the half.

Coming out of the break, Portland State wasted little time taking control. A 3-pointer by Jones ignited a 22-9 run that gave the Vikings a 55-38 lead with 12:43 left. They would later hold a 20-point advantage, 69-49, with 4:54 to go.

Jones hit a trio of 3-pointers in the second half and finished the game with 16 points. Lanz added 17 more and a game-high seven rebounds, while Samms tallied 12 points, three blocked shots and a pair of steals.

Lanz and Samms both got multiple easy buckets down low, which contributed to them shooting a combined 14 of 21. Samms alone connected on six of her seven attempts.

"Our post players want the ball and they want to score," said Murrell. "We had 16 assists tonight and I think 19 the other night (against Weber State) and most of those were on shots in the paint. If they are open, our guards are going to get them the ball."

NAU was led by Patton's 24 points and six assists.

The Vikings return the court on Feb. 9, hosting Seattle at 7 p.m., in a non-conference matchup.

NOTES: Jones took over eighth place all-time on the Park Blocks in scoring. She has 1,255 points ... for the 16th time in her career, Jones made at least four 3-pointers ... Stephanie Egwuatu, a senior, earned the first start of her career for the Vikings ... VanBrocklin finished with 10 points and has a team-best 20 double-digit scoring performances ... Lampman chipped in nine points, including seven in the first half ... after committing 12 turnovers in the first half, PSU had just six the rest of the way ... the Vikings' top two shooting percentages this season have both come against Northern Arizona. On Jan. 7, PSU shot 54.5% in a 84-74 victory in Flagstaff ... PSU has won five straight over the Lumberjacks and 10 of the last 11 ... the Vikings are 8-2 at home this year ... PSU outrebounded NAU, 33-26. They have won the rebounding battle in five straight games and 10 of the past 13 ... NAU's 26 rebounds were the fewest by a Viking opponent in over three years ... the game will be tape-delayed broadcast tonight at 7 p.m. on Comcast SportsNet (Channel 37). It will also run on Sunday at 12:30 p.m., and on Monday at 7 a.m.