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PORTLAND, Ore.  – The Portland State women's basketball team showcased a mix of fresh and familiar faces Sunday night in their first exhibition game of the season. The Vikings defeated the Bruins of George Fox University 71-69 at the Peter W. Stott Center.
 
One of those new faces that made an immediate impact on the team was that of junior transfer Alicia Carline. The 6-foot-3 center from Fielding, New Zealand missed her first jumper but then connected on her next nine and finished with a team-high 21 points. She added 10 rebounds, five offensive and five defensive, for a double-double.
 
Carline went 9-for-11 overall from the floor and a perfect 3-for-3 at the free-throw line. She also added three of the Vikings seven steals in the game. Unfortunately, she suffered a hand injury late in the game and did not return.
 
Another fresh face for the Vikings was freshman forward Cici West out of Holy Names Academy in Seattle, Wash. West came off the bench and recorded a double-double of her own with 11 points and 11 rebounds. West played most of the second half in foul trouble after picking up her fourth foul with 10:56 remaining in the game.
 
It was key for the Vikings that West was able to play in foul trouble because they came into the game shorthanded. Four players did not suit up for the Vikings due to injury and another is redshirting the year after being required to sit out the season due to NCAA Transfer Rules.  
 
Senior guard Lariel Powell led the returners with with 12 points and 13 assists for the team's third double-double. Powell's 13 assists led the Vikings who tallied 23 assists on 28 field goals showing great ball movement and a willingness to make the extra pass.
 
With all the fresh faces for the Vikings; it took them a while to come together as a team that resulted in a 37-29 deficit in the first half. Portland State was out-shot in the first half 51.7-to-41.9 percent. That changed in the second half as the Vikings shot over 62-percent from the floor while they held George Fox to just 40-percent.
 
Portland State's second half success was aided by Carline's efficiency from the floor going 5-for-6 with 13 points. She not only played well around the basket, but also was able to extend defenders and knock down 15-foot jumpers.
 
When the shots did not fall, the Vikings were able to pull down the boards. Portland State nearly doubled George Fox in rebounding pulling down 45 compared to 24. The Vikings were able to bring down 15 offensive rebounds and turn them into 14 second chance points.
 
For as well as the Vikings played at times, there were times when they were careless with the ball which led to 22 turnovers in the game. The Bruins were able to turn those into 17 points. They were also susceptible at times to the fast break, giving up 12 points.
 
All of those mistakes are fixable and the Vikings will have another opportunity to hone their craft next week when they take on Lewis & Clark in their final exhibition game of the preseason. The game is slated for a 5 p.m. PT start and will be the first game of a Portland State basketball doubleheader; as the men's team will take on Linfield following the women's game.
 
The Vikings open the regular season on the road at Seattle University on Sunday, Nov. 16. They will then return to the Stott Center for their regular season home opener against South Dakota on Wednesday, Nov. 19 at 7 p.m.
 
NOTES: Nele Aha, Ani Avanessian, Lariel Powell, Alicia Carline, and Emily Easom started for Portland State … Portland State played with eight players due to our players being out due to injury … Alicia Carline (21 points, 10 rebounds), Cici West (11 points, 11 rebounds), and Lariel Powell (12 points, 13 assists) all posted double-doubles for the Vikings.