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NEW YORK, N.Y. – A late three-pointer and a pair of clutch free throws by junior guard Emily Easom capped the Vikings' 71-66 comeback win over the University of Columbia Lions Sunday in New York, N.Y.
 
Portland State trailed by seven at the break and was down by double-digits in the second half but rallied to pick up the win.
 
Easom scored a season-high 21 points going 6-for-11 from the floor with a pair of three-pointers. She went a perfect 7-for-7 at the free-throw line including a pair that clinched the game late.
 
As a team, Portland State went 20-for-23 at the line for the game compared to 14-for-21 by Columbia. The Vikings had struggled from the line up to this point this season shooting just .657 at the line coming into the weekend. Over the last two games however, the Vikings have shot .778 at the line.
 
Columbia held the lead through the entire first half and led 37-30 at the break. Portland State shot just 33.3 percent from the floor and went 0-for-9 from three-point range. Columbia shot 43.3 percent in the first frame.
 
The Lions improved their lead to 12 points at 48-26 with 16:12 left in the game but the Vikings did not panic and slowly cut into the deficit. Senior forward Mikaela Rivard hit a jumper in the paint followed by a layup from Alicia Carline and the lead was cut to eight points at 48-40.
 
A pair of free throws from Lariel Powell and a jumper from Lauren Holt and the lead was cut to four points at 48-44 after an 8-0 Portland State run.
 
Columbia broke the run with a three-point play on a layup and a foul. The Lions built up an eight-point lead at 54-46 with 10:31 remaining in the game before a three-pointer from Rivard pulled PSU to within five.
 
After Columbia went up again by seven points at 56-49, Portland State once again scored eight straight to take its first lead of the contest at 57-56.
 
The lead bounced back and forth with three ties and five lead changes in the final six minutes of the game. The Lions took a one-point lead at 60-59 with 4:10 left after a pair of free throws.
 
After a Rivard defensive rebound, Easom got out and ran the floor scoring on a fast break layup. She was fouled and hit the free throw for the three-point play to give the Vikings a two-point lead at 62-60.
 
Rivard hit a pair of free throws to put the Vikings up four with 1:14 left in the game. Four straight points by the Lions and the game was tied again at 66-66 with just 44 seconds remaining.
 
Easom hit her second three-pointer of the contest with 26 seconds left to put the Vikings up three at 69-66.
 
Columbia took the ball and put up a three-pointer that was off the mark. The Lions got the offensive board and missed the follow-up. They got it back and missed a second layup before the ball went out of bounds for the Vikings.
 
Portland State inbounded the ball to Easom who was immediately fouled. She hit both free throws to put the Vikings up by five with five seconds left. Columbia did not even get a shot off and Portland State won 71-66.
 
Holt scored 14 points with nine rebounds. She went 6-for-12 from the floor. Powell added 13 points while Rivard added 11.
 
Portland State was plagued by 30 turnovers Friday at Princeton but the Vikings committed a season-low 13 turnovers against Columbia. The Vikings also forced a season-high 21 turnovers turning them into 26 points.
 
Portland State will have 10 days off before it opens Big Sky Conference play on the road at Southern Utah on New Year's Day.
 
NOTES: Emily Easom scored a season-high 21 points … Portland State committed a season-low 13 turnovers … Portland State forced a season-high 21 turnovers … Lauren Holt matched her career high with nine rebounds … Portland State is now 2-0 all-time against Columbia.