Box Score - PDF | HTML

PORTLAND – The Vikings came out shooting in the first half but cooled off in the second falling to the Wildcats, 60-51, Thursday night at the Peter W. Stott Center.
 
The Vikings opened the game going 9-for-12 from the floor but hit just two baskets over their next 12 shots. They connected on their first six three-pointers but then went 0-for-9 the rest of the game.
 
Lauren Holt came off the bench and scored a season-high 17 points going 6-for-13 from the floor with a pair of three-pointers. Emily Easom also had 17 points going 7-for-14 with a trio of three-pointers.
 
Portland State came into the game with a depleted roster with only eight players healthy and eligible to play. Easom and Lariel Powell each played 40 minutes in the game while Holt played 33 off the bench. They were handcuffed even more when Ani Avanessian fouled out late in the second half.
 
The Vikings opened the first half on fire, especially from three-point range as they hit their first six three-pointers. Portland State opened up a 12-7 lead after Holt hit her first three of the game. PSU connected on five straight baskets early in the first half to go up 15-9.
 
Holt hit another basket followed by a three-pointer from Easom to put the Vikings up 10 points at 21-11. They went 8-for-10 from the floor to start the game and extended their streak to seven straight baskets. After the Vikings went up 24-14 on a Powell three-pointer, Weber State went on a 9-1 run to close out the first half. Portland State led 31-29 at the break. 
 
Weber State hit its first bucket of the second half to tie the game at 31-31. The Wildcats then took their first lead of the game, since leading 3-2 early in the first, at 35-33. They went on a 6-0 run to go up 37-33.
 
Danah Haley tied the game at 37-37 with a jumper in the paint before Easom scored the next four points for PSU to put the Vikings up 41-37. The Wildcats came back to tie it at 41-41 before the teams traded points to 44-44.
 
Weber State took control of the game late and went up by eight at 55-47 with 1:29 remaining. The Vikings cut the lead to six but the Wildcats built their lead back up to 11 at 60-49 before a late basket brought the score to the 60-51 final.
 
The Wildcats outscored the Vikings 31-20 in the second half and turned 22 PSU turnovers into 18 points.
 
Jalen Carpenter led Weber State with 14 points going 5-for-12 from the floor and a perfect 4-for-4 from the free-throw line. She also pulled down a game-high eight rebounds.
 
Weber State improved to 8-10 overall and 3-4 in Big Sky Conference play while Portland State fell to 3-15 and 1-6.
 
Portland State will be back in action Saturday night when it plays host to Idaho State. Tip is slated for 7 p.m. PT.
 
NOTES: Portland State starters were Ani Avanessian, Cici West, Mikaela Rivard, Lariel Powell, and Emily Easom … Portland State went 6-for-6 from three-point range to start the game … Lauren Holt scored a season-high 17 points, one shy of her career mark of 18.