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POCATELLO, Idaho – The Vikings had an open look at a potential game-winning three-pointer, but it hit off the back iron as Portland State fell to Idaho State, 71-70, Saturday afternoon in Pocatello, Idaho.
 
Portland State had the ball down by five points, 71-66, with just 32 seconds remaining. Kian McNair put up a three-pointer that missed the mark, but Pia Jurhar was able to come up with the ball after a brief scrum. She put the ball back up and it when in as she was fouled. The basket pulled the Vikings within three.
 
Jurhar missed the subsequent free throw but Cici West was able to come down with it. West's put-back missed but Jurhar again came down with the loose ball. She hit a jumper to pull the Vikings within one at 71-70.
 
The Vikings immediately went for the steal on the inbounds play but were unable to get it so they fouled right away sending Idaho State's Apiphany Woods to the line. She missed on both and Corey James came down with the rebound with nine seconds remaining.
 
The Vikings brought the ball down the court with the clock ticking down. They got the ball to Jurhar at the top of the key, but she was double-teamed so she passed the ball back out to James who had an open look at the top of the arc but her shot went long as the Vikings came up just short of their first league win of the season.
 
Jurhar posted a career-high 18 points to lead the Vikings. She went 7-for-13 from the floor, both career highs, and 4-for-7 from the free-throw line. Jurhar added 10 rebounds for her first career double-double.
 
McNair scored 12 points while Michaela Kay added 11 points in the game connecting on a trio of three-pointers. James scored three-points in the game but pulled down a career-high 15 rebounds to lead all players.
 
Portland State outscored Idaho State in each of the final three quarters of the game but a slow start in the first quarter came back to haunt the Vikings.
 
PSU was outscored 21-9 at the end of the first quarter. The Vikings started the game shooting 26.7 percent (4-for-15) from the floor, while the Bengals started 9-for-22 (40.9 percent). The Vikings turned things around throughout the rest of the game and finished the game outshooting the Bengals 39.7-to-38.9 percent.   
 
Idaho State improved to 8-8 overall on the season and 1-4 in Big Sky Conference play. Portland State fell to 2-14 and 0-5.
 
The Vikings return home next week for just one game. They host the Sacramento State Hornets on Saturday, Jan. 23 at the Peter We. Stott Center. Tip is slated for 12 p.m. PT.