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OPENING TIP: The Vikings being their eight-game, six-state road trip this week with a neutral-site game against the Oregon Ducks on Dec. 17. at the Moda Center in Portland, Ore. Tip-off is slated for 5 p.m. PT.
     Portland State is 4-3 overall this season and a perfect 3-0 at the Peter W. Stott Center. The Vikings' young squad will have to grow up quickly over the course of the road trip as they close out non-conference play and open their Big Sky Conference slate. 
     After Oregon, Portland State will travel to the Puerto Rico Classic in Las Vegas, Nev. where it will take on Northern Kentucky, Kennesaw State, and Oklahoma. After a few days off for the holiday, Portland State will hit the road again to close out non-conference play at Arizona. PSU will open league play with three-straight road games at North Dakota, Northern Colorado, and Sacramento State. 
     Portland State is coming off back-to-back home wins against UC Irvine (12/3) and Cal State Fullerton (12/10). Sophomore G Sidney Rielly led all scorers with 21 points against the Titans, for her fourth 20-point game of the year. Portland State shot a season-high .552 from the floor against Cal State Fullerton, going 32-for-58 with 21 assists. 
     Sophomore F Pia Jurhar added her first double-double of the year with 12 points and 11 rebounds. She also tallied three blocks. 

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DEFENDING HOME COURT: Portland State is 3-0 at home to start the 2016-17 season. It is their best start at home since going 3-0 to start 2012-13. Portland State is averaging 84.3 ppg, while allowing 69.0 ppg (+15.3). The Vikings are shooting .505 (102-for-202) from the floor and .333 from three-point range at home. 

SCORING DUO: The Vikings boast the best scoring duo in the Big Sky Conference this season. Sophomore guards Sidney Rielly and Ashley Bolston are both in the top four in the league in scoring with 17.4 and 16.6 points per game respectively. 

20-POINT GAMES: Portland State players have posted eight 20-point games through the first seven games. Last year, the Vikings tallied eight 20-point games through 30 games. Sophomore guards Sidney Rielly leads the team with four, while Ashley Bolston has tallied three. Rielly became the first Viking since Kate Lanz in 2011-12 to record three-straight 20-point games. Bolston followed suite with her own three-game stretch of 20-point performances. Sophomore G Michaela Kay added her first 20-point game of the season, third of her career, against UC Irvine (12/3). Portland State has had two players score 20 points in a game twice this season. Rielly and Bolston did it at Seattle (11/23). Bolston and Kay did it against UC Irvine.  

EARLY DIFFERENCE: Through seven games, the Vikings have seen a considerable improvement in shooting compared to last year. Portland State shot .358 from the floor and .300 from three-point range in Head Coach Lynn Kennedy's first season. This year, the Vikings have improved those numbers to .452 (+.094) from the floor and .330 (+.031) from distance. One of the more noticeable differences has been from inside the arc. In two-point shooting, the Vikings are shooting .492 this season compared to .382 last year (+.110).

WINS vs. LOSSES: The Vikings are 4-3 through seven games this season. After dropping their first two games, they have won four of the last five games. In its four wins, Portland State is averaging 83.0 points per game and is shooting .492 from the floor. In its three losses, those numbers drop to 72.0 ppg and .394 from the floor. The Vikings are holding their opponents to 21.2 fewer points per game in wins. Free-throw percentage, rebounds per game, and assists per game are also all up in Portland State wins this season. 

BALL MOVEMENT: The Vikings lead the Big Sky Conference with 19.0 assists per game after averaging 13.6 per game a year ago (+5.4). The Vikings recorded assists on 56.7 percent of field goals in 2015-16. Portland State is recording assists on 68.2 percent this season. The Vikings' assist percentage is the best in the Big Sky. Portland State recorded assists on 22-of-27 (81.5 percent) field goals against UC Irvine (12/3). Sophomores Ashley Bolston and Michaela Kay are first and second in the Big Sky with 6.0 and 4.9 assists per game respectively. Kay led the Vikings with 82 assists (2.9 assists per game) a year ago. 

BIG NUMBERS: The Vikings tallied some big numbers in their 93-61 win over Pacific Union on Nov. 20. The Vikings' 93 points were the most scored since they posted 97 in a win over Sacramento State in 2011. Portland State recorded 43 field goals in the game, the most since recording a program record 61 against Pacific (Ore.) in Nov. 1993. Individually, sophomore G Sidney Rielly's 11 field goals were the most by a Viking since 2014. Portland State pulled down 65 rebounds, six shy of a program record 71 also set against Pacific (Ore.) in Nov. 1993.

#RoadToReno: For the second year in a row the Big Sky Conference tournament will consist of all 12 conference teams and will be held at a neutral site. The tournament will take place at the Reno Events Center in Reno, Nev. The women's tournament will begin on Monday, March 6 with the men's tournament beginning the next day, Tuesday, March 7. For more information visit RoadtoReno.com.

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TEAM NOTES: Here are some quick-hitters about 2016-17 Portland State Vikings:
• Portland State has matched its win total from each of the last two seasons with four wins this season. 
• Portland State picked up its first win of the year with a 93-61 win over Pacific Union (Calif.) on Nov. 20. The 93 points were the most scored by the Vikings since scoring 97 in a win over Sacramento State in 2011. 
• Portland State made 43 baskets against Pacific Union. It was the most since the Vikings tallied a school record 61 field goals in a win over Pacific (Ore.) in Nov. 1993. 
• Portland State pulled down 65 rebounds against Pacific Union, six shy of the school record of 71 set against Pacific (Ore.) in Nov. 1993.
• Portland State picked up its first road win, 79-71, at Seattle U. (11/23). The Vikings trailed by 12 points in the second quarter before coming back to win. 
• Portland State's back-to-back wins over Pacific Union (CA) and Seattle U were the program's  first back-to-back wins since the 2013-14 season.

BY THE NUMBERS 
• PSU is 4-3 overall and 0-0 in Big Sky play.
• PSU is 3-0 at home, 1-3 on the road, and 0-0 at a neutral site. 
• PSU is 4-1 in its last five games and 4-6 in its last 10 games, dating back to last season. 
• PSU is averaging 78.3 ppg, while allowing 78.6 ppg. 
• PSU is shooting .452 from the floor, .330 from distance, and .699 at the line. 

BIG SKY BATTLES
• PSU is 136-186 all-time in Big Sky Conference games.
• PSU is 85-76 in home games and 51-110 in road games.
• PSU is 6-7 all-time at the Big Sky Tournament.

STOTT STUFF
• PSU has gone 145-123 in 268 games at the Stott Center since the 1996-96 season. Including home games at Memorial Coliseum (1-0), the Rose Garden (2-0), and Concordia (1-0), the Vikings are 149-123 at home over 22 seasons. 
• Portland State is 6-12 at home in two seasons under Lynn Kennedy.
• Portland State is 85-76 in home games during Big Sky Conference play. 

WHO'S HOT
• Sophomore G Ashley Bolston has is averaging 21.0 ppg with three 20-point games over her last four. She is shooting .463 from the floor and .861 from the line. She is averaging 6.3 assists per game over the stretch. Bolston is shooting .820 from the free-throw line on the year.
• Sophomore G Sidney Rielly is coming off her fourth 20-point game of the year. She scored 21 points, going 8-for-11 from the floor and 4-for-4 at the line against Cal State Fullerton (12/10). She is 10 for her last 15 from the floor. 
• Sophomore F Pia Jurhar is coming off her first double-double of the season, second of her career. She scored 12 points (6-9 FG) with 11 rebounds along with three blocks and two assists in a win over Cal State Fullerton (12/10). 

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OREGON QUICK HITS
• Head Coach Kelly Graves is 45-30 in three seasons leading the Ducks. 
• Oregon is 8-2 overall this season, 5-0 at home, 2-1 on the road, and 1-1 at a neutral site.
• Oregon is coming off a loss at Ole Miss (67-83) on Dec. 14. The Ducks are 0-2 against the Southeastern Conference this season. Their only other loss was a 63-75 loss against Mississippi State. 
• Oregon is averaging 80.1 ppg this season, while holding opponents to 61.6 ppg. The Ducks are shooting .483 from the floor as a team, 393 from three-point range, and .667 at the line.
• Freshman G Sabrina Ionescu leads the team with 13.1 ppg, 5.2 apg, and is second with 6.5 rebounds per game. She has posted two triple-doubles this season. She posted 11 points, 11 assists, and 12 rebounds at San Jose State and 23 points, 10 assists, and 10 rebounds at Clemson. 
• Freshman F Ruthy Hebard is averaging 13.1 ppg with a team-high 7.9 rebounds per game. She is shooting .794 from the floor, going 54-for-68. 

ALL-TIME vs. OREGON: Oregon leads the all-time series 26-10, dating back to the 1974 season. Portland State won eight of the first nine meetings but have won just twice since. The Vikings' last win came in came in 2012 at Oregon. They won 87-85 in double-overtime on a last second shot by Courtney VanBrocklin. 

LAST TIME vs. OREGON: Oregon took the last meeting, 122-59, last season in Eugene. Ashley Torres Negron scored a team-high 18 points, going 7-for-17 with a pair of three-pointer.  Oregon shot .593 from the floor and had six players in double-figures. 

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#0 | ASHLEY BOLSTON  //  Sophomore  //  Guard  //  6-2  //  Medford, OR 
• She is second on the team with 16.6 points per game. She has scored in double-figures in six of seven games with three 20-point games.
• She leads the Big Sky Conference with 6.0 assists per game.
• She led the Vikings with 20 points (5-12 FG, 10-10 FT) in a win over UC Irvine (12/3).
• She scored a career-high 26 points, going 9-for-17 from the floor with a pair of three-pointers at Portland (11/30). She went 6-for-7 at the line and added six rebounds and five assists.
• She posted her first 20-point game with 20 points (5-8 FG, 1-2 3FT, 9-11 FT) four rebounds, six assists, and four steals at Seattle U. (11/23). 
• She scored four points with five rebounds and a team-high nine assists in the Vikings' win over Pacific Union (CA) (11/20). 
• She scored 18 points (5-10 FG, 2-5 3FG, 6-7 FT) with two rebounds and four assists in 29 minutes at Boise State (11/16). 
• She scored 10 points (3-6 FG, 4-6 FT) with three rebounds, four assists, and two steals in 19 minutes of action in her Portland State debut at CSUN (11/11). 
• She sat out the 2015-16 season due to NCAA Transfer Rules.

#2 | SIDNEY RIELLY  //  Sophomore  //  Guard  //  6-0  //  Everett, WA 
• She is second in the Big Sky Conference with 17.4 points per game. She has scored double-digit points in five of seven games this season, including four 20-point games. 
• She became the first Viking to post back-to-back 20-pt games since Emily Easom in 2014. 
• She became the first Viking to post three-straight 20-pt games since Kate Lanz in 2011-12.
• She posted her fourth 20-point game with 21 points (8-11 FG, 4-4 FT) with three blocks in a win over Cal State Fullerton (12/10).
• She scored 23 points (9-18 FG, 1-4 3FG, 4-5 FT) in a win at Seattle U. (11/23).
• She scored 24 points (11-18 FG, 2-3 FT) with three rebounds and four assists in the Vikings' win against Pacific Union (CA) (11/20). Her 11 field goals against Pacific Union were the most by a Viking since Emily Easom in 2014. 
• She scored a career-high 25 points (9-16 FG, 5-7 3FG, 2-2 FT) at Boise State (11/16). She added two rebounds and two steals in 33 minutes. 
• She scored a team-high 12 points (3-12 FG, 1-3 3-pt FG, 5-6 FT) in her Portland State debut at CSUN (11/11). She pulled down a team-high five rebounds an recorded a pair of assists in 24 minutes.
• She sat out the 2015-16 season due to NCAA Transfer Rules

#4 | PIA JURHAR  //  Sophomore  //  Forward  //  6-3  //  Vienna, Austria 
• She is averaging 5.7 points and 6.3 rebounds per game. Has two double-digit scoring games and one double-double.  
• She scored 12 points (6-9 FG) with 11 rebounds for her first double-double of the season in a win over Cal State Fullerton (12/10). 
• She scored 12 points (6-8 FG) with nine rebounds in a win over Pacific Union (CA) (11/20). 
• She scored two points, pulled down three rebounds, with a block in 10 minutes of action in the Vikings' season opener at CSUN (11/11). 
• She played in 30 games, making 25 starts, as a true freshman in 2015-16. She averaged 5.9 points and 7.0 rebounds per game. 

#10 | COURTNEY WEST  //  RS-Sophomore  //  Forward  //  6-4  //  Sydney, Australia 
• She is averaging 10.3 points and 6.0 rebounds per game this season. She has four double-digit scoring games, including the last two.
• She leads the Big Sky Conference with 13 blocks and 1.9 blocks per game.
• She scored 12 points (6-12 FG) with six rebounds and a career-high four assists in a win over UC Irvine (12/3).
• She scored five points with seven rebounds and a career-high six blocks in a win over Seattle U (11/23). Her six blocks were tied for the second most all-time at Portland State. 
• She scored 16 points (8-15 FG) with eight rebounds in 14 minutes in the Vikings' win over  Pacific Union (11/20).
• She scored eight points (4-8 FG) with five rebounds and three blocks at Boise State (11/16).
• She scored a team-high 12 points with a team-high five rebounds in Portland State debut at CSUN (11/11). Shot .600 (6-for-10) from the floor. 
• She sat out the 2015-16 season due to NCAA Transfer Rules.

#11 | CICI WEST  //  Sophomore  //  Guard  //  5-10  //  Seattle, WA 
• She is averaging 7.3 points and a team-high 6.4 rebounds per game off the bench this season. She has two double-digit scoring games, and three double-digit rebounding games. She has one double-double. 
• She came off the bench for the Vikings' first double-double of the season with 13 points and 10 rebounds at Portland (11/30).
• She came off the bench for nine points (3-6 FG, 3-5 FT) and a team-high 10 rebounds in a win at Seattle U. (11/23).
• She came off the bench for four points and two rebounds in 10 minutes in the Vikings' season opener at CSUN (11/11).
• She averaged 10.0 points and a Big Sky leading 9.5 rebounds per game as a sophomore in 2015-16. 
• She set the Portland State single-season rebounding record with 286 in 2015-16. 

#45 | MICHAELA KAY  //  Sophomore  //  Guard  //  5-6  //  Spokane, WA 
• She is averaging 8.1 points and 4.9 assists this season. She is second in the Big Sky Conference in assists per game.
• She scored her third career 20-point game with 20 points (6-11 FG, 5-9 3FG, 3-4 FT) in a win over UC Irvine (12/3). She matched her career high with five three-pointers.
• She scored eight points (1-5 3FT, 5-6 FT) with five rebounds and five assists in a win at Seattle U. (11/23).
• She came off the bench for 14 points (4-6 3FG, 2-2 FT) with five assists at Boise State (11/16).
• She averaged 8.4 ppg and led the team with 82 assists (2.9 apg) in 2015-16.