LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Ashley Bolston matched her career high with 26 points as the Vikings improved to 6-4 on the season with a 71-61 win over the Kennesaw State Owls Tuesday night in Las Vegas, Nev.
 
Bolston, a sophomore guard from Medford, Ore., recorded her fourth 20-point game of the year to lead all scorers. She did most her damage at the free-throw line, going 16-for-18. Her 16 makes and 18 attempts at the line are both second best all-time at Portland State, the most since Kelsey Kahle went 17-for-21 against Utah Valley State in 2006.
 
Bolston had a tremendous game away from the line as well. She led the team with eight assists and pulled down six rebounds. Over her two games at the Puerto Rico Classic, Bolson is averaging 18.0 points, 8.0 assists, and 6.5 rebounds per game.
 
Portland State (6-4 overall) struggled from the floor in the first quarter, going 3-for-10. The Vikings turned things around over the next couple of quarters and finished the game shooting .407 (24-for-59). The Vikings held Kennesaw State (1-10) to 25-of-72 (.347) from the floor.
 
Sophomore G Sidney Rielly followed up her 23-point performance Monday with 14 points, going 7-for-13 from the floor. She added three rebounds and two steals. Courtney West, a sophomore forward from Sydney, Australia, added 14 points, eight rebounds, four blocks, and four assists.
 
Kennesaw State got out to an early 7-0 lead before Portland State started to chip away at the lead. The Vikings cut the Owls' lead to 15-14 at the end of the first quarter. Rielly gave the Vikings' their first lead of the game, 18-17, early in the second quarter.
 
The Owls retook the lead and went up by five at 25-20 before the Vikings took the lead once again after a 6-0 run, capped by a three-point play from sophomore G Kian McNair. After trading baskets, Bolston gave the Vikings a 31-29 lead heading to the break. Bolston had 14 of the Vikings' 31 points at the half on 4-of-8 from the floor and 6-for-8 at the line.  
                                                                                                                                     
Portland State came out of the break on fire, going 10-for-15 from the floor. Courtney West had seven of her 14 point in the third quarter along with two steals.
 
Kennesaw State pulled within four, 57-53, midway through the fourth quarter before back-to-back baskets by Bolston and Rielly made it an eight-point game. The Owls started to foul late in the fourth, sending Bolston to the line. She went a perfect 10-for-10 at the line in the fourth to secure the Vikings' 71-61 win.
 
Portland State's defense came to play against Kennesaw State. The Vikings held the Owls under .400 from the floor, recorded eight blocks, and tallied a season-high 12 steals.
 
Kennesaw State's Carlotta Gianolla and Deandrea Sawyers each scored 14 points for the Owls. Allison Johnson added 13 points and 12 rebounds for the game's lone double-double.
 
Portland State will wrap-up play at the Puerto Rico Classic against the Oklahoma Sooners Wednesday night at the South Point Arena in Las Vegas, Nev. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m. PT.
 
NOTES:
• SO G Ashley Bolston matched her career high with 26 points, her fourth 20-point game.
• SO G Cici West pulled down a team-high 10 rebounds.
• Portland State is 6-0 when Bolston leads the team in assists.  
• Portland State is 6-4 for the first time since the 2012-13 season.