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Game 30 - Big Sky Conference Tournament 1st Round

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OPENING TIP
     Eleventh-seeded Portland State opens the 2016 Big Sky Women's Basketball Tournament Monday against the No. 6 seed Weber State Wildcats. The Vikings and Wildcats face off in the final game of the opening round. Tip is slated for 8:05 p.m. PT at the Reno Events Center in Reno. Nev.
     It will be the first tournament appearance for the Vikings since the 2011 season and the second tournament meeting between the Vikings and Wildcats. Weber State took the first meeting (77-67) in 2007. 
     Weber State defeated Portland State twice during the regular season. The Wildcats took the first meeting, 102-73, in Ogden, Utah before defeating the Vikings, 75-58, in Portland. 

#RoadToReno:  For the first time in league history, 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 7 with the men's tournament beginning the next day, Tuesday, March 8. For more information visit RoadtoReno.com.

LIVE VIDEO: Each game at the 2016 Big Sky Conference Basketball Tournament will feature a live video feed at WatchBigSky.com. 

LIVE STATS: Fans can follow the action throughout the 2016 Big Sky Conference Basketball Tournament on their computers or mobile devices via live stats provided by StatBraodcast.com. For links to every Portland State game, visit the women's basketball schedule page at GoViks.com. 

FOLLOW THE VIKINGS: For more information on the Portland State women's basketball team, follow the team's official Twitter account at Twitter.com/ViksWBB, on Facebook at Facebook.com/ViksWBB, or on Instagram at Instagram.com/ViksWBB.

LAST TIME OUT
• Portland State split its final two games of the regular season defeating Northern Arizona (88-80) before falling to Southern Utah (76-64) in its season finale. 
• Portland State averaged 76.0 ppg, while allowing 78.0 ppg, for a -2.0 scoring margin on the weekend. The Vikings shot .426 from the floor, .419 from three-point range, and .667 at the line. 
• Junior G Ashley Torres Negron averaged 18.0 ppg to lead the Vikings. She scored a career-high 22 points at NAU to start the week before scoring a team-high 14 points against SUU. 
• Freshman G Corey James added 13.0 ppg off the bench for the Vikings. 

WEBER STATE HITS
• Head Coach Bethann Ord is 39-106 in five seasons leading the Wildcats. 
• Weber State is 19-10 overall this season and 11-7 in Big Sky Conference play. The Wildcats are 9-5 at home, 9-5 on the road, and 1-0 at a neutral site. 
• Weber State started the season 8-3 in non-conference play. The Wildcats opened the conference season 10-4 before dropping three straight at Montana State and Montana and at home against Idaho. They clinched the No. 6 seed, and denied Eastern Washington the regular season title, with a win over the Eagles (80-74) in their season finale. 
• Weber State is sixth in the Big Sky with 68.5 ppg and fourth in the league with a .418 field goal percentage. Opponents are averaging 63.0 ppg against Weber State, fourth in the league, while shooting .431 from the floor, 10th in the league. 
• Weber State is 11th in the league with 33.6 rebounds per game. The Wildcats are allowing 37.3 rebound per game, fifth most in the conference. Their -3.7 rebounding margin is 10th in the Big Sky.
• The Wildcats are second in the Big Sky with 10.9 steals per game and their +5.0 turnover margin is also second in the league. 
• Senior G Regina Okoye leads Weber State with 16.2 ppg and 6.3 rpg this season. She started the first 17 games of the season before missing the next 10 games. She came back and played seven minutes, scoring four points, against Idaho (3/2) but did not play in the Wildcat's season finale against Eastern Washington (3/4). 
• Junior G Deeshyra Thomas is second on the team in scoring with 13.5 ppg this season. She has started all 29 games and is shooting .472 from the floor. She has scored in double-figures 19 times, including 17 of the last 19 games. She posted a season-high 33 points, going 11-for-17 from the floor, against Northern Colorado on Feb. 4. 

PORTLAND STATE VS. WEBER STATE:
• ALL-TIME SERIES: Weber State leads the all-time series 26-24 dating back to the 1982-83 season. Portland State won seven in a row but has dropped each of the last three games. The teams have met just once in the Big Sky Tournament, with Weber State winning, 77-67, in 2007.
• THIS SEASON: Weber State swept the season series for the first time since 2007. 
• IN OGDEN, WSU 102, PSU 73: Portland State shot poorly (.383) from the floor, while Weber State shot .519 en route to the 29-point victory. The Wildcats had four players in double-figures, led by Regina Okoye's game-high 28 points. Okoye went 13-for-23 from the floor and pulled down 10 rebounds for a double-double. Kian McNair led the Vikings with 15 points on 6-of-15 shooting. Cici West posted a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds. 
• IN PORTLAND, WSU 75, PSU 58: The Vikings' defense contained the Wildcat's offense better in the second meeting, but the Vikings could not get much out of its starting lineup. Cici West led the Vikings with 19 points and 16 rebounds for another double-double but she was the only starter in double-figures. Pia Jurhar and Kian McNair both went scoreless in the game. Corey James came off the bench for 16 points. Weber State had four players in double-figures, led by Deeshyra Thomas' 19 points. Okoye did not play in the game. 

AT BIG SKY TOURNAMENT: Portland State is 7-8 all-time at the Big Sky Tournament. The Vikings made their first appearance in 1999, finishing second after falling to then-Cal State Northridge in the championship game. The Vikings won their first, and only, Big Sky Tournament title in 2010 after entering as the No. 5 seed. They defeated Idaho State and Montana en route to the championship game, where they defeated No. 6 Montana State, 62-58, to advance to their first NCAA Division I Tournament. Portland State entered the 2011 tournament as the No. 1 seed, their highest seeding, after winning the regular season title.  

IN THE RECORD BOOKS: The Vikings have made an impact on the record books this season both as a team and as individuals, especially in rebounding. 
• Portland State's 42.7 rebounds per game is fourth best in program history. 
• Portland State's 1,239 rebounds are sixth best in program history. 
• Cici West's 282 rebounds are the most by a Viking in a single season. 
• Cici West's 9.7 rebounds per game this season is eighth best in program history. 
• Cici West's 18 rebounds against Portland (11/25/15) and against Idaho (1/30/16) are tied for the fifth most in program history and are the most by a Viking at the Peter W. Stott Center. 
• Corey James' .890 (65-for-73) free-throw percentage is third best all-time in a single season. 
• Pia Jurhar's 44 blocks are sixth most all-time in a single season. 

TEAM NOTES: Here are some quick-hitters about Portland State through 29 games:
• The Vikings are 4-25 overall this season, 3-12 at home, and 1-13 on the road. 
• Portland State broke a 21-game road losing streak with its win over Northern Arizona on March. 2. The Vikings had lost 17-straight Big Sky road games. 
• Portland State is averaging 66.8 points per game this season, while opponents are scoring 85.2 ppg (-18.3 scoring margin).
• Portland State is shooting .358 from the floor, .299 from three-point range, and .692 from the free throw line for the season. PSU averages 5.6 three-pointers per game and 15.6 free throws made per game.
• Portland State is 4-1 when leading at the half. The Vikings are also 4-1 when scoring over 80 points. 

PORTLAND STATE IN THE RANKINGS
• Portland State leads the Big Sky in defensive rebounds per game (29.3), 13th best in the NCAA. 
• Portland State leads the Big Sky in rebounds per game (42.72), 23rd in the NCAA. 
• Portland State leads the Big Sky in free throw attempts (655) and makes (453), 11th and 12th respectively in the NCAA.
• Cici West leads the Big Sky in defensive rebounds per game (7.1), 21st in the NCAA.
• Cici West leads the Big Sky in rebounds (282), 26th in the NCAA. 
• Cici West leads the Big Sky in rebounds per game (9.7), 34th in the NCAA. 
• Cici West is second in the Big Sky in double-doubles (11), 44th in the NCAA.
• Kian McNair is fifth in the Big Sky in steals (71), 45th in the NCAA.
• Kian McNair is fifth in the Big Sky in steals per game (2.45), 51st in the NCAA.

PORTLAND STATE WINS
• Portland State recorded its first road win of the season, defeating Northern Arizona, 88-80, on March 2 in Flagstaff, Ariz. The Vikings had five players in double-figures led by junior G Ashley Torres Negron's career-high 22 points. Portland State shot a season-high .483 (28-58) from the floor and a season-high .611 (11-18) from three-point range. Kian McNair scored 16 points, while Cici West posted her 11th double-double of the season with 13 points and 11 rebounds. Corey James added 13 points, while Yaremi Mejia scored 11 points, both off the bench. 
• Portland State picked up its first league win, defeating Eastern Washington, 81-79, on Jan. 28 at the Stott Center. The Vikings led by as much as 19 points in the fourth quarter before the Eagles tied it with a minute left. Freshman G Michaela Kay hit a three-pointer with 30 seconds left to give the Vikings the lead. EWU hit one of two free-throws and could not get the game-winning shot to fall as the Vikings held on for the win. 
• Portland State had six players, including all five starters, score in double-figures in its win against Eastern Washington on Jan. 28. Pia Jurhar led PSU with 18 points, while Cici West recorded her sixth double-double of the season with 11 points and a game-high 14 rebounds. Michaela Kay and Kian McNair each added 12 points, while Ashley Torres Negron and Corey James added 16 and 10 points respectively. All 16 of Torres Negron's points, including a career-high four three-pointers, came in the second half. 
• The Vikings picked up their second win, an 83-77 win over CSUN, in their final non-conference game of the year. Portland State hit a season-high 12 three-pointers shooting .444 (12-for-27) from three-point range. PSU went 9-for-12 from distance in the second half. Portland State had three players in double-figures against the Matadors led by Michaela Kay's 21 points and Cici West's double-double (11 points, 14 rebounds).
• Portland State picked up its first win of the season, 90-76, over Corban (12/12) at the Stott Center. The Vikings scored a then-season-high 90 points, while shooting a then-season-high .405 (32-79) from the floor against Corban. They pulled down a season-high 61 rebounds and turned the ball over a season-low 15 times. Portland State had four players with 10-plus points and four with 10-plus rebounds against Corban (12/12). Portland State's win against Corban (12/12/15) was the first for Head Coach Lynn Kennedy at Portland State. It was also the 550th will all-time for Portland State. 

EARLY PLAYING TIME
• Portland State is getting its extremely young roster a plethora of valuable playing time this season. The Vikings entered the season with the youngest roster in the Big Sky Conference. The current roster is made up of four upperclassmen (three juniors, one senior) and nine underclassmen (one redshirt sophomores, four true sophomores, and four true freshmen). Three of the four true sophomores are sitting out this season due to NCAA transfer rules. 
• The Vikings have started four freshmen (three guards and a forward) in 14 of the team's 29 games. 
• The Vikings have started at least two freshman guards in every game this season and have started three freshman guards 14 times. 
• Freshman guards Kian McNair and Michaela Kay have started 23 of the team's 29 games together, the most by any freshman duo in the nation. McNair lead the team with 11.1 ppg, while Kay is adding 8.5 ppg. 
• The Vikings are one of only three Division I teams in the nation to have started three freshman guards with the addition of Corey James, who is averaging 8.3 ppg this season. 

REBOUNDING DUO
• Sophomore G Cici West leads the Vikings, and the Big Sky Conference, with 9.7 rebounds per game. Freshman F Pia Jurhar is 11th in the league with 7.0 rpg. 
• West and Jurhar's combined 16.7 rpg is the most combined rebounds by any duo in the league this year. 

#4 | PIA JURHAR: Here are some quick hitters about Pia Jurhar, a freshman forward from Vienna, Austria. 
• Started the first 25 games of the season and is averaging 6.1 ppg and 7.0 rpg, 11th in the Big Sky Conference. She is tied for fifth in the league with 1.5 blocks per game and has recorded multiple blocks 12 times.
• Her 44 blocks are sixth best all-time at Portland State for a single season. 
• Has recorded double-digit rebounds seven times this season, with four double-digit scoring games, all coming in conference play. 
• Matched career high with 18 points, going 8-for-11 with nine rebounds, against Eastern Wash. (1/30).
• Improved career high to 18 points (7-for-13 FG, 4-for-7 FT), while pulling down 10 rebounds for first career double-double at Idaho State (1/16). 
• Posted a then-career-high 17 points, going 5-for-9 from the floor and 7-for-8 from the free-throw line against Montana (1/7). Added six rebounds and four blocks against the Lady Griz. 
• Has posted double-digit rebounds six times. Tallied a career-high 13 rebounds twice against Warner Pacific (11/21) and at Oregon (12/17).  
• Went 1-for-2 from the floor and from the line for three points, while pulling down seven rebounds, in career debut at Cal State Fullerton (11/13).
• Played on the FIBA Senior Women's National Team that won the European Championship for Small Countries.

#5 | KIAN MCNAIR: Here are some quick hitters about Kian McNair, a freshman guard from Vallejo, CA. 
• Has started all but one game this season and is averaging a team-best 11.1 ppg overall and 12.4 ppg during league play. She has scored in double-digits 17 times. 
• Is fifth in the Big Sky with 2.4 steals per game and has recorded at least one steal in every game this season, including a season-high five steals in back-to-back games against Corban (12/12) and Seattle (12/15).  
• Recorded 17th double-digit scoring game with 16 points (6-for-10 FG) at Northern Arizona (3/2). 
• Scored in double-digits three straight games with 18 points against Idaho (2/18), 11 against Eastern Washington (2/20), and 14 against North Dakota (2/25).  
• Improved career high in scoring to 22 points, going 7-for-17 from the floor and 8-for-8 at the free-throw line at Montana (2/6).  
• Scored a then-career-high 19 points twice this season, both against Sacramento State. 
• Hit a career-high nine field goals (9-for-15) against the Hornets on Jan. 23. 
• Scored 15 points in a career-high 30 minutes, going 6-for-15 from the floor, at Weber State (1/14). 
• Scored 19 points against the Hornets on Jan. 2 going 7-for-12 from the floor with a trio of three-pointers.
• Finished non-conference play with a then-career-high 18 points against CSUN (12/20), going 6-for-12 from the floor with a career-high four three-pointers. 
• Scored 13 points with five steals against Corban (12/15), helping the Vikings to their first win. 
• Scored 13 points against South Dakota State (12/3) followed by a then-career-high 18 against South Dakota (12/5). She shot .444 from the floor over the two games, going 12-for-27. She added five three-pointers on 11 attempts (.455) and a pair of free throws. 
• Posted first double-digit scoring game with 12 points in 24 minutes at Long Beach State (11/15). Went 3-for-5 from the floor, 2-for-3 from three-point range, and 4-for-4 at the line. 
• Made Portland State debut with five points and five rebounds at Cal State Fullerton (11/13). 

#11 | CICI WEST: Here are some quick hitters about Cici West, a sophomore guard from Seattle, WA. 
• Has started 25 games this season and is averaging 10.1 points per game. Leads the team, and the Big Sky, with 9.7 rebounds per game. Her 7.1 defensive rpg leads the league and is 21st in the nation. Leads the team, and is ninth in the league, with a .475 field goal percentage. 
• Has scored double-digit points 16 times this season and has posted 13 double-digit rebound games. 
• Has scored in double-digits in 12 of the last 16 games. 
• Leads the team, and is second in the league, with 11 double-doubles on the year. 
• Set the Portland State single-season record with 282 rebounds this season. Her 9.7 rebounds per game is eighth all-time in a single season. 
• Has two 20-point and 10-rebound games this season.
• Recorded back-to-back double-doubles with 10 points and 14 rebounds against Idaho State (2/11) followed by 19 points and 16 rebounds against Weber State (2/13). 
• Posted eighth double-double with 17 points and 15 rebounds at Montana State (2/4). 
• Matched career high in rebounds with 18, along with 12 points, for seventh double-double of the season against Idaho (1/30). Her 18 rebounds matched her Stott Center record, which she set previously this season.
• Posted fifth double-double of the season, second 20-point/10-rebound game of the year, with 22 points and 10 rebounds in 28 minutes against Sacramento State (1/23). Went 9-for-12 (.750) from the floor and 4-for-5 from the free-throw line against the Hornets. Her nine field goals is tied for the most by a Viking this season.
• Recorded fourth double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds at Weber State (1/14), going 5-for-9 from the floor with a pair of steals. 
• Posted third double-double with 11 points and 14 rebounds against CSUN (12/20), helping the Vikings to their second win of the season in their final non-conference game. 
• Recorded second double-double with a career-high 23 points along with 14 rebounds against Corban (12/12), leading the Vikings to their first win of the season. 
• Posted first career double-double with a then-career high 16 points and a career-high 18 rebounds in her first start of the season against Portland (11/24). 
• Her 18 rebounds against Portland was the most ever by a Viking at the Peter W. Stott Center and is tied for fifth all-time in a single game. 
• Posted 14 rebounds at Long Beach State (11/15), while adding first eight points of the season.
• One of three letterwinners returning from the 2014-15 season. Played in 27 games, making seven starts. Averaged 3.1 points and 4.3 rebounds per game last season. 

#15 | COREY JAMES: Here are some quick hitters about Corey James, a freshman guard from Albany, OR. 
• Started 19 games this season and is averaging 8.3 points per game. 
• Leads the Big Sky with an .890 free throw percentage, going 65-for-73 at the line. She currently ranks third all-time at Portland State in single-season free throw percentage. Hit 24 consecutive free throws before missing her last attempt against Northern Colorado (2/27). 
• She has scored double-digit points 12 times this season, including her last five games. Is averaging 12.6 ppg over her last five, all off the bench.
• Scored 16 points against Weber State (2/13) in 35 minutes off the bench. 
• Scored just three points but pulled down a career-high 15 rebounds at Idaho State (1/16).
• Scored 14 points, doing much of her damage at the line (8-for-9), at Weber State (1/14). 
• Scored 16 points, going 9-for-10 at the free-throw line along with six rebounds against Seattle (12/15). Followed that up with 13 points, going 5-for-14 with a trio of three pointers at Oregon (12/17).
• Recorded first career double-double with 18 points and a then-career-high 13 rebounds against Corban (12/12), helping the Vikings to their first win. 
• Scored a career-high 23 points against UC Davis (11/27), going 8-for-15 from the floor with four three-pointers. She also went 3-for-4 from the free-throw line and pulled down six rebounds. 
• Her 23 points against UC Davis is tied for the most by a Viking this season. 

#20 | ASHLEY TORRES NEGRON: Here are some quick hitters about Ashley Torres Negron, a junior guard from Morovis, Puerto Rico. 
• Played in every game this season, making 16 starts, and is averaging 10.0 points per game.
• Has posted 12 double-digit scoring games this season, including her last three games. Is averaging 16.3 ppg over her last three. 
• Scored a career-high 22 points, going 7-for-17 from the floor with a trio of three-pointers against Northern Arizona (3/2). 
• Recorded 14 points, going 6-for-12 (.500) from the floor, against Northern Colorado (2/27). 
• Averaged 16.5 ppg against Eastern Washington (1/28) and Idaho (1/30), while going 11-for-24 from the floor and 7-for-14 from three-point range, helping the Vikings to a 1-1 record. 
• Posted 18 points, going 5-for-15 from the floor and 8-for-12 at the line, along six rebounds and five assists against Sacramento State (1/23). 
• Improved career high in points to 19, going 6-for-13 from the floor and 7-for-9 from the line, at Sacramento State (1/2). 
• Scored a then-career-high 18 points, coming off the bench, at Oregon (12/17). Went 7-for-17 from the floor with a pair of three-pointers against the Ducks. 
• Posted 11 points in 18 minutes in a start against UC Davis (11/27). 
• Opened her Portland State career with 14 points at Cal State Fullerton (11/13). Went 2-for-8 from the floor, both three-pointers, and 8-for-8 from the line. 

#21 | ALICIA CARLINE: Here are some quick hitters about Alicia Carline, a senior forward from Fielding, New Zealand. 
• Started seven games this season, including each of the last four. Missed 12 games due to a foot injury. 
• Averaging 4.9 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks per game. 
• Scored 12 points (6-10 FG) with six rebounds and two blocks at Southern Utah (3/4). 
• Recorded a career-high six blocks against North Dakota (2/25). The six blocks are tied for the second most ever by a Viking in a single game. 
• Posted first double-digit rebound game of the season with six points and 10 rebounds at Montana (2/6). 
• Scored a career-high 16 points, going 6-for-8 from the floor and 4-for-5 at the line, with six rebounds and four blocks against Idaho (1/30).
• Opened the season with eight rebounds and five blocks at Cal State Fullerton (11/13). It was her third game with five blocks. Has recorded a block in 10-of-11 career Portland State games. She leads the league in total blocked shots with seven and is second with 3.5 per game. 
• Missed 20 games in 2014-15 as a junior due to injury and illness. Played in nine games (eight starts) and averaged 6.9 points and 6.3 rebounds in 21.7 minutes. Shot .433 going 26-for-60.

#45 | MICHAELA KAY: Here are some quick hitters about Michaela Kay, a freshman guard from Spokane, WA. 
• Is fourth on the team in scoring, with 8.5 points per game. Has posted nine double-digit scoring games, including two 20-point games. Also leads the team with 80 assists. Her 3.0 assists per game is 13th in the Big Sky.
• Recorded second 20-point game of the season with 21 points, going 6-for-11 from the floor, 4-for-7 from three-point range, and a perfect 5-for-5 from the line against CSUN (12/20). Added five assists and two steals against the Matadors. 
• Became first Viking in history to record 20 points in debut, posting 22 points at Cal State Fullerton (11/13). Went 7-for-15 from the floor, 5-for-11 from three-point range, and 3-4 from the line. Led the Vikings with eight rebounds. 
• Has hit five three-pointers in a game twice this season and has hit at least one in all but one game this season.

PRESEASON TEAM NOTES: Here are some quick-hitters about the Portland State women's basketball team heading into the season:
• Portland State went 4-25 overall and 2-16 in Big Sky conference play en route to a last place finish in the league. It was the Vikings' worst record since the 2004-05 season when they went 3-23 overall and 1-13 in Big Sky Conference play. 
• Portland State returns just three letterwinners from the 2014-15 season. The Vikings lost nine letterwinners and all five starters off last year's squad, including five of its top six scorers from a year ago. 
• Portland State returners have a combined four letters of experience at Portland State. There are a combined seven total letters of NCAA Division I experience on the roster, including transfers and redshirts. 
• Portland State adds five incoming freshmen, five transfers, and a pair of redshirts for 2015-16. Three of the five transfers will have to sit out the season due to NCAA Transfer Rules.
• Portland State has five foreign born players on the roster: Courtney West (Sydney, Australia); Pia Jurhar (Vienna, Austria); Te Oramae Solomon (Auckland, New Zealand); Alicia Carline (Fielding, New Zealand); Ashley Torres Negron (Morovis, Puerto Rico).
• Portland State is in its 20th season as a member of the Big Sky Conference 
• Construction of the new Viking Pavilion will begin in the spring of 2016. The Pavilion will consist of an upgraded Stott Center facility, including a new arena for Viking basketball, as well as athletic training enhancements, academic upgrades and overall facility enhancements. The Viking Pavilion will more than double the capacity of PSU's home court (to be situated on the east side of the building) to somewhere between 3,000-5,000 seats.
• The 12-team Big Sky Conference has a new post-season set-up and format. The Big Sky will move its conference tournament to a neutral site in Reno, NV. All 12 teams will be part of the tournament for the first time as it takes place at the Reno Events Center.