BOZEMAN, Mont. – Ashley Bolston's career-high 29 points kept the Vikings in the game but they could not overcome a Montana State three-point shooting barrage, falling 83-76, Saturday afternoon in Bozeman, Mont.
 
Bolston matched her previous career high with 29 points on 12-of-22 shooting against the Bobcats. After scoring just nine points in the first half, she exploded for 20 points in the second half, going 8-for-13 from the floor over the final 20 minutes. It was her seventh 20-point game of the year.
 
Sophomore F Courtney West matched her career high of 18 points, which she set against Montana Thursday, going 9-for-14 from the floor. She fell just shy of her second straight double-double with nine boards.
 
Portland State (10-9 overall, 4-3 Big Sky Conference) shot 50.8 percent from the floor and held Montana State (13-5, 6-2) to 40.3 percent. The difference in the game came from three-point range.
 
Over the previous four games, all PSU wins, the Vikings allowed just 21 three-pointers. Saturday, the Bobcats went 13-for-36 from distance.
 
Back-to-back three-pointer by sophomore G Sidney Rielly to start the game, and a layup from Bolston, gave the Vikings and early six-point lead at 8-2. Montana State scored the next seven points to take the lead a 9-8.
 
The Vikings and Bobcats started to trade baskets but the Vikings were hitting two-pointers and the Bobcats were hitting threes. Montana State hit four three-pointers in the first quarter and led by six, 22-16, at the end of the first.
 
Montana State hit another three-pointer to go up 11 with 7:49 left in the first half. The Vikings picked up their defense and held the Bobcats scoreless for over five minutes as they went on an 11-0 run to tie the game at 31-31. A late three-pointer gave the Bobcats a 36-32 lead at the break.
 
Montana State scored five quick points to open the second half to go up 41-32, which forced a Portland State timeout. The Vikings came out of the timeout on a 9-0 run over the next 2:24 to tie the game at 41-41.
 
Montana State hit its eighth three-pointer of the game to go up three at 44-41. Portland State kept it a one or two possession game before a late jumper by Bolston made it a 55-52 game heading to the fourth quarter.
 
Bolston hit West on a nice give and go to tie the game at 58-58 early in the fourth quarter. Montana State a nine-point lead at 77-68 after another three=pointer with under three-minutes to play.
 
Bolston hit one of two free throws to pull the Vikings within four with :24 seconds left. Portland State had to foul to extend the game but Montana State kept hitting its free throws as the Bobcats held off the Vikings for the 83-76 win.
 
MSU's Riley Nordgaard scored a team-high 25 points, going 8-for-15 from the floor and 6-for-11 from three-point range.
 
Portland State is back home next weekend for a single game against the Sacramento State Hornets Saturday, Jan. 28 at 12 p.m.