OGDEN, Utah – Sophomore G Sidney Rielly exploded for a career-high 32 points but the Vikings were unable to overcome early sharpshooting by the Weber State Wildcats, falling 85-75, Saturday afternoon in Ogden, Utah.
 
Rielly became the first Viking since Kelly Merchant in 2010 to score more than 30 points in a game. In fact, her 32 points are tied for the second most by a Viking since PSU Hall of Famer Kelsey Kahle scored a program record 41 points in 2007.
 
Rielly had an extremely efficient day shooting against the Wildcats. She went 8-for-11 from the floor and 4-for-6 from three-point land, one shy of her career high. She also went 12-for-13 at the line, both career highs. Rielly has not been to the foul line that often of late, taking just 14 attempts over the last seven contests.
 
Rielly leads the team with 17.1 points per game this season. Her 411 points on the year are the most by a Viking since Courtney VanBrocklin put up 412 points during the 2012-13 season. She is currently on pace for 530 points this season, which would put her just outside the PSU top 10 list.
 
Sophomore F Courtney West had another outstanding performance for the Vikings on both ends of the court. She scored 19 points, going 9-for-14 from the floor, with a career-high 13 rebounds for her fourth double-double of the season, second in the last three games. She added a pair of blocks in the game bringing her season total to 62, inching her way closer to the Portland State single-season blocks record of 66.
 
Portland State (10-14 overall, 4-8 Big Sky Conference) shot 50.9 percent from the floor for the game, its eighth time shooting over 50 percent this season. The Vikings were plus-10 in rebounding in the game but were minus-10 in turnovers, which led to 29 points off turnovers for the Wildcats.
 
Weber State could not score in the paint against Portland State so it took its game outside, hitting 15-of-33 from three-point range. That proved to be the difference Saturday.
 
Weber State could not miss to start the game, especially from beyond the arc. The Wildcats hit their first five shots, four from distance, which quickly put them up 14-6 early in the first. Seven first quarter turnovers by the Vikings turned into 12 points for the Wildcats as they led 32-18 at the end of the first. Weber State went 11-for-18 from the floor and 8-for-11 from three-point range over the first 10 minutes.
 
Portland State settled down in the second and went on a run. Trailing by 17 (41-24), the Vikings went on a 14-3 run to cut the lead down to just six points at 44-38 with 92 seconds left in the half. During the Vikings' run, WSU's Yarden Danan went down with an ankle injury. When she went down, she led all scorers with 14 points and had accounted for four three-pointers. She did return in the second half but added only two points, finishing with a team-high 16.
 
After cutting the lead to six, Weber State scored the final four points of the half to lead 48-38 at the half. Rielly had 15 of her career-high 32 points in the first half, while West added 10 of her 19 points for the game.
 
Portland State was unable to make up any ground in the third quarter, in fact, the Vikings lost ground and trailed by 14 points, 66-52, heading into the final quarter.
 
The Wildcats' 15th three-pointer of the game put them up by 18 at 81-63 with 3:15 left in the game. The Vikings went on a 10-0 run over the next 1:35 to cut WSU's lead to eight points with 1:24 left. The Vikings were forced to foul to extend the game and fell 85-75.
 
Weber State had six players score in double-figures led by Danan and Deeshyra Thomas' team-high 16 points.
 
Portland State returns home next week to host the Montana schools. The Vikings face the Bobcats on Thursday at the Peter W. Stott Center before the Lady Griz come to town for a Saturday showdown.
 
NOTES:
• Sophomore G Sidney Rielly scored a career-high 32 points.
• Rielly became the first Viking since 2010 to scored 30-or-more points.
• Sophomore G Courtney West recorded her fourth double-double of the season with 19 points and 13 rebounds.
• West's double-double was her second in the last three games.
• Portland State has lost a season-high six games.