RENO, Nev. – The Vikings' magical year came to an end Friday afternoon with a 54-50 loss to Idaho State in the Big Sky Women's Basketball semifinals at the Reno Events Center in Reno, Nev.
 
"Looking back at this season you can see the progression of our young team. Here at the end, we were playing our best basketball," second-year Head Coach Lynn Kennedy said following the game. "I'm very proud of this team and how hard they've worked to get to this point. We're going to learn from this experience and be back next year."
 
Portland State finished the season 16-17 overall after finishing seventh in the Big Sky Conference with an 8-10 record. The Vikings' 12-win improvement over last year's 4-26 record matched the best improvement from one year to the next in program history and was the best during NCAA Division I play.
 
The Vikings struggled to get things going on offense throughout the game. They shot 34 percent from the floor, one of their lowest marks of the season. While they struggled from the field, they kept themselves in the game at the free-throw line, going 16-for-20.
 
Sophomore F Courtney West led the Vikings with 16 points, 7-of-14 from the floor and 2-for-2 at the line. She pulled down eight rebounds and added to her Portland State single-season blocks record with two more against the Bengals. She finished the season with 94 blocks on the year, which is not only the most ever by a Viking in a single-season but is fourth all-time in the Big Sky.
 
Ashley Bolston and Sidney Rielly added 14 and 10 points respectively in the game. Bolston finished the season with 521 points, while Rielly finished with 519 points. They are the first Portland State duo, at the Division I level, to each surpass the 500-point plateau in the same season.
 
Cici West had another great game off the bench with eight points, all coming from the free-throw line where she went 8-for-10. She pulled down a game-high 10 rebounds.
 
Portland State's 2-3 zone held Idaho State's offense in check inside the three-point line. Unfortunately for the Vikings, the Bengals got hot from beyond the arc, going 10-for-21. Bianca Thacker was one of two Bengals to hit four three-pointers in the game, while scoring a game-high 18 points.
 
Idaho State went on a 7-0 run to take an 11-6 lead late in the first quarter. Portland State came back and closed out the period on a 9-0 run, while holding ISU scoreless for nearly three minutes, to lead 15-11 at the end of the first.
 
Idaho State opened the second quarter on an 8-2 run that turned out to be the difference in the game. The Bengals outscored the Vikings 17-12 in the second quarter and led 28-27 at the half.
 
ISU hit five three-pointers in the third quarter but the Vikings kept within reach with timely shooting from the floor and at the line. Bolston pulled the Vikings within four, 42-38, with a three-pointer with :18 seconds left in the third. The Bengals went right down the floor and hit their fifth three-pointer of the period to make it a seven-point game, 45-38 heading to the fourth.
 
Down by nine with 4:31 left, the Vikings went on a 6-0 run to cut the lead to three-points at 49-46 with 1:10 remaining. Idaho State hit a jumper and three free throws over the final minute of the game to secure the four-point win.
 
With the win, Idaho State advanced to the Big Sky Championship game where it will face No. 1 Montana State Saturday afternoon.
 
Portland State has much to look forward to for next season. The Vikings return nearly their entire roster, losing only Ashley Torres Negron to graduation.
 
NOTES:
• Portland State improved its win total by 12 games compared to last season, the most in program history.
• Sophomore F Courtney West finished the season with a PSU single-season record 94 blocks, fourth all-time in the Big Sky.
• Ashley Bolston and Sidney Rielly both surpassed the 500-point mark on the season.
• Bolston finished the season with 153 assists, 10th on PSU's single-season list.