Complete Game Notes (PDF)

TIPOFF
Four years of growth within the Big Sky Conference resulted in last season's tournament title for the Portland State women's basketball team. Now, the Vikings attempt to grow on the national stage, as they make their first-ever appearance in the Preseason WNIT Friday.
 
The Vikings face Boise State in the first round of the prestigious preseason tournament, with tipoff scheduled for 7 p.m. (MT) at Boise's ExtraMile Arena. The Vikings and Broncos are two of the five teams in the 16-team field that made the NCAA tournament last season, while 12 of the 16 teams made some sort of postseason tournament.
 
The Broncos will be a formidable opening round opponent for the Vikings after they swept the Mountain West regular season and tournament titles for the second straight season in 2018-19. The Broncos set a new school record for wins in a season with 28 last season, and put a scare into fourth-seeded Oregon State before falling 80-75 in overtime in the first round of the NCAA tournament.
 
The Broncos return three senior starters from that team in Braydey Hodgins, Riley Lupfer and A'Shanti Coleman. Hodgins and Lupfer have split the last two Mountain West Tournament MVP/MOP awards, while each were named to the All-Mountain West team last season. Coleman and fifth-year senior Jayde Christopher started alongside Hodgins and Lupfer in the Broncos' season-opening win over Lewis-Clark State Tuesday, along with redshirt junior Mallory McGwire, a transfer from Oregon.
 
Ellie Woerner, a redshirt senior who played her freshman season at the University of Portland, led the Broncos with 15 points to go with seven rebounds in their 88-34 win. Coleman and Jade Loville followed with 14 points each, while Christopher and McGwire chipped in 11 points apiece.
 
The Vikings dominated their own season opener, beating Multnomah 104-48 at Viking Pavilion Tuesday. Portland State went 13-of-27 from beyond the arc, tying a program record for three-pointers made in a game. Five different players hit a three-pointer for the Vikings, while four different players made at least two threes in the game. Freshmen Jada Lewis (4), Belle Frazier (3) and Cassidy Gardner (1) contributed eight of the Vikings' 13 three-pointers while making their Viking debuts.
 
The Vikings turned defense into offense and played an up-tempo style Tuesday, scoring 33 points off 26 Multnomah turnovers while recording 16 steals. Frazier and junior guard Kylie Jimenez each finished with four steals in the game, while sophomore guard Desirae Hansen grabbed three steals to go with her game-high 20 points.
 
The fast tempo led to a lot of good ball movement for the Vikings that set up several easy buckets. The Vikings assisted on 28 of their 37 field goals, giving them an assist on over 75 percent of their made baskets. That's a higher percentage than the Vikings had last season, when they set a Big Sky-era program record for assists. The Vikings' 28 assists were also more than they had in any game last season.
 
Jimenez had seven assists by halftime, and would have bettered her career high of nine if Viking coaches hadn't shut her down in the second half. Hansen also had four of her six assists in the first half. Gardner picked up the slack with those two on the bench in the second half, finishing with four dimes.
 
Friday's game against the Broncos will be a definite step up in competition for the Vikings, but that fits with the trajectory the Vikings hope to be on. Boise State is the first of at least three NCAA tournament teams the Vikings will play during the non-conference season, with dates against UC Davis and Tennessee still ahead. Those three programs have made the postseason multiple times in recent years, a goal the Vikings have for their own program after winning the conference title last season.
 
If the Vikings beat the Broncos, then they'll face the winner of Friday's game between Texas A&M Corpus Christi and Missouri State. That game – scheduled for Sunday – could bring another NCAA tournament opponent for the Vikings, as Missouri State made the Sweet 16 last season before falling to second-seeded Stanford. 
 
GAME NOTES: PORTLAND STATE (1-0) vs. BOISE STATE (1-0)
LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO
DETAILS: Friday, Nov. 8, 7 p.m. (MT), Boise, Idaho (ExtraMile Arena)
SCOUTING BOISE STATE: The Boise State Broncos beat Lewis-Clark State 88-34 in their season opener Tuesday, holding the Warriors to only nine field goals and 20.9 percent shooting from the floor. The Broncos come into this season as the two-time defending Mountain West regular-season and tournament champions. Boise State set a program record with 28 wins last season, and put a scare into fourth-seeded Oregon State in the first round of the NCAA tournament. The Broncos return three starters from last year's team, as well as eight letterwinners overall. The Broncos returned last season's leading scorer in Braydey Hodgins, the 2019 Mountain West Tournament MVP and an All-Mountain West Team selection. The Broncos also returned senior guard Riley Lupfer, a two-time All-Mountain West Team selection and the 2018 Mountain West Tournament Most Outstanding Player. The Broncos also started two Pac-12 transfers in their season opener Tuesday in A'Shanti Coleman and Mallory McGwire. Coleman is in her third year playing for the Broncos, after spending her freshman season with Arizona. McGwire played in her first game as a Bronco Tuesday, after playing two seasons for Oregon. Ellie Woerner, a redshirt senior who played her freshman season at the University of Portland, led the Broncos with 15 points to go with seven rebounds Tuesday. Coleman and Jade Loville followed with 14 points each, while McGwire and Jayde Christopher, a redshirt senior from Kansas, each scored 11 points. Christopher also led the Broncos with seven assists, while Coleman grabbed a team-high nine rebounds. 
ALL-TIME SERIES: The Broncos lead the all-time series between them and the Vikings, 26-12. The Vikings haven't beaten the Broncos since the 2003-04 season, and have lost nine of their past 10 games against them. The Vikings last played the Broncos on Nov. 16, 2016, with the Broncos winning 94-76. Tatiana Streun is the only current Viking who played in that game.
 
VIKINGS IN THE PRESEASON WNIT
The Vikings will be making their first-ever appearance in the Preseason WNIT when they play against Boise State Friday. The Vikings are the third Big Sky team to participate in the Preseason WNIT in the past four seasons. Montana State lost in the first round of the 2018 Preseason WNIT before going on to win two games in the consolation bracket. Eastern Washington participated in the 2016 Preseason WNIT, losing in the first round before winning one of two games in the consolation bracket.
 
STORYLINES/STREAKS/RECORDS
• The Vikings scored over 100 points while beating Multnomah 104-48 in their season opener Tuesday, the second straight season the Vikings have opened with a 100-point game. Before last season's opener, the Vikings hadn't scored over 100 points in a game since Dec. 2, 1995. The Vikings' 104 points against Multnomah Tuesday are the most points they've scored in a game in the program's Big Sky era.
• The Vikings tied a program record with 13 three-pointers against Multnomah Tuesday. The Vikings originally set the record with 13 three-pointers against Utah Valley on Dec. 29, 2007. Five different players hit a three-pointer, while four different players made at least two threes in the game. Freshmen Jada Lewis (4), Belle Frazier (3) and Cassidy Gardner (1) accounted for eight of the team's 13 three-pointers.
• The Vikings assisted on 28 of their 37 field goals Tuesday. It was a continuation of the Vikings' play last season, when they set a Big Sky-era program record with 569 assists. The Vikings assisted on 66.5 percent of their field goals last season, a lower percentage than the Vikings did Tuesday when they assisted on 75.7 percent.
• Six different Vikings scored in double-figures Tuesday, with sophomore Desirae Hansen leading the way with 20 points on 7-of-13 shooting. The Vikings hadn't had six players score in double figures in one game since March 9, 2018, when the Vikings lost 102-99 to Idaho in the Big Sky semifinals.
• The Vikings are in their fifth year under head coach Lynn Kennedy. The Vikings went from winning only four games in Kennedy's first season at the helm in 2015-16 to Big Sky champs in only four years.
• The Vikings recorded the best season in Division I program history last season. The Vikings set a Division I program record with 25 wins last season, and also tied a program record with 14 Big Sky wins. Additionally, the Vikings finished with the best road winning percentage in program history while going 8-5 (.615) away from home last season.
• The Vikings were picked to finish third in the Big Sky in the preseason coaches and media polls. Montana State topped both polls, while Idaho and Portland State followed at second and third, respectively.
 
NEW THREATS FROM BEYOND THE ARC
The Vikings hit 13 three-pointers in their 104-48 win over Multnomah Tuesday, tying a program record that was set close to 12 years ago against Utah Valley on Dec. 29, 2007. Five different players hit a three-pointer for the Vikings, while four different players made at least two threes in the game. Freshmen Jada Lewis (4), Belle Frazier (3) and Cassidy Gardner (1) accounted for eight of the team's 13 three-pointers. Besides the freshmen, sophomore Desirae Hansen went 3-of-5 from beyond the arc, while junior Kylie Jimenez went 2-of-4.
 
PASSING THE ROCK
The Vikings set a Big Sky-era program record with 569 assists last season, but that mark may be under threat again this season if things continue like they did Tuesday. The Vikings assisted on 28 of their 37 field goals against Multnomah, giving them an assist on over 75 percent of their field goals. That's a higher percentage than the Vikings had last season, when they assisted on 66.5 percent of their field goals. The Vikings' 28 assists were also more than they had in any game last season.
 
JIMENEZ CHASING EXCLUSIVE COMPANY AS A JUNIOR
Junior Kylie Jimenez stepped up her game across the board as a sophomore, and could be in line to join exclusive company at Portland State if she makes a similar jump as a junior. Jimenez only needs to match her totals for points and assists last season to become only the third player in program history to record 1,000-career points and 450-career assists by the end of the season. Jimenez would join Claire Faucher and Kim Manifesto, both PSU Hall of Famers, in the exclusive club.
 
Jimenez made a significant statistical jump last season as a sophomore. Jimenez averaged 11.5 points per game last season, more than 2.5 points per game better than her average as a freshman. Additionally, Jimenez led the Big Sky and ranked in the top 35 of the nation with 2.6 steals per game, a big jump from the 1.97 she averaged as a freshman. Jimenez also improved her averages for assists (4.7 compared to 4.5 as a freshman) and three-pointers made (1.79 to 1.41) as a sophomore.
 
THE PAINT BELONGS TO JORDAN STOTLER
Senior forward Jordan Stotler recorded the ninth-best single-season block total with 46 last season. That came despite Stotler sharing the paint with the Vikings' all-time blocks leader in Courtney West. Stotler exclusively owns the paint this season, as she steps into a bigger role as a senior. Stotler started all but the Vikings' Senior Day last season, and averaged 6.0 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game despite deferring to West in the paint. 
 
BIG-SHOT DES LOOKING AHEAD TO ADDED RESPONSIBILITY
The lasting image of sophomore Desirae Hansen's freshman campaign for Portland State was her making snow angels in confetti after hitting the winning shot in the Vikings' Big Sky championship game win over Eastern Washington. What image will define her sophomore season remains to be seen, but Viking coaches are counting on her to take on a greater role after she finished her freshman season on a strong note. Hansen played her best game as a freshman in the Vikings' regular-season finale when she scored 20 first-half points on the road against Montana State. Hansen followed with 10 points each in the Vikings' first two games at the Big Sky tournament, before hitting the game-winner with 3.1 seconds left against the Eagles. Hansen led the Vikings with 20 points on 7-of-13 shooting against Multnomah Tuesday, while adding six assists, five rebounds, three steals and three three-pointers.
 
TATIANA STREUN TRIUMPHANT IN HER RETURN FROM INJURY
Redshirt junior Tatiana Streun recorded the first double-double of her career in Tuesday's season opener against Multnomah, close to 20 months after her last official action for the Vikings. Streun, who sat out the Vikings' entire 2018-19 season after suffering an ACL tear in May of 2018, set new career highs for points (19), rebounds (13) and field goals made (8) against Multnomah. Streun's 19 points came on 8-of-12 shooting from the floor, while six of her 13 rebounds came on the offensive end. Streun's last counting game for the Vikings came during the 2017-18 season, when she averaged 5.1 points and 5.5 rebounds per game as a true sophomore.
 
GROWTH UNDER KENNEDY
The Vikings improved their win total in each of their first four seasons under head coach Lynn Kennedy. The Vikings won just four games during their first year under Kennedy in 2015-16, but then jumped up to 16 wins in 2016-17. The Vikings improved on that total with 19 wins in 2017-18, and then set a Division I program record with 25 wins last season.
 

Record	Season	Kennedy's Year at PSU
4-26	2015-16	1st
16-17	2016-17	2nd
19-13	2017-18	3rd
25-8	2018-19	4th

 
NEWCOMERS
The Vikings added a talented class of six newcomers over the offseason that they'll try and mesh with their seven returners. The newcomers are split evenly between the front and back courts, as Erika Brumfield, Marina Canzobre and Syd Schultz add depth at forward while Belle Frazier, Cassidy Gardner and Jada Lewis will contribute at guard. Frazier and Lewis were each named McDonald's All-American nominees while in high school, while Gardner led her team to a 3A Washington state title as an all-state honorable mention as a senior. Schultz, meanwhile, recorded 1,000-career points and 1,000-career rebounds in high school, and led the entire state of Wisconsin in rebounds as a high school senior. Canzobre was also part of the invited players pool for the Spain U-15 team.
 
VIKINGS PICKED FOR THIRD IN PRESEASON COACHES, MEDIA POLL
Big Sky media and coaches picked the Vikings to finish third in the conference this season in the preseason polls. Montana State, Idaho and Portland State went 1-2-3 in both the media and coaches polls, but the major takeaway from both polls was uncertainty. Seven of the 11 teams in the Big Sky received at least one first-place vote in the preseason media poll, while five of those seven teams received multiple votes. Additionally, four different teams received first-place votes in the preseason coaches poll, three of which received two or more.
 
JIMENEZ NAMED TO PRESEASON ALL-BIG SKY TEAM
Junior guard Kylie Jimenez was named to the preseason All-Big Sky team, voted on by the Big Sky's media members. Jimenez was one of seven players named to the preseason all-conference team. Fallyn Freije, a two-time All-Big Sky honorable mention while at North Dakota but now with Montana State, was named the conference's preseason MVP. Sacramento State's Kennedy Nicholas, Idaho State's Estefania Ors, Montana State's Oliana Squires, Montana's McKenzie Johnston and Idaho's Gina Marxen were the other preseason all-conference selections. The preseason honor was just the latest in what has already been a decorated career for Jimenez at Portland State. Jimenez was named the Big Sky Freshman of the Year following the 2017-18 season, and was an All-Big Sky honorable mention last season. Additionally, Jimenez made the All-Big Sky tournament team as the Vikings won the tournament last season.
 
VIKINGS PLAN INTERNATIONAL TRIP TO SPAIN IN AUGUST 2020
The Vikings will make what is believed to be the women's basketball program's first-ever international trip when they head to Spain in August 2020. The Vikings will visit Madrid, Valencia and Barcelona on a 10-day trip that will see them play three different exhibition games against local Spanish teams.
 
The Vikings are currently fundraising for the trip, which will cost around $4,000 per person. Anyone who would like to donate towards the team's travel fund can visit GoViks.com and click on the "Spain 2020 Trip Donations" link under the "Donate" drop-down menu.
 
SEASON HIGHLIGHTS
Nov. 5, Portland State 104, Multnomah 48: The Vikings hit the century mark in their season opener for the second straight season. Before last season, the Vikings hadn't scored over 100 points in a game since Dec. 2, 1995. The Vikings also tied a program record with 13 three-pointers in the game, and assisted on 28 of their 37 field goals.