Complete Game Notes (PDF)

TIPOFF
The Portland State women's basketball team found itself with the same result in its Big Sky opener from a year ago: a road loss to Northern Colorado. The Vikings lost 77-58 to the Bears Saturday, a nearly identical score to how the Vikings opened Big Sky play last season when they lost 79-63 to the Bears.
 
The opening loss to the Bears last season was only a minor blip for the Vikings, who followed it up with six straight wins and eventually won the Big Sky tournament title in March. A repeat of that this season would suit the Vikings just fine.
 
The follow up to the Vikings' opening game against the Bears will be different this season, however. Last season, the Vikings returned home right away, where they beat Montana State and Montana to kick start their six-game win streak. This season, the Vikings remain on the road for a game against a tough Southern Utah Monday at 6:30 p.m. (MT).
 
The Thunderbirds finished with a conference-best 6-3 record during non-conference play. The Vikings and Thunderbirds played two common opponents during the non-conference in Grand Canyon and UC Irvine. The Thunderbirds lost 69-65 on the road to Grand Canyon on Nov. 14, while the Vikings beat the Lopes 69-46 at home on Dec. 6. The Thunderbirds, meanwhile, beat UC Irvine 82-68 at home on Dec. 6, while the Vikings split their games against the Anteaters, losing 83-75 at a neutral site on Nov. 16 before winning a road game, 70-61, on Dec. 2.
 
The Thunderbirds also went 5-0 at home during non-conference play, a place where the Vikings have struggled in the past. The Vikings beat the Thunderbirds 81-56 in Cedar City last season, but that was the Vikings' first win in the city since Dec. 31, 2007. The Vikings had been 0-5 on the road against the Thunderbirds since Southern Utah joined the Big Sky Conference in 2012, before beating them last season.
 
Monday's follow up to the team's conference opener promises to be a challenge for the Vikings, then.
 
Beyond the general difficulties, the Thunderbirds also feature one of the most all-around players in the Big Sky Conference in Rebecca Cardenas. Cardenas leads the Big Sky with 18.2 points per game, while also averaging 4.8 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 2.6 steals per game. Cardenas' 2.6 steals per game rank just behind the Vikings' Kylie Jimenez, who leads the conference in the category.
 
Two other players average in double figures besides Cardenas in Harley Hansen (11.0) and Shalyn Fano (10.1). Fano also averages 6.4 rebounds per game, putting her just behind team leader Ashley Larsen, who averages 6.6 boards a game. Claudia Armato leads the Thunderbirds with 4.4 assists per game, ranking her just behind the Vikings' Desirae Hansen at fourth in the Big Sky.
 
The Vikings have the benefit of already having played this weekend, breaking them out of whatever post-holiday slump befalls all collegiate basketball teams. The Thunderbirds, meanwhile, haven't played since Dec. 19 as they were the lone idle Big Sky team Saturday.
 
A little rust for the Thunderbirds during Monday's game can only benefit the Vikings. If nothing else, it might help them repeat last season's feat of overcoming an opening loss to the Bears and going on to having a successful year.
 
Tipoff between the Vikings and Thunderbirds is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. (PT) / 6:30 p.m. (MT).
 
GAME NOTES: PORTLAND STATE (6-5, 0-1) vs. SOUTHERN UTAH (6-3, 0-0)
LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO
DETAILS: Monday, Dec. 30, 6:30 p.m. (MT), Cedar City, Utah (America First Events Center)
SCOUTING SOUTHERN UTAH: The Southern Utah Thunderbirds finished with the best non-conference record of any Big Sky team after going 6-3 in the leadup to conference play. The Vikings and Thunderbirds played two common opponents during non-conference play in Grand Canyon and UC Irvine. The Thunderbirds lost 69-65 on the road to Grand Canyon on Nov. 14, while the Vikings beat the Lopes 69-46 at home on Dec. 6. The Thunderbirds, meanwhile, beat UC Irvine 82-68 at home on Dec. 6, while the Vikings split their games against the Anteaters, losing 83-75 at a neutral site on Nov. 16 before winning a road game against them, 70-61, on Dec. 2. The Thunderbirds went 5-0 at home during non-conference play, and just 1-3 away from home. The Thunderbirds haven't played since Dec. 19, as they were idle for the first day of Big Sky games Saturday. The Thunderbirds feature one of the most all-around players in the Big Sky Conference in Rebecca Cardenas. She leads the Big Sky with 18.2 points per game, while also averaging 4.8 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 2.6 steals per game. Cardenas' 2.6 steals per game rank just behind the Vikings' Kylie Jimenez, who leads the conference in the category. Two other players average in double figures besides Cardenas in Harley Hansen (11.0) and Shalyn Fano (10.1). Fano also averages 6.4 rebounds per game, putting her just behind team leader Ashley Larsen, who averages 6.6 boards a game. Claudia Armato leads the Thunderbirds with 4.4 assists per game, ranking her just behind the Vikings' Desirae Hansen at fourth in the Big Sky.
ALL-TIME SERIES: The Vikings lead the all-time series between them and the Thunderbirds, 15-8. The Vikings have won three in a row against the Thunderbirds and five of their last seven. The Vikings won their first Big Sky road game against the Thunderbirds last season, when they won 81-56 in Cedar City. The Thunderbirds had been 5-0 in Big Sky games against the Vikings in Cedar City before last season.
 
STORYLINES/STREAKS/RECORDS
• The Vikings dropped their Big Sky opener, 77-58, at Northern Colorado Saturday. It was a mirror image of the Vikings' Big Sky opener from last season, when they lost 79-63 to the Bears in their Big Sky opener before going on to win the Big Sky tournament title.
• All five of the Vikings' starters average over 10 points a game. Tatiana Streun leads the group with 13.4 points per game, while Desirae Hansen (12.7), Kylie Jimenez (12.0), Belle Frazier (10.4) and Jordan Stotler (10.2) follow behind her. The balanced scoring has the Vikings ranked second in the Big Sky and 68th in the nation with 72.4 points per game as a team.
• The Vikings lead the Big Sky and rank 12th in the nation with a team three-point field goal percentage of .387. Jimenez and Frazier rank in the top 12 of the Big Sky for three-point field goals made per game, as they rank fifth and 11th, respectively, with 2.0 and 1.7 makes per game.
• The Vikings lead the Big Sky and rank fourth in the nation with a team free throw percentage of .795. That percentage comes even as the Vikings average 15.5 free throws made per game. Stotler (.842) ranks third in the Big Sky and 54th in the nation individually, while Streun ranks fourth (.810) in the conference.
• The Vikings are 6-0 when they out-rebound or tie their opponent in rebounds, and 0-5 when they don't. Streun ranks second in the Big Sky in total rebounds per game (8.2) and offensive rebounds per game (3.2).
• Stotler tied a program record with nine blocks in the Vikings' game against Tennessee on Dec. 21, and had another four blocks against Northern Colorado Saturday. She now leads the Big Sky and ranks 15th in the nation with 2.8 blocks per game. The Vikings rank second in the Big Sky with 4.27 blocks per game as a team.
• Jimenez leads the Big Sky and ranks 38th in the nation with 2.6 steals per game. Frazier ranks fifth with 2.2 steals per game.
• Hansen and Jimenez rank third and sixth, respectively, with 4.7 and 4.2 assists per game. 
• 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 last season.
 
PICK YOUR POISON
All five Viking starters average over 10 points a game this season. Tatiana Streun leads the group with 13.4 points per game, while Desirae Hansen (12.7), Kylie Jimenez (12.0), Belle Frazier (10.4) and Jordan Stotler (10.2) follow behind her. The balanced scoring has the Vikings ranked second in the Big Sky and 68th in the nation with 72.4 points per game as a team.
 
DEPTH FROM DEEP
The Vikings hit 12 three-pointers against Tennessee in their final non-conference game on Dec. 21, one off the single-game record the Vikings tied with 13 three-pointers in their season opener against Multnomah on Nov. 5. As a result, the Vikings now lead the Big Sky and rank 12th in the nation with a team three-point field goal percentage of .387. The Vikings also rank fourth in the Big Sky and 94th in the nation with 7.0 three-pointers made per game. Two different Vikings rank in the top 15 of the Big Sky for three-pointers made per game in Kylie Jimenez, who ranks fourth with 2.0 makes per game, and Belle Frazier, 11th with 1.7. Sophomore Desirae Hansen also averages 1.5 three-pointers made per game, while freshman Cassidy Gardner averages 1.1 three-pointers made per game after hitting three against Tennessee.
 
MONEY FROM THE LINE
The Vikings hit 18-of-18 shots from the free-throw line in their win over UC Davis on Nov. 30, the second most makes without a miss in a game in program history. That performance has been typical of the Vikings this season, as the Vikings lead the Big Sky and rank fourth in the nation with a team free throw percentage of .795. However, the Vikings are not only shooting a high percentage from the line, they're also making a ton of shots from the charity stripe. The Vikings average 15.5 free throws made per game, including a season-high 22 (on 24 attempts) in the Vikings' win over Nevada on Nov. 23. Jordan Stotler and Tatiana Streun both rank in the top four of the Big Sky for free throw percentage individually. Stotler ranks third in the conference and 54th in the nation while shooting .842 from the line, while Streun ranks fourth in the conference and 94th in the nation at .810. The Vikings could also set a new single-season program record for free throw percentage this season. They're just ahead of the current record of .792, which the Viking set during the 2011-12 season. Idaho State set the current Big Sky record at .832 in 2007-08.
 
THE BOARDS AS A BELLWETHER
How important is rebounding to the Vikings? Well, considering the Vikings are 6-0 when either out-rebounding or tying their opponents in rebounds and 0-5 when they don't, we'd say it's very important. Posts Tatiana Streun and Jordan Stotler each rank in the top five of the conference for rebounds. Streun ranks second in the Big Sky in total rebounds per game (8.2) and offensive rebounds per game (3.0), and ranks fourth in defensive rebounds per game (5.2). Stotler, meanwhile, ranks fourth in the Big Sky in total rebounds per game (7.2), and also ranks third in the conference with 5.5 defensive rebounds per game.
 
PASSING THE ROCK
For the second straight season, the Vikings have two elite distributors on the floor at any time. Last year, it was Kylie Jimenez and Ashley Bolston, who ranked third and fifth, respectively, in the Big Sky for assists per game. This year, sophomore Desirae Hansen joins Jimenez as she ranks third in the conference with 4.7 assists per game while Jimenez ranks sixth at 4.2. The pair also rank in the top 10 of the conference for assist-to-turnover ratio, with Jimenez fifth at 1.8 and Hansen eighth at 1.5.
 
BIG-SHOT DES TURNING INTO ALL-AROUND DES AS A SOPHOMORE
Sophomore guard Desirae Hansen has stepped up all phases of her game after a freshman season that ended on a high note with the game-winning shot against Eastern Washington in the Big Sky championship game. Hansen ranks third in the Big Sky with 4.7 assists per game this season, having set a new career high with 10 assists in the Vikings' comeback win over the University of Portland on Dec. 15. Hansen also averages 4.6 rebounds per game and 12.7 points per game for the Vikings, making her a 12-5-5 threat in every game. Hansen ranks ninth in the Big Sky with her 12.7 points per game, while she also ranks eighth in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.5) and 12th in minutes played per game (30.6).
 
GET YOUR OWN TOTS!
Redshirt junior Tatiana Streun – nicknamed tots – has made a triumphant return to the court this season after an ACL tear kept her out of the Vikings' entire 2018-19 season. Streun has four double-doubles through 11 games this season, including two in a row earlier this month. Streun had 17 points and 11 rebounds against Grand Canyon on Dec. 6, then followed with 17 points and 12 rebounds against the University of Portland on Dec. 15. Streun ranks second in the Big Sky in total rebounds per game (8.2) and offensive rebounds per game (3.0), and ranks fourth in the conference in defensive rebounds per game (5.2). Additionally, Streun ranks sixth in the Big Sky with 13.4 points per game, and also ranks in the top 10 of the conference for free throw percentage (4th, .810). Streun set a new career high with 21 points against UC Irvine on Dec. 2, when she was also a rebound away from another double-double with nine boards. Streun set a new career high for rebounds with 13 in the Vikings' season opener against Multnomah on Nov. 5.
 
JIMENEZ CHASING EXCLUSIVE COMPANY AS A JUNIOR
Junior guard Kylie Jimenez entered the career top 10s at Portland State for assists and three-pointers made against Tennessee on Dec. 21, and then entered the top 10 for steals with three against Northern Colorado Saturday. Jimenez now ranks tied for eighth in school history in both career assists (346) and career three-pointers made (126), and ranks tied for 10th in career steals (177). Jimenez's move up the career rankings in steals came as no surprise, as she leads the Big Sky and ranks 38th in the nation with 2.6 steals per game. Jimenez also ranks 13th in the Big Sky with 12.0 points per game, and ranks fifth in three-pointers made per game (2.0), sixth in assists per game (4.2), fifth in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.8) and third in minutes played per game (35.1). Jimenez remains on pace to become the 19th member of the Vikings' 1,000-point club by season's end, at which point she could also become only the third player in program history to record 1,000-career points and 450-career assists. Jimenez will join Claire Faucher and Kim Manifesto, both PSU Hall of Famers, in the exclusive 1,000-point, 450-assist club whenever it happens.
 
THE PAINT BELONGS TO JORDAN STOTLER
Senior forward Jordan Stotler tied a program record with nine blocks in the Vikings' loss to Tennessee on Dec. 21, and followed it up with four blocks against Northern Colorado Saturday. Stotler now leads the Big Sky and ranks 15th in the nation with 2.8 blocks per game, and ranks just five blocks short of entering the career top 10 at Portland State. Stotler also ranks fourth in the Big Sky with 7.2 rebounds per game, while she stands third in defensive rebounds per game (5.5) and third in free throw percentage (.842). Stotler has been playing especially well over the Vikings' last six games, as she's averaged 10.5 points, 8.5 rebounds and 3.2 blocks per game during that stretch. 
 
DIFFERENT FROM THE REST OF US IS BELLE
Like the main character from Beauty and the Beast, freshman Belle Frazier is different from the rest of us, but in a good way. Frazier has stepped right into the Vikings' starting lineup as a freshman, and ranks fourth on the team with 10.4 points per game. Frazier has failed to score in double figures just four times this season, and has hit three three-pointers in five different games, including the team's recent loss to 23rd-ranked Tennessee on Dec. 21. Frazier set career highs for points (17) and rebounds (5) in the Vikings' win over UC Davis on Nov. 30, and followed with a career-high six steals in the Vikings' win over UC Irvine on Dec. 2. Frazier ranks fifth in the conference with 2.2 steals per game, and also ranks 11th in the Big Sky with 1.7 three-pointers made per game. Additionally, Frazier has carried a heavy load as a freshman, as she ranks 15th in the Big Sky with 30.4 minutes played per game.
 
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 IN THE PRESEASON WNIT
The Vikings made their first-ever appearance in the Preseason WNIT this season. The Vikings lost their first-round game against Boise State, 82-57, on Nov. 8, then lost two consolation games to Kansas City (87-69 on Nov. 15) and UC Irvine (83-75 on Nov. 16). Jordan Stotler was named to the KC Site Preseason WNIT Consolation All-Tournament Team after averaging 14.5 points, 7.0 rebounds and 4.0 blocks per game in the Vikings' two consolation games in Kansas City. The Vikings are the third Big Sky team to participate in the Preseason WNIT in the past four seasons, joining Montana State in 2018 and Eastern Washington in 2016.
 
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.
Nov. 23, Portland State 80, Nevada 75: The Vikings handed Nevada its first loss of the season, while junior guard Kylie Jimenez beat her sister, Alyssa Jimenez, who's a freshman guard for the Wolf Pack.
Nov. 30, Portland State 76, UC Davis 70: The Vikings beat a fellow 2019 NCAA tournament team on the road in UC Davis. The Vikings hit 18-of-18 free throws in the game, tied for the second most makes without a miss within a game in program history. Kylie Jimenez led the Vikings with 25 points, while setting or tying career highs for steals (8) and three-pointers made (5).
Dec. 2, Portland State 70, UC Irvine 61: The Vikings avenged two recent losses to UC Irvine, including one earlier this season in a consolation game of the Preseason WNIT. The win marked the Vikings' third straight win, as well as their second straight road win over a team that won at least 20 games last season.
Dec. 6, Portland State 69, Grand Canyon 46: The Vikings held Grand Canyon – a team that came into the game ranked in the top 10 for both overall field goal percentage and three-point field goal percentage – to just 29 percent shooting (18-of-62) from the floor. The Lopes went just 2-of-17 from the three-point line, when they had been hitting more than 47 percent of their shots from beyond the arc.
Dec. 15, Portland State 77, Portland 71: The Vikings overcame a 15-point halftime deficit to beat cross-town rival University of Portland for the third straight season. The Vikings hadn't overcome a 15-point halftime deficit since Jan. 8, 2010, when they came back to beat Montana State, 69-62.
Dec. 21, #23 Tennessee 88, Portland State 61: The Vikings lost to the 23rd-ranked Lady Volunteers, but the game marked the first time the Vikings hosted an AP-ranked opponent since Dec. 23, 2000. The Vikings also set a new program record with 1,748 fans in attendance at Viking Pavilion.