Complete Game Notes (PDF)

TIPOFF
Two road games against two 20-win teams from last season netted two wins for the Portland State women's basketball team last weekend. The Vikings beat UC Davis – a fellow NCAA tournament and 25-win team last season – 76-60 Saturday, then followed with a 70-61 win over UC Irvine Monday night.
 
The wins gave the Vikings a strong finish to a road-heavy start to the season. Five of the Vikings' first seven games this season came on the road, and yet the Vikings are 4-3 as they return to Portland for their final three non-conference games.
 
The run at home begins Friday, when the Vikings host Grand Canyon in a game presented by Les Schwab at 5 p.m. (PT).
 
The Vikings head into the game on a three-game winning streak that includes their two road wins last weekend. The road wins followed an 80-75 home win over Nevada on Nov. 23, when the Vikings handed the Wolf Pack its first loss of the season.
 
Quality shooting led the Vikings to their win over the Aggies Saturday, both from the free-throw line and three-point range. The Vikings hit 10 shots from deep against the Aggies, the third time this season that the Vikings have made at least 10 threes in a game. The Vikings also went 18-of-18 from the free-throw line against the Aggies, the second most makes without a miss in a game in program history.
 
The Vikings also made 18 free throws Monday, but otherwise followed a completely different script to the win. For one, Kylie Jimenez, who led the Vikings to Saturday's win with 17 of her game-high 25 points coming in the second half, was held to only two points against the Anteaters. The Vikings also made just four three-pointers against UC Irvine, and assisted on only seven of their 24 made field goals.
 
Instead, toughness down low led the Vikings to their win over the Anteaters. UC Irvine opened the game with a 19-11 advantage on the boards that helped them take a 38-33 lead in the second quarter. The Vikings turned it around from there, however, as they out-rebounded the Eaters 35-25 the rest of the way and stretched their lead to double digits in the fourth quarter.
 
Posts Jordan Stotler and Tatiana Streun, alongside sophomore guard Desirae Hansen, led the Vikings to the victory. Streun posted a game-high 21 points on 6-of-9 shooting while adding nine rebounds. Stotler, meanwhile, recorded her first double-double of the season with 15 points and 12 rebounds, while Hansen scored 13 of her 17 points in the first half.
 
Freshman Belle Frazier was the constant between the two games, as she scored 11 points against the Anteaters after setting new career highs for points (17) and rebounds (5) against the Aggies Saturday. Frazier has only failed to score in double figures once this season, and has made two or more three-pointers in five of the team's seven games so far.
 
All five starters for the Vikings average at least 10 points a game, while the Vikings lead the Big Sky and rank 45th in the nation with 75.9 points per game. Streun leads the team and ranks fourth in the Big Sky with 14.6 points per game, while Hansen and Frazier rank 10th and 15th in the conference, respectively, with 13.0 and 11.9 points per game.
 
Friday's game could be especially high scoring, as Grand Canyon comes into the game averaging 70.8 points per game. Additionally, the Lopes lead the WAC and rank in the top 10 of the nation in both overall field goal percentage (.489, 7th in the nation) and three-point field goal percentage (.473, 2nd).
 
Venla Varis ranks 24th in the nation with 3.25 three-pointers made per game individually, and also ranks fifth in the nation with a .542 three-point field goal percentage. Senior forward Da'jah Daniel has complimented Varis on the inside, as she averages 12.0 points and 9.2 rebounds per game while making 55.8 percent of her shots overall.
 
Jada Holland has fed both Varis and Daniel from the point guard position, and ranks fourth in the nation with 7.0 assists per game as a result. Holland, one of eight newcomers on this year's Lopes team, also leads the Lopes with 13.0 points per game.
 
The Lopes will have to find their game legs again after a 12-day layoff between games. The Lopes last played on Nov. 24, when they lost 80-70 at home against Cal State Fullerton. The Lopes split two games against Big Sky opponents before that, beating Southern Utah 69-65 at home on Nov. 14, before losing 72-67 to Montana on the road on Nov. 19.
 
Whether the Lopes show rust at the start of their game against the Vikings could be partly up to the Viking defense. The Vikings held UC Irvine to .297 shooting Monday, a season low for a Viking opponent this season, but have seen four opponents shoot 42 percent or better against them.
 
Friday's game comes as a doubleheader with the Viking men's team, which will take on CSUN at 7:35 p.m. (PT). Les Schwab is sponsoring a toy drive for the winter holidays as part of the doubleheader. Fans who bring a new, unwrapped toy will receive free admission to the game. 
 
GAME NOTES: PORTLAND STATE (4-3) vs. GRAND CANYON (2-3)
LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO
DETAILS: Friday, Dec. 6, 5 p.m. (PT), Portland, Ore. (Viking Pavilion)
SCOUTING GRAND CANYON: The Grand Canyon Lopes will have rested for 12 days by the time they face the Vikings Friday. The Lopes haven't played since Nov. 24, when they lost 80-70 at home to Cal State Fullerton. The Lopes split two games against Big Sky opponents before that, beating Southern Utah 69-65 at home on Nov. 14, before losing 72-67 to Montana on the road on Nov. 19. The Lopes brought in eight newcomers after going 7-20 overall and 5-11 in the Western Athletic Conference last season. One of the Lopes' losses last season came to the Vikings, as PSU beat them 60-55 in Phoenix on Dec. 11. ShaRon Miller led the Lopes with 16 points against the Vikings, but has since graduated out of the program. The Lopes also lost Kavita Akula, who chipped in seven points and three assists in last season's game. Venla Varis stands as the Lopes' top returning scorer from that game, as she scored nine points on 3-of-5 shooting from beyond the arc last season. Varis is one of three players averaging over 10 points a game this season for the Lopes, and one of six players averaging at least eight points. Jada Holland, one of the Lopes' eight newcomers, leads the team with 13.0 points per game, and ranks fourth in the nation with 7.0 assists per game. Senior forward Da'jah Daniel ranks second on the team with 12.0 points per game while leading the Lopes with 9.2 rebounds per game. Varis follows with 11.8 points per game while Tavia Rowell (9.6), Tianna Brown (9.0) and Carla Balague (8.0) add depth to the Lopes' scoring. Varis ranks fifth in the nation with a .542 three-point field goal percentage, and also ranks 24th with 3.25 three-pointers made per game.
ALL-TIME SERIES: The Vikings are 8-0 all time against Grand Canyon, though the teams have only played once during the Vikings' Big Sky era (1996-pres). The Vikings won that game, 60-55, last season, beating the Lopes in Phoenix. The Vikings last played Grand Canyon at home during the 1993-94 season, with the Vikings winning 106-84.
 
STORYLINES/STREAKS/RECORDS
• The Vikings have won three games in a row, including their last two on the road against quality teams in UC Davis and UC Irvine. Both UC Davis and UC Irvine were 20-win teams last season, while the Aggies made the NCAA tournament. The Vikings beat UC Davis, 76-70 Saturday, and then avenged two recent losses to UC Irvine with a 70-61 win Monday night.
• The Vikings lead the Big Sky and rank 45th in the nation with 75.9 points per game. Five different Vikings average in double figures between Tatiana Streun (14.6), Desirae Hansen (13.0), Belle Frazier (11.9), Kylie Jimenez (11.6) and Jordan Stotler (10.7). Streun ranks fourth in the conference for scoring, while Hansen and Frazier rank 10th and 15th, respectively.
• The Vikings lead the Big Sky and rank third in the nation with an .820 team free-throw percentage. The Vikings made 18-of-18 shots from the line against UC Davis Saturday, the second most makes without a miss in program history. Stotler (.870) ranks third in the Big Sky and 59th in the nation individually, while Streun ranks fourth (.792) in the conference.
• The Vikings lead the Big Sky in both three-point field goal percentage (.402) and three-pointers made per game (7.6). The Vikings are one of only 11 teams currently shooting over 40 percent in the nation this season, as they rank 10th nationally at the moment. The Vikings rank 67th in the nation for three-pointers made per game, having recorded 10 or more in three of their seven games so far.
• Five different Vikings average at least one three-pointer made per game in Frazier (2.1), Jimenez (2.0), Hansen (1.7), Cassidy Gardner (1.0), and Jada Lewis (1.0). Frazier and Jimenez rank sixth and seventh, respectively, within the Big Sky, while Hansen ranks tied for 12th.
• The Vikings rank third in the Big Sky in four other statistical categories between scoring margin (+3.6), assist-to-turnover ratio (0.98), assists per game (16.3) and steals per game (9.7). The Vikings also rank in the top 50 of the nation for assists per game, coming in 48th.
• Streun is making her return to the court this season after suffering an ACL tear that kept her out of the Vikings' 2018-19 season. In her first year back from injury, Streun leads the Big Sky with 8.4 rebounds per game, and tops the conference with 3.4 offensive rebounds per game. Streun also ranks fourth in the conference with 14.6 points per game, and ranks in the top 10 of the Big Sky for free-throw percentage (4th, .792) and defensive rebounds per game (8th, 5.0).
• Stotler recorded her first double-double of the season with 15 points and 12 rebounds in the Vikings' win over UC Irvine Monday. Stotler leads the Big Sky and ranks 32nd in the nation with 2.1 blocks per game.
• Jimenez leads the Big Sky with 2.9 steals per game, and also ranks second in the conference with 4.9 assists per game. Jimenez needs only six three-pointers, eight assists and nine steals to enter the all-time top 10 in each category at Portland State.
• 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.
 
DEPTH FROM DEEP
The Vikings hit 10 three-pointers against UC Davis Saturday, the third time out of seven games this season that the Vikings have hit at least 10 shots from deep. The Vikings also made 10 three-pointers in their first game against UC Irvine on Nov. 16, and tied a program record with 13 three-pointers in their season opener against Multnomah. What's more, a variety of players have been contributing to the Vikings' potency from beyond the arc this season. Five different Vikings average at least one three-pointer made per game in Belle Frazier (2.1), Kylie Jimenez (2.0), Desirae Hansen (1.7), Cassidy Gardner (1.0), and Jada Lewis (1.0). Frazier and Jimenez rank sixth and seventh in the Big Sky for three-pointers made per game, respectively, while Hansen ranks tied for 12th. As a team, the Vikings lead the Big Sky in both three-pointers made per game (7.6) and three-point field goal percentage (.402). The Vikings are one of only 11 teams in the nation currently shooting above 40 percent from deep, and one of only six teams to shoot over 40 percent while making at least 50 shots from beyond the arc.
 
MONEY FROM THE LINE
The Vikings hit 18-of-18 shots from the free-throw line in their win over UC Davis Saturday, the second most makes without a miss in a game in program history. The Vikings now rank third in the nation with a team free-throw percentage of .820, a mark that would set a new single-season program record if the season ended today. The current program record stands at .792, set during the 2011-12 season. Idaho State, meanwhile, set the current Big Sky record at .832 in 2007-08. Jordan Stotler and Tatiana Streun both rank in the top five of the Big Sky for free-throw percentage. Stotler ranks third in the conference and 59th in the nation while shooting .870 from the line individually, while Streun ranks fourth in the conference at .792.
 
BALANCED SCORING
The Vikings lead the Big Sky and rank 45th in the nation with 75.9 points per game thanks to a balanced scoring attack that has five different Vikings averaging over 10 points a game. Redshirt junior forward Tatiana Streun leads the Vikings with 14.6 points per game, while Desirae Hansen (13.0), Belle Frazier (11.9), Kylie Jimenez (11.6) and Jordan Stotler (10.7) follow behind her. Streun's average ranks her fourth in the Big Sky for scoring, while Hansen and Frazier rank 10th and 15th, respectively. 
 
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. The Vikings rank third in the Big Sky and 48th in the nation with 16.3 assists per game through seven games this season. That's just off the Vikings' average from last season, when they broke the single-season record while averaging 17.2 assists per game. Kylie Jimenez ranks second in the Big Sky and 56th in the nation with 4.9 assists per game. Desirae Hansen, meanwhile, gives the Vikings' a second distributor on the court, as she ranks sixth in the Big Sky and 94th in the nation with 4.3 assists per game. 
 
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 two double-doubles through five games this season, and was a rebound away from another while leading the Vikings with 21 points and nine rebounds against UC Irvine Monday. Streun leads the Big Sky in rebounds per game (8.4) and offensive rebounds per game (3.4) this season, and ranks fourth in the conference with 14.6 points per game. Streun also ranks in the top 10 of the Big Sky for free-throw percentage (4th, .792) and defensive rebounds per game (8th, 5.0). Streun record the first double-double of her career with 19 points and 13 rebounds in the Vikings' season opener against Multnomah on Nov. 5. Streun followed with a second double-double against UC Irvine on Nov. 16, recording 16 points and 11 rebounds against the Anteaters.
 
JIMENEZ CHASING EXCLUSIVE COMPANY AS A JUNIOR
Junior guard Kylie Jimenez posted a career night against UC Davis Saturday, finishing with 25 points on 5-of-9 shooting from beyond the arc. Jimenez set a new career high with eight steals against the Aggies, while her five three-pointers tied another career high. The eight steals moved Jimenez into the Big Sky lead in the category, while she also ranks 36th in the nation with 2.9 steals per game. Jimenez ranks second in the Big Sky and 56th in the nation with 4.9 assists per game, and also ranks in the conference's top 10 for three-pointers made per game (T-7th, 2.0) and assist-to-turnover ratio (4th, 2.0). Jimenez needs only six three-pointers, eight assists and nine steals to enter the all-time top 10 in each category at Portland State. Jimenez remains on pace to become the 19th member of the Vikings' 1,000-point club by season's end, when 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.
 
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 has stuffed the stat sheet this season, as she averages 13.0 points, 4.6 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game through seven games this season. Hansen ranks 10th in the Big Sky for points per game, and also ranks in the top 15 of the conference for assists per game (6th, 4.3), steals per game (T-9th, 1.7), assist-to-turnover ratio (10th, 1.4) and three-pointers made per game (T-12th, 1.7).
 
THE PAINT BELONGS TO JORDAN STOTLER
Senior forward Jordan Stotler recorded her first double-double of the season with 15 points and 12 rebounds in the Vikings' win over UC Irvine Monday night. Stotler went 5-of-6 from the free-throw line against the Anteaters, and now ranks third in the Big Sky and 59th in the nation with an .870 mark from the line this season. Stotler leads the Big Sky and ranks 32nd in the nation with 3.1 blocks per game, and also ranks in the top 15 of the Big Sky for rebounds per game (9th, 6.9), offensive rebounds per game (15th, 1.7) and defensive rebounds per game (7th, 5.1). Stotler now has 61 blocked shots in her career, leaving her only 21 from entering the all-time top 10 at Portland State in the category. Stotler recorded the ninth-best single-season total for blocked shots with 46 last season despite sharing the paint with the Vikings' all-time blocks leader, Courtney West.
 
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 third on the team with 11.9 points per game. Frazier has failed to score in double figures just once this season, and has hit three three-pointers in four games out of seven so far. Frazier set career highs for points (17) and rebounds (5) in the Vikings' win over UC Davis Saturday, and followed with a career-high six steals in the Vikings' win over UC Irvine Monday. For the season, Frazier ranks tied for third in the Big Sky with 2.4 steals per game, and also ranks sixth in the conference with 2.1 three-pointers made per game and 15th with 11.9 points 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.