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MISSOULA, Mont. — The Portland State women's basketball team erased a 15-point first-half deficit against Montana Thursday, but the Lady Griz rebounded to beat the Vikings, 73-70, in overtime at Dahlberg Arena.
 
The Vikings (21-7, 13-6 Big Sky) had a look at a potential game-winning shot in regulation, but Montana's Jordyn Schweyen blocked a three-point attempt from freshman Desirae Hansen as time expired. Neither team generated much offense in overtime, but the Lady Griz (13-15, 8-11 Big Sky) got to the line five different times, which was enough of a different as they out-scored the Vikings 9-6 in the extra period. 
 
"We didn't start well and they took advantage. But I liked how we stayed composed and started our comeback in the second quarter," PSU head coach Lynn Kennedy said of the game afterwards. "We were able to get our offense flowing in the third and our defense stepped up in the fourth. We were in foul trouble whole game, but our freshmen Des [Desirae Hansen] and Ana [Tainta] provided a spark."
 
The loss locks the Vikings into the fourth seed at next week's Big Sky tournament, while Montana State guaranteed themselves the fifth seed with a win over Sacramento State in other action Thursday. The Vikings and Bobcats will also play each other to close out the regular season Saturday, three days before they'll face each other again in the Big Sky quarterfinals.
 
The Vikings would have had a chance at the third seed if they beat the Lady Griz, and nearly completed the comeback with a strong second half. The Vikings took their biggest lead of the game at 58-53 with 5:56 left in the fourth quarter when freshman Desirae Hansen found her classmate Ana Tainta by herself down low an easy layup.
 
The Lady Griz responded with six straight points, however, giving them the lead back at 59-58 with 3:03 remaining. Senior guard Sidney Rielly scored on the next possession as the Vikings' retook the lead, but Schweyen responded with a three-pointer that put Montana up 62-60 with 2:08 remaining.
 
Rielly missed a potential game-tying layup with 1:09 left, but senior forward Courtney West stole the ball from Schweyen on the rebound to give the Vikings another look at a tie. West found sophomore guard Kylie Jimenez by herself, and Jimenez hit a bank shot to tie it at 62-62 with just over a minute remaining.
 
The Vikings then got a big stop on the defensive end, while Rielly came down and hit a driving bank shot to put the Vikings up 64-62 with less than 28 seconds remaining. Montana'a Jace Henderson tied it again with a jumper in the paint on Lady Griz's next possession, however, and Schweyen followed with a block of Hansen's three-pointer to send it to overtime.
 
Hansen brought the Vikings back within one at 69-68 after the Lady Griz scored the first four points of the overtime period, but she fouled out just under a minute later. It was still only a two-point game with 12 seconds remaining, but Rielly missed a potential game-tying jumper and the Lady Griz sealted the game from the free throw line. Montana finished with 24 free throw attempts to the Vikings' eight, while the Vikings were called for 24 fouls versus eight calls against the Lady Griz.
 
The sour finish spoiled what had been a good comeback from the Vikings, who trailed 32-17 with 3:30 remaining before halftime. The Vikings finished the first half with eight straight points, and continued that run early in the third quarter as they scored 10 of the first 13 points after the break.
 
Jimenez hit back-to-back three-pointers to tie it at 35 with 7:11 remaining in the third quarter, while senior guard Ashley Bolston hit a jumper from Tainta with 4:08 remaining to put the Vikings up 39-38 and give the Vikings their first lead since it was 3-0.
 
Tainta was a bright spot for the Vikings, as she was pushed into more playing time due to the Vikings' foul trouble. Tainta finished with eight points for the Vikings, all of which came after halftime. Hansen also helped spark the Vikings' comeback, as she scored seven of her nine points after halftime.
 
Jimenez led the Vikings with 15 points Thursday, while adding four steals, three assists and two rebounds. West added 12 points for the Vikings on 6-of-8 shooting, and finished with eight rebounds, five steals and two blocks. Junior forward Jordan Stotler scored seven early points for the Vikings while adding a team-high 11 rebounds.
 
Rielly also went into double figures with 11 points, moving her past Kim Manifesto (1992-96) for fourth on the all-time scoring list at Portland State.
 
The Vikings will now turn their attention to the Bobcats, who they face at 2 p.m. (MT) Saturday.
 
Game Notes: The Vikings fell to 19-49 all time against the Lady Griz, as well as 15-30 in the Big Sky series…The Vikings are only 4-28 all time on the road against the Lady Griz…Rielly's 11 points gave the senior her 71st-career 10-point game, moving her into a tie for Courtney VanBrocklin (2010-13) for fifth all time.