Complete Game Notes (PDF)

TIPOFF
The best cure for the bad taste after a loss is to get back out on the court as quickly as possible. The Portland State women's basketball team will do that Saturday, as the Vikings open up a three-game road trip with a game at Eastern Washington.
 
The road may serve as another cure for the Vikings, after a lost weekend at home against Southern Utah and Northern Colorado. The Vikings fell 81-72 to Southern Utah Saturday, and 78-51 to Northern Colorado Monday. The loss to UNC was the Vikings' largest home conference loss since they fell 88-59 to Idaho State on Jan. 18, 2018.
 
The Vikings have had success on the road earlier this season, as they swept Idaho State and Weber State on Jan. 18 and 20, respectively. The back-to-back wins gave the Vikings only their second 2-0 Big Sky road weekend since 2012, while the Vikings' win at Idaho State was their first in Pocatello since 2009.
 
The Vikings won their first game in Cheney since 2013 last season, beating the Eagles 76-64. This year's Eagles have been going through their own struggles of late, as they come into Saturday's game having lost 11 straight games. The Eagles haven't won since beating Weber State, 63-53, at home in their Big Sky opener back on Dec. 28.
 
There have been good games within the Eagles' losing streak, however, none more than a double-overtime loss to league-leading Montana State on Jan. 18. The Eagles led by nine with as little as six minutes left in the fourth quarter against the Bobcats, and had shots to win it at the end of regulation and the first overtime period. Besides that game, the Eagles also lost by only eight points to second-place Northern Arizona, falling 70-62 at home on Feb. 3. The Eagles were tied with NAU going into the fourth quarter, and held a lead with as little as five minutes left in the game.
 
The Eagles' strength lies in their three-point shooting, as they rank tied for second in the Big Sky with 8.1 three-pointers made per game, as well as sixth in three-point field goal percentage (.331). Jenna Dick leads the Big Sky while shooting .425 from three-point range, and ranks third in the conference with 2.3 makes per game. Kennedy Dickie, Jessica McDowell-White and Grace Krischer follow Dick at 10th, 11th and 15th in the Big Sky, respectively, as all three average over 1.7 makes per game.
 
Dick and Kirscher lead the Eagles in scoring while each average 9.8 points per game. Dickie ranks close behind them with 9.5 points per game, while Bella Cravens follows her at 8.1. Cravens leads the Eagles with 7.8 rebounds per game, an average that ranks her fourth in the Big Sky this season.
 
Either the Vikings or Eagles will snap their losing streak Saturday when the teams tip at 2 p.m. The Vikings hope its them, if for no other reason than to cure themselves of last weekend's disappointment.
 
GAME NOTES: PORTLAND STATE (12-11, 6-7) vs. EASTERN WASHINGTON EAGLES (2-19, 1-11)
LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO
DETAILS: Saturday, Feb. 15, 2 p.m. (PT), Cheney, Wash. (Reese Court)
SCOUTING EASTERN WASHINGTON: The Eastern Washington Eagles come into Saturday having lost 11 straight games. The Eagles haven't won since beating Weber State, 63-53, at home in their Big Sky opener back on Dec. 28. There have been good games within the Eagles' losing streak, however, none more than a double-overtime loss to league-leading Montana State on Jan. 18. The Eagles led by nine with as little as six minutes left in the fourth quarter, and had shots to win it at the end of regulation and the first overtime period. Besides that game, the Eagles also lost by only eight points to second-place Northern Arizona, falling 70-62 at home on Feb. 3. The Eagles were tied with NAU going into the fourth quarter, and held a lead with as little as five minutes left in the game. Statistically, the Eagles rank last in the Big Sky in scoring offense (55.8 ppg) and field goal percentage (.349). The team's strength lies in its three-point shooting, as the Eagles rank tied for second in the conference with 8.1 three-pointers made per game and sixth in three-point field goal percentage (.331). Jenna Dick leads the Big Sky while shooting .425 from three-point range, and ranks third in the conference with 2.3 makes per game. Kennedy Dickie, Jessica McDowell-White and Grace Krischer follow Dick at 10th, 11th and 15th in the Big Sky, respectively, while all three average at least 1.7 makes per game. Dick and Kirscher lead the Eagles in scoring while each average 9.8 points per game. Dickie ranks close behind them with 9.5 points per game, while Bella Cravens follows her at 8.1. Cravens leads the Eagles with 7.8 rebounds per game, an average that ranks her fourth in the Big Sky this season.
ALL-TIME SERIES: The Eagles lead the all-time series between them and the Vikings, 37-33. The Vikings have won their last five games against the Eagles, however, including a 75-58 win on Jan. 4 earlier this season. The Vikings won their first game at Reese Court since 2013 last season, beating the Eagles 76-64.
 
STORYLINES/STREAKS/RECORDS
• The Vikings lost both games of a home weekend last week, falling 81-72 to Southern Utah Saturday and 78-51 to Northern Colorado Monday. The loss to UNC Monday was the Vikings' largest home conference loss since they fell 88-59 to Idaho State on Jan. 18, 2018. 
• The Vikings have lost three straight games and four of their last five. That followed a stretch where the Vikings won five of six.
• Senior forward Jordan Stotler recorded her fifth double-double of the season and fourth in Big Sky play Saturday against Southern Utah. Stotler finished with 18 points and 11 rebounds against Southern Utah, while adding three assists and four blocks.
• Junior guard Kylie Jimenez tied a career high with eight steals against Southern Utah, and has scored in double figures in five straight games.
• Four of the Vikings' five starters average in double figures, while the fifth – freshman Belle Frazier – averages 9.8 points per game. Tatiana Streun and Desirae Hansen lead the Vikings while ranking eighth and 11th in the Big Sky with 13.2 and 12.7 points per game, respectively. Besides those two, Kylie Jimenez averages 11.7 points per game, while Jordan Stotler averages 10.6. Cassidy Gardner leads the Vikings' bench players with 5.1 points per game.
• Stotler was held without a block Monday, only the second time that's happened this season, and the first time since the Vikings' game against Nevada on Nov. 23. Stotler still leads the Big Sky while ranking fourth in the NCAA with 3.43 blocks per game.
• Stotler has 79 total blocks this season, leaving her 15 blocks shy of the Portland State single-season record that Courtney West set with 94 blocks during the 2016-17 season.
• The Vikings rank second in the Big Sky and 26th in the nation while shooting .363 from three-point range this season. The .363 mark would set a new Big Sky-era program record if the season ended today, bettering the old mark of .359 during the 2017-18 season.
• Four different Vikings average more than one three-pointer a game in Frazier (2.0), Jimenez (1.7), Hansen (1.5) and Gardner (1.3). Of those, only Frazier meets the minimum to be ranked in the conference for percentage, where she stands third at .354. Hansen and Gardner don't meet the minimum to be ranked, but are still both shooting around 40 percent from three-point range at .425 and .397, respectively.
• The Vikings lead the Big Sky and rank 11th in the nation with a team free throw percentage of .777. Jimenez ranks third in the Big Sky while shooting .836 from the line individually, while three other Vikings rank in the top 15 of the Big Sky. Streun and Stotler rank eighth and ninth, respectively, while each shoot .803 from the line. Hansen ranks 13th in the Big Sky at .742.
• The Vikings have been out-rebounded in 10 straight games, but are surprisingly still 5-5 in those games. The Vikings haven't won the rebounding battle since Jan. 2, when they out-rebounded Idaho 49-33.
• Jimenez and Hansen rank sixth and seventh in the Big Sky with 4.1 and 4.0 assists per game, respectively.
• Jimenez's eight steals Saturday moved her up to third in the Big Sky and 40th in the nation with 2.4 steals per game. Frazier also ranks among the conference leaders at seventh with 1.7 steals 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 scored in double figures in Saturday's game against Southern Utah, the fourth time in 13 Big Sky games the Vikings have accomplished that this season. Four of the Vikings' five starters average in double figures, while the fifth – freshman Belle Frazier – averages 9.8 points per game. Each starter has scored in double figures in at least 12 games this season, while each starter has also led the Vikings in scoring in at least three games. Tatiana Streun and Desirae Hansen lead the group while ranking eighth and 11th in the Big Sky with 13.2 and 12.7 points per game, respectively. Besides those two, Kylie Jimenez averages 11.7 points per game, while Jordan Stotler averages 10.6. Cassidy Gardner leads the Vikings' bench players with 5.1 points per game.
 
MONEY FROM THE LINE
A weapon throughout the season for the Vikings has been their free-throw shooting, and with good reason as the Vikings lead the Big Sky and rank 11th in the nation with a team free throw percentage of .777. All five Viking starters shoot 74 percent or better from the line, while three of the Vikings' top bench players also shoot above that mark. Kylie Jimenez ranks third in the Big Sky while shooting .836 from the line individually, while three other Vikings rank in the top 15 of the Big Sky. Streun and Stotler rank eighth and ninth, respectively, while each shoot .803 from the line. Hansen ranks 13th in the Big Sky at .742. Streun is the only one of those to meet the minimum to be ranked nationally, where she stands 95th. Streun has been one of the most efficient players in the nation at getting to the line, as her 94 made free throws rank her 45th in the nation.
 
DEPTH FROM DEEP
The Vikings have hit 10 or more three-pointers in eight of their 23 games this season, including four Big Sky games. Overall, the Vikings rank second in the Big Sky and 26th in the nation with a team three-point field goal percentage of .363. That mark would set a new Big Sky-era program record if the season ended today, bettering the old mark of .359 that was set during the 2017-18 season. Four different Vikings average more than one three-pointer a game in Belle Frazier (2.0), Kylie Jimenez (1.7), Desirae Hansen (1.5) and Cassidy Gardner (1.3). Of those, only Frazier meets the minimum to be ranked in the conference for percentage, where she stands third at .354. Hansen and Gardner don't meet the minimum to be ranked, but are still both shooting around 40 percent from three-point range at .425 and .397, respectively.
 
PUZZLING TREND ON THE BOARDS
Through the first 13 games this season, the most reliable indicator of success for the Vikings had been the team's rebounding numbers. The Vikings were 6-0 when out-rebounding their opponent, 1-1 when tying in rebounds and 0-5 when losing the rebounding battle. That's changed over the last nine games, when the Vikings are 5-5 despite being out-rebounded in every game. The Vikings haven't won the rebounding battle since Jan. 2, when the Vikings ironically had one of their best rebounding performances of the season while out-rebounding Idaho 49-33 at home. Regardless of the puzzling trend, the Vikings still have two of the six-best rebounders in the Big Sky this season in posts Jordan Stotler and Tatiana Streun. Stotler ranks second in the Big Sky with 8.0 rebounds per game, while Streun ranks sixth with 7.2. Stotler leads the Big Sky with 6.3 defensive rebounds per game, while Streun ranks seventh in defensive rebounds (5.4) and 10th in offensive rebounds (2.1) per game.
 
IMESSAGE SUGGESTS THE FIRE EMOJI WHEN TYPING IN "STOTLER"
Senior forward Jordan Stotler has been playing her best basketball of the season since Big Sky play started at the end of December. Four of Stotler's five double-doubles have come in Big Sky play, including last Saturday, when Stotler recorded her latest double-double with 18 points and 11 rebounds against Southern Utah. Stotler also nearly posted a triple-double against Montana on Jan. 13 with 12 points, nine rebounds and eight assists – not to mention her six blocks in the game. Stotler has been especially on fire on the defensive end ever since she tied a program record with nine blocks in the Vikings' game against then-No. 23 Tennessee on Dec. 21. Stotler has 61 blocks in the Vikings' past 14 games, and has four or more blocks in 10 games during that stretch. Stotler averages 3.43 blocks per game across all games this season, ranking her first in the Big Sky and fourth in the nation. Stotler moved up to second on the all-time blocks list at Portland State in the Vikings' win over Northern Arizona on Jan. 25, passing Kelli Chandler-Read (1994-97). Stotler now has 125 blocks in her career, ranking her second only to her former teammate Courtney West (2016-19). Stotler won't break West's career record for blocks, but she has a chance to break West's single-season record of 94, set during the 2016-17 season.
 
IRON WOMAN
Junior guard Kylie Jimenez has played every second of six games this season, and missed only 97 seconds of four straight games before only playing 30 minutes against Northern Colorado Monday. Jimenez's durability shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone since Jimenez ranks second in the Big Sky and 38th in the nation with 36.3 minutes played per game, similar numbers to her first two years on the Park Blocks. That productivity has Jimenez moving up the career rankings at Portland State in her third year within the program. Jimenez now ranks fifth in school history in career three-pointers made (144), as well as seventh in both career assists (395) and career steals (204). Jimenez remains on pace to become the 19th member of the Vikings' 1,000-point club by season's end, as she ranks third on the team with 11.7 points per game. Jimenez has 934 career points after Monday, and on her current pace, she would surpass 1,000 points on the final weekend of the regular season. Statistically, Jimenez ranks third in the Big Sky in both steals per game (2.4) and free throw percentage (.836), while also ranking fourth in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.0), sixth in assists per game (4.1) and 13th in three-pointers made per game (1.7).
 
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 scored in double figures in six of the Vikings' past seven games, a stretch that includes a perfect shooting night – 4-of-4 from the field, 9-of-9 from the line – against Weber State on Jan. 20. Hansen also had a great all-around performance against Northern Arizona on Jan. 25, when she finished with nine points, eight rebounds and five assists. Hansen ranks 11th in the Big Sky with 12.7 points per game this season, and sits third on the team with 4.6 rebounds per game. Hansen also ranks seventh in the Big Sky with 4.0 assists per game, making her a 15-5-5 threat in every game the Vikings play.
 
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 scored in double figures in five of the Vikings' past eight games, and finished with nine points in two of the other three games in that stretch. For the season, Frazier leads the Vikings while ranking eighth in the Big Sky with 2.0 three-pointers made per game. Frazier is also the only Viking to meet the minimum requirement to be ranked in three-point field goal percentage, where she stands third in the conference at .354. Additionally, Frazier ranks seventh in the Big Sky with 1.7 steals per game, and stands 10th in the conference with 31.8 minutes played 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 recorded her sixth double-double of the season against Weber State on Jan. 20, finishing with 15 points and 11 rebounds to go with a season-high five assists. Streun scored a career-high 30 points the previous week against Montana (Jan. 13), shooting 10-of-14 from the field while going 10-of-13 from the free throw line and adding nine rebounds and four steals. For the season, Streun ranks eighth in the Big Sky with 13.2 points per game, and also ranks sixth in the conference with 7.2 rebounds per game. Streun has been especially effective at getting to the free throw line this season, as she ranks 45th in the nation with 94 free throws made. Streun ranks eighth in the Big Sky and 95th in the nation for free throw percentage (.803), and also ranks in the top 10 of the Big Sky for defensive rebounds (7th, 5.2) and offensive rebounds (10th, 2.0) 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.
Jan. 2, Portland State 74, Idaho 53: With the score tied at 49 at the start of the fourth quarter, the Vikings closed on a 25-4 to win their second straight game against the Vandals after snapping a 10-game losing streak to them in the Big Sky semifinals last season. The Vikings held the Vandals to 28.4 percent shooting in the game, and out-rebounded them 49-33.
Jan. 4, Portland State 75, Eastern Washington 58: The Eagles started 2-of-32 from the field while the Vikings led by double digits for the final 31 minutes of their win over Eastern Washington. The Vikings, meanwhile, tied a program record with 13 three-pointers, with six different players hitting at least one shot from deep. Freshman Belle Frazier led the way from beyond the arc while hitting a career-high five on only seven shots from deep.
Jan. 13, Portland State 78, Montana 65: Tatiana Streun led the Vikings with a career-high 30 points on 10-of-14 shooting from the field while going 10-of-13 from the free throw line and adding nine rebounds and four steals. Jordan Stotler nearly recorded a triple-double in the game with 12 points, nine rebounds and eight assists – not to mention the six blocks she had against the Lady Griz.
Jan. 18, Portland State 69, Idaho State 64: The Vikings snapped a 16-game losing streak to Idaho State while winning their first game against the Bengals since Jan. 17, 2011, and their first road game against ISU since Jan. 10, 2009. Freshmen Belle Frazier and Cassidy Gardner led the way with 17 and 13 points, respectively, for the Vikings while combining to go 7-of-12 from beyond the arc.
Jan. 20, Portland State 76, Weber State 57: The Vikings completed only their second Big Sky road weekend sweep since 2012 with a win over the Wildcats. Posts Jordan Stotler and Tatiana Streun each had double-doubles against the Wildcats. Stotler finished with 18 points, 14 rebounds and seven blocks, while Streun recorded 15 points, 11 rebounds and five assists. Desirae Hansen also had a perfect shooting night, going 4-of-4 from the field and 9-of-9 from the free throw line while scoring 17 points.
Jan. 25, Portland State 66, Montana State 54: The Vikings overcame a 13-2 deficit while outscoring NAU 31-10 over the rest of the first half. The Vikings trailed 22-15 early in the second quarter, but closed the half on an 18-1 run to take a 33-23 lead into halftime.