Vikings Host Southern Utah in Pivotal Game Saturday following Long Layoff

Complete Game Notes (PDF)

TIPOFF
Nine days between games can go one of two ways for the Portland State women's basketball team. Either the rest gives the Vikings a chance to reset for the stretch run in Big Sky play, or the layoff leads to some rust that the Vikings will need to shake off when they return to action Saturday in a home game against Southern Utah.

The Vikings will certainly hope for the former, especially considering a win could break them out of a tight bunch within the Big Sky Conference standings. The Vikings currently sit tied for fourth at 6-5 in Big Sky play, putting them level with Montana and Idaho State. Northern Colorado, who the Vikings face this coming Monday, also lurks a half-game behind at 5-5 in conference. Southern Utah sits one and a half games back of the Vikings at 4-6.

So really, just like the break that precedes it, the upcoming weekend for the Vikings could go one of two ways. Either the Vikings put some separation between themselves and the teams around them, or they dive deeper into the bunching within the middle of the conference.

Wins over Southern Utah and Northern Colorado would be especially important for the Vikings, as they would level the season series against both teams. The Vikings lost to both teams on the opening weekend of Big Sky play, losing 77-58 at Northern Colorado on Dec. 28 and 71-58 to Southern Utah on Dec. 30. A season sweep for either team over the Vikings would give them the tiebreaker, which could become important for seeding at the Big Sky tournament in March.

Saturday's game against Southern Utah will be the most important one for the Vikings to avoid the rust following their layoff. The Thunderbirds won't have the same rust as they'll play two days before when they play at Northern Colorado. The Thunderbirds also feature two of the better offensive guards in the conference in seniors Rebecca Cardenas and Harley Hansen, making them a tough defensive assignment for any team, let alone one shaking off rust.

Cardenas and Hansen combined to score 41 points in the Thunderbirds' win over the Vikings earlier this season. Hansen led the Thunderbirds with 21 points while going 3-of-6 from three-point range. Cardenas, meanwhile scored nine of her 20 points in the fourth quarter, and finished with six assists, five rebounds and four steals.

Cardenas leads the Big Sky with 17.0 points per game in all games this season, though Hansen leads the two in Big Sky play. Hansen ranks third in the Big Sky with 16.2 points per game against conference opponents, while Cardenas ranks fourth with 15.9. Cardenas does a little bit of everything for the Thunderbirds, as she ranks second in the Big Sky in steals per game (2.4) and third in assists per game (4.9), while also standing third on her team with 4.4 rebounds per game.

Shalyn Fano averages 10.2 points per game, while she and Ashley Larsen each average 5.8 rebounds per game to lead the team. Fano scored 16 points while grabbing a game-high nine rebounds in the Thunderbirds' first game against the Vikings.

Desirae Hansen had her best game as a Viking when she faced the Thunderbirds in December. Hansen scored a career-high 23 points on 9-of-14 shooting from the floor while going 5-of-7 from three-point range. Kylie Jimenez also had 14 points to go with five rebounds and four assists while going 7-of-10 from inside the three-point line.

Two Vikings who didn't score much in the first go-around against the Thunderbirds but have been playing a lot better of late are Belle Frazier and Jordan Stotler. Frazier had the toughest game of her career against the Thunderbirds, as she was held scoreless while going 0-of-8 from the floor. Stotler, meanwhile, was held to five points on 2-of-9 shooting, though she found other ways to contribute with seven rebounds and four blocks. Tatiana Streun, the team's fifth starter, scored 10 points to go with five rebounds against the Thunderbirds.

Frazier found her stroke again after the game against the Thunderbirds, and heads into Saturday's game having scored 10-plus points in four of the Vikings' past six games. Frazier scored nine points in the other two games in that stretch, and has also hit three or more three-pointers in five of the Vikings' past six games.

Three-point shooting nearly led the Vikings all the way back from a 15-point third-quarter deficit in the Vikings' last game, a 62-55 road loss to Montana. Seven of the Vikings' 10 three-pointers came in the second half, with Jimenez hitting all three of her makes from deep after the break.

The Vikings have made at least eight three-pointers in their last three games, as well as four of their last five. Overall, the Vikings rank second in the Big Sky and 24th in the nation with a team three-point field goal percentage of .368. 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.

Montana still ended up beating the Vikings despite their hot three-point shooting, but the Vikings have done well in bounce-back games the last few weeks. Before Thursday's loss to the Lady Griz, the Vikings had answered their last two losses with wins in their next game. The last time the Vikings lost two in a row was, ironically, when they lost to Northern Colorado and Southern Utah, the two teams the Vikings face this weekend.

Saturday's revenge (2 p.m. tip) can go one of two ways then. The Vikings can avoid another losing streak while leveling their season series with Southern Utah, or…actually, we'll just take that option.

GAME NOTES: PORTLAND STATE (12-9, 6-5) vs. SOUTHERN UTAH THUNDERBIRDS (10-9, 4-6)
LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO
DETAILS: Saturday, Feb. 8, 2 p.m. (PT), Portland, Ore. (Viking Pavilion)
SCOUTING SOUTHERN UTAH: The Southern Utah Thunderbirds opened Big Sky play with a 71-58 win over Portland State on Dec. 30. Since then, however, the Thunderbirds have gone just 3-6 against conference opponents, including a 1-5 mark on the road in Big Sky play. The Thunderbirds still feature two of the better offensive players in the Big Sky in Rebecca Cardenas and Harley Hansen. Those two each scored 20 points or more in the Thunderbirds' win over the Vikings earlier this season. Hansen led the way with 21 points while going 3-of-6 from three-point range. Cardenas scored nine of her 20 points in the fourth quarter while adding six assists and five rebounds. Both players also had four steals in the game. Cardenas leads the Big Sky with 17.0 points per game in all games this season, though Hansen leads the two in Big Sky play. Hansen ranks third in the Big Sky with 16.2 points per game against conference opponents, while Cardenas ranks fourth with 15.9. Cardenas does a little bit of everything for the Thunderbirds, as she ranks second in the Big Sky in steals per game (2.4) and third in assists per game (4.9) while also standing third on her team in rebounds (4.4 per game). Hansen leads the Thunderbirds with 1.9 three-pointers made per game, ranking her ninth in the Big Sky this season. Hansen also joins Cardenas in the top five of the Big Sky for steals per game, as she sits fifth with 1.9. Outside of those two, Shalyn Fano averages 10.2 points per game, while she and Ashley Larsen rank tied for the team lead with 5.8 rebounds per game. Fano scored 16 points while grabbing a game-high nine rebounds in the Thunderbirds' first game against the Vikings.
ALL-TIME SERIES: The Vikings' loss to Southern Utah earlier in the season dropped them to 15-9 all time against the Thunderbirds. The Vikings had won three games in a row and four of their last five against Southern Utah before this season. The Vikings are 8-2 against SUU at home, including a 4-2 home record in Big Sky games.

STORYLINES/STREAKS/RECORDS
• The Vikings came back from a 15-point third-quarter deficit to take a one-point lead in the fourth quarter against Montana last Thursday, but the Lady Griz answered the Vikings' run and beat the Vikings, 62-55.
• The loss to the Lady Griz dropped the Vikings into a three-way tie for fourth in the Big Sky standings. The Vikings, Montana and Idaho State all sit at 6-5 in Big Sky play, while Northern Colorado and Southern Utah – the Vikings' two upcoming opponents – sit just behind at 5-5 and 4-6, respectively.
• The last two times the Vikings lost in Big Sky play, they won their very next game. The Vikings haven't lost two games in a row since the opening weekend of Big Sky play, when they lost to Northern Colorado and Southern Utah on the road.
• All five starters average in double figures for the Vikings this season. Tatiana Streun and Desirae Hansen lead the group while ranking fourth and 11th in the Big Sky with 13.9 and 13.0 points per game, respectively. Besides those two, Kylie Jimenez averages 11.5 points per game, while Jordan Stotler and Belle Frazier average 10.6 and 10.1, respectively. Cassidy Gardner leads the Vikings' bench players with 5.0 points per game.
• Stotler was held to two blocks in last Thursday's loss to Montana, but has four or more rejections in nine of the Vikings' past 12 games. That stretch started when Stotler tied a program record with nine blocks against then-No. 23 Tennessee on Dec. 21. Stotler leads the Big Sky and ranks third in the nation with 3.6 blocks per game in all games this season.
• At her current pace and with at least 10 games remaining, Stotler would finish with around 111 blocks this season, a total that would break the Portland State single-season record and match the Big Sky Conference record. Courtney West, a former teammate of Stotler's, set the Portland State record with 94 blocks during the 2016-17 season. The Big Sky, meanwhile, stands at 111 blocks – right on Stotler's pace – which Sacramento State's Megan Kritscher set during the 2012-13 season.
• The Vikings rank second in the Big Sky and 24th in the nation while shooting .368 from three-point range this season. The .368 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 (2.1), Jimenez (1.8), 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 fourth at .361. Hansen and Gardner don't meet the minimum to be ranked, but are still both shooting around 40 percent from three-point range at .419 and .397, respectively.
• The Vikings lead the Big Sky and rank third in the nation with a team free throw percentage of .785. Three different Vikings rank in the top 15 of the Big Sky for free throw percentage in Stotler (5th, .828), Streun (8th, .803) and Hansen (12th, .750). Streun is the only one to meet the minimum to be ranked nationally, where she stands 97th.
• The Vikings have been out-rebounded in eight straight games, but are surprisingly still 5-3 in those games. That's a reversal from the beginning of the season, when the Vikings lost their first five games when being out-rebounded. The Vikings have won the rebounding battle since Jan. 2, when they out-rebounded Idaho 49-33.
• Jimenez and Hansen rank fifth and sixth in the Big Sky with 4.4 and 4.1 assists per game, respectively.
• The Vikings have recorded eight or more steals in their last three games, including a conference season-high 10 against Northern Arizona on Jan. 25. Jimenez and Frazier lead the team in steals while ranking third and seventh in the Big Sky with 2.2 and 1.7 steals per game, respectively.
• 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 have scored in double figures in three of the Vikings' 11 Big Sky games this season. That balance has been critical for the Vikings, as all five starters average in double figures. All five starters have also scored in double figures in at least 11 games this season, while all five have led the Vikings in scoring in at least three games. Tatiana Streun and Desirae Hansen lead the group while ranking fourth and 11th in the Big Sky with 13.9 and 13.0 points per game, respectively. Besides those two, Kylie Jimenez averages 11.5 points per game, while Jordan Stotler and Belle Frazier average 10.6 and 10.1, respectively. Cassidy Gardner leads the Vikings' bench players with 5.0 points per game. Fellow freshman Syd Schultz had her best game off the bench against Northern Arizona on Jan. 25, when she tied her career high with 10 points to go with seven rebounds.

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 third in the nation with a team free throw percentage of .785. All five Viking starters average .750 or better from the line, while three of the Vikings' top bench players also shoot above that mark. Three different Vikings rank in the top 15 of the Big Sky for free throw percentage in Jordan Stotler (5th, .828), Tatiana Streun (8th, .803) and Desirae Hansen (12th, .750). Streun is the only one of those to meet the minimum to be ranked nationally, where she stands 97th. 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 32nd in the nation. The hot free throw shooting could result in a new single-season program record by the end of the season, as the current record is .792, set during the 2011-12 season.

DEPTH FROM DEEP
The Vikings' three-point shooting nearly led them back from a 15-point third-quarter deficit against Montana last Thursday. The Vikings didn't come through in the end, but they made 10 three-pointers – seven in the second half – against the Lady Griz. The Vikings have made at least eight three-pointers in their last three games, as well as four of their last five. Overall, the Vikings rank second in the Big Sky and 24th in the nation with a team three-point field goal percentage of .368. 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 (2.1), Kylie Jimenez (1.8), Desirae 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 fourth at .361. Hansen and Gardner don't meet the minimum to be ranked, but are still both shooting around 40 percent from three-point range at .419 and .397, respectively.

DEFENSE STEPPING UP
The Viking defense had one of its best games of the season in the Vikings' last home game, a 66-54 win over Northern Arizona on Jan. 25. The Lumberjacks came into the game as the second-best offense in the Big Sky, both in terms of scoring (74.6 ppg) and field goal percentage (.432). The Vikings held NAU to conference season lows in both categories, however. The Vikings held NAU to 54 points, 10 points below their previous worst showing in a Big Sky game. The Vikings also held NAU to 21-of-62 (.339) shooting, as well as 3-of-16 (.188) from three-point range. Additionally, the Vikings grabbed a conference season-high 10 steals against NAU, and have grabbed eight or more steals in their last three games. Overall this season, the Vikings' strength defensively has been on the inside, where they rank second in the Big Sky and 32nd in the nation with 4.76 blocks per game. Senior forward Jordan Stotler anchors the Vikings' defense in the post, as she leads the Big Sky and ranks third in the nation with 3.6 blocks per game individually.

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 eight games, when the Vikings are 5-3 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 five-best rebounders in the Big Sky this season in posts Jordan Stotler and Tatiana Streun. Stotler ranks third in the Big Sky with 7.9 rebounds per game, while Streun ranks fifth with 7.6. Stotler leads the Big Sky with 6.4 defensive rebounds per game, while Streun ranks sixth in defensive rebounds (5.4) and eighth in offensive rebounds (2.2) per game.

PASSING THE ROCK
The Vikings have picked up their passing since the opening weekend of Big Sky play, recording 15 or more assists in six of the Vikings' past nine games. That stretch started when the Vikings assisted on 22 of their 29 field goals against Idaho on Jan. 2, while the Vikings followed with 19 assists each in wins over Eastern Washington on Jan. 4 and Montana on Jan. 13. Junior guard Kylie Jimenez has four games with six or more assists in the stretch, including eight assists – one off her career high – in the Vikings' win over Northern Arizona on Jan. 25. Jimenez ranks fifth in the Big Sky and 82nd in the nation with 4.4 assists per game this season. Sophomore guard Desirae Hansen ranks right behind Jimenez at sixth in the Big Sky with 4.1 assists per game. Jimenez and Hansen also each rank in the top 15 of the Big Sky for assist-to-turnover ratio, as Jimenez ranks fourth at 2.0 while Hansen sits 11th at 1.3.

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. Three of Stotler's four double-doubles have come in Big Sky play, with the latest coming against Weber State on Jan. 20 when Stotler finished with 18 points and a season-high 14 rebounds to go with seven blocks. Stotler 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 57 blocks in the Vikings' past 12 games, giving her 4.75 blocks per game in that stretch. Stotler averages 3.6 blocks per game across all games this season, ranking her first in the Big Sky and third 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 121 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. With at least 10 games remaining, Stotler would finish with around 111 blocks if she remains on her current pace. That would put her well past West's single-season program record, and put her right on the Big Sky Conference record, which Sacramento State's Megan Kritscher set with 111 blocks during the 2012-13 season.

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 averaged 12.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 1.5 steals per game in the Vikings' last two home games, and followed up with 13 points and four assists in the Vikings' game against Montana last Thursday. Hansen also had a perfect shooting performance at Weber State on Jan. 20, when she finished 4-of-4 from the field and 9-of-9 from the free throw line while scoring 17 points against the Wildcats. Hansen ranks 11th in the Big Sky with 13.0 points per game this season, and sits third on the team with 4.7 rebounds per game. Hansen also ranks sixth in the Big Sky with 4.1 assists per game, making her a 15-5-5 threat in every game the Vikings play.

IRON WOMAN
Junior guard Kylie Jimenez has played all but 86 seconds of the Vikings' last three games, and has six games this season where she's played all 40 minutes. That shouldn't come as a surprise for anyone since Jimenez ranks second in the Big Sky and 28th in the nation with 36.5 minutes played per game, which are similar numbers to her first two years on the Park Blocks. That productivity has Jimenez moving up the career rankings at Portland in her third year within the program. Jimenez now ranks sixth in school history in career three-pointers made (142), seventh in career assists (392) and tied for eighth in career steals (194). 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 11.5 points per game. Jimenez has 907 career points after last weekend, and on her current pace, she would surpass 1,000 points in the Vikings' final game of the regular season. This season, Jimenez ranks third in the Big Sky in steals per game (2.2), fourth in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.0), fifth in assists per game (4.4) and 12th in three-pointers made per game (1.8).

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 showed that in the Vikings' comeback win over Northern Arizona in their last home game on Jan. 25. Frazier scored 12 of the Vikings' first 22 points of the game, helping lead the Vikings back from an early 13-2 deficit. Her three-pointer with 4:23 remaining in the second quarter tied the game at 22-22, and came as part of an 18-1 Viking run that turned a 22-15 deficit into a 33-23 halftime lead. Frazier has scored in double figures in four of the Vikings' past six games, and finished with nine points in the other two games in that stretch. For the season, Frazier leads the Vikings while ranking eighth in the Big Sky with 2.1 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 fourth in the conference at .361. Additionally, Frazier ranks seventh in the Big Sky with 1.7 steals per game, and 10th with 31.9 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 fourth in the Big Sky with 13.9 points per game, and also ranks fifth in the conference with 7.6 rebounds per game. Streun has been especially effective at getting to the free throw line this season, as she ranks 32nd in the nation with 94 free throws made. Streun ranks eighth in the Big Sky and 97th in the nation for free throw percentage (.803), and also ranks in the top 10 of the Big Sky for defensive rebounds (6th, 5.4) and offensive rebounds (8th, 2.2) per game.

LOVE FOR THE BENCH
The Vikings have found some threats off their bench in the past few games, as at least one non-starter has scored in double figures in three of the past five games. Against Idaho State and Weber State, that player was Cassidy Gardner as she scored a career-high 13 points against the Bengals on Jan. 18, then followed with 10 points against the Wildcats on Jan. 20. It was another freshman that stepped up in the Vikings' last home game against Northern Arizona, as Syd Schultz scored 10 points to go with seven rebounds in the Vikings' 66-54 win on Jan. 25. Gardner leads the Viking bench players with 5.0 points per game this season, while Schultz ranks right behind her with 3.5 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.
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.

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