POCATELLO, Idaho — A season's best effort on the glass and at the free-throw line couldn't quite put the Portland State women's basketball team over the top Saturday, as the Vikings fell to Idaho State, 70-62, in Reed Gym.
 
The Vikings (4-6, 3-5 Big Sky) became just the fourth team to out-rebound the Bengals (12-1, 10-0 Big Sky) in a game this season while outworking them on the glass, 43-37. The Vikings' +6 rebounding margin – over a team that came into the weekend leading the Big Sky with a +4.7 rebounding margin – stands as the largest by any team over the Bengals this season. Additionally, the Vikings' 19 offensive rebounds also marked a season high for an ISU opponent, as well as the Vikings' highest total since they had 22 in their previous season opener against Multnomah on Nov. 5, 2019.
 
Free-throw shooting also nearly led the Vikings back Saturday, as the team went 22-of-24 (.917) from the line in the second half while making a season-high 27-of-30 (.900) for the game. Fifth-year senior Tatiana Streun led the Vikings' effort from the line, going a perfect 10-for-10 for the game and 8-of-8 in the second half. At 10-of-10, Streun became just the 14th player in program history to hit every attempt from the line while shooting at least 10 in a game.
 
"We were better today in our effort and competitiveness," Portland State head coach Lynn Kennedy said afterwards. "Our rebounding, especially in the second half, was outstanding. We fought for every possession.
 
"If we shoot it better, then we win today."
 
Indeed, despite the Vikings' best efforts on the glass and at the line, the team shot a season-low 15-of-63 (.238). The Vikings bookended Saturday's game with a couple of tough quarters, going 2-of-16 (.125) in the first quarter and 3-of-19 (.158) in the fourth.
 
The tough shooting led to an early deficit for the Vikings, who never led Saturday after falling into a 15-3 hole early in the first quarter. To the Vikings' credit, they never let the Bengals take a larger lead than 12 the rest of the way, and kept it to a single-digit game for most of the second half.
 
The Vikings made an initial push at the start of the second quarter, as two three-pointers from sophomore Jada Lewis sparked a 10-2 opening run that cut the Vikings' deficit to four at 23-19. Idaho State responded with eight straight points, but junior Desirae Hansen answered with back-to-back three-pointers in the final minute before halftime that cut the Vikings' deficit in half at 31-25.
 
Streun took over from there, scoring 15 of her game-high 23 points in the third quarter alone. Streun had an answer every time the Bengals started to push their lead. When the Bengals opened up an eight-point lead, Streun hit a three-pointer that made it 43-38 with 5:33 remaining in the third. A little later, when the Bengals stretched their lead to nine again, Streun closed the quarter with four straight points to make it 53-48 heading into the fourth. Once in the fourth, Streun twice converted three-point plays that got the Vikings back within six each time.
 
The second of Streun's two three-point plays came with just over five minutes remaining, and made it 62-56. That would be the last field goal of the game for the Vikings, however, and the Vikings never got closer than six the rest of the way.
 
Streun finished with 21 points in the second half, when she went 5-of-7 from the field and 10-of-10 from the line. Streun also grabbed nine rebounds after halftime, six of which came on the offensive end. Streun finished with 23 points, 12 rebounds and four steals for the game, giving the fifth-year senior her third double-double of the season.
 
"Tatiana had a great game today," Kennedy said of Streun. "If we get more of that from her, we become a much better team."
 
Hansen was the only other Viking to score in double figures, as she chipped in 16 points on 5-of-14 shooting to go with 16 points, eight rebounds (four offensive), two assists and two steals. Lewis added eight points and five rebounds, but nobody else scored more than five points.
 
The Vikings return home for a non-conference game against The College of Idaho Wednesday at 6 p.m. That's the Vikings' last scheduled game before an eight-day break ahead of their next Big Sky series at Montana on Feb. 4 and 6.
 
Game Notes: The Vikings fell to 23-39 all time against the Bengals after Saturday…Reilly Kelty saw her most extensive action of the season Saturday, and scored her first career points with four to go with a steal and a block against the Bengals…Streun's 12 rebounds give her 533 in her career, leaving her 23 from tying her former teammate Pia Jurhar for 10th all time at Portland State.