OREM, Utah — The Portland State women's basketball team wouldn't be the first team to experience a Thanksgiving hangover, but the Vikings suffered from one Saturday, as Utah Valley led from wire to wire in a 62-43 win over the Vikings at UCCU Center.
The Wolverines (4-2) opened up a 14-4 lead at the start of the game, then extended their lead with a 13-2 start to the second half that gave them a 21-point lead at 43-22. The Viking offense – which came into the game leading the Big Sky with 77.5 points per game – could never get going, as the Vikings shot 15-of-59 (.254) from the field.
"Credit to UVU," Portland State head coach
Chelsey Gregg said afterwards. "They came out with a game plan and executed it. That team represented the WAC in the NCAA tournament last year and for good reason. They're well-coached, disciplined, and play hard.
"We learn from our mistakes and prepare to get ready to open conference play this week at home."
Three-point shooting – a staple of the Vikings' offense through their first four games of the season – never materialized for the Vikings Saturday. The Vikings missed their first eight shots from beyond the arc, and finished just 1-of-13 (.077) from deep.
The Vikings (3-2) came into Saturday ranked 13th in the NCAA with 9.8 three-pointers made per game, and were also leading the Big Sky in terms of three-point field goal percentage at .402. Additionally,
Jada Lewis and
Esmeralda Morales entered the game averaging more than three triples a game, but neither player hit a shot from the outside Saturday.
The lack of an outside game made Saturday especially difficult for the Viking offense, as Utah Valley featured two of the best post players the Vikings have faced this season. Josie Williams, a 6-5 center for the Wolverines, dominated the paint as she finished with 17 points on 7-of-9 shooting to go with 19 rebounds (eight offensive) and four blocks. Megan Jensen, a 6-3 center for Utah Valley, led all players with 19 points on 9-of-14 shooting in the game, while also contributing seven rebounds.
Morales was the only Viking to go into double figures Saturday, as she finished with 10 points to go with three rebounds and two assists.
Savannah Dhaliwal added nine points and six rebounds, and hit the lone three-pointer in the game for the Vikings.
A bright spot for the Vikings came in their pressure defense, as they forced the Wolverines into 15 turnovers while out-scoring Utah Valley 13-3 in points off turnovers. Lewis and
Mia 'Uhila both had three steals in the game, while Morales added one of her own.
The Vikings never got within eight points after the opening quarter. Dhaliwal sparked a 7-0 run in the middle of the third quarter that got the Vikings back within 14 after the Wolverines' hot start to the second half. Dhaliwal opened the run with the lone three-pointer of the game for the Vikings, while 'Uhila and Morales followed with a pair of free throws each to make it 45-31 with 4:01 remaining.
Morales answered two free throws for Utah Valley with a second-chance floater that made it a 14-point game again at 47-33, but that's as close as the Vikings would get for the rest of the game.
The Vikings will now hope a return home can buoy the team, as the Vikings play their next four straight at Viking Pavilion, as well as five of their next six. That stretch starts with the Vikings' first two Big Sky games of the year, as they host Idaho State and Weber State next weekend. The Vikings open Big Sky play against the defending-champion Bengals, who they'll host Thursday, Dec. 2, at 6 p.m.
Game Notes: The Wolverines took a 4-3 lead in the all-time series between them and the Vikings with their win Saturday…Saturday's game was the first between the teams since Dec. 18, 2009…Morales has scored in double figures in all five games this season.
