Vikings Set to Host Pepperdine in Return to Non-Conference Play Friday at 6 p.m.

TIPOFF

Portland State head women's basketball coach Chelsey Gregg put it best after the Vikings' tough Big Sky opening weekend against Idaho State and Weber State last weekend.

"Each game is going to be a learning experience and as long as we take that away from it and continue to work hard during the week – and they stay with it and remain bought in – we'll be alright," she said.

The first chance for the Vikings to show that they're still bought in comes this weekend, as the Vikings host a pair of West Coast Conference teams in Pepperdine and cross-town rival University of Portland. The Vikings open the weekend against Pepperdine Friday at 6 p.m., with the Waves representing another challenge for this young team.

The Waves already beat Eastern Washington out of the Big Sky earlier this season, as they topped the Eagles 67-48 at home on Nov. 14. Pepperdine's two other wins came over UAB (66-50 on Nov. 24) and CSU Bakersfield (52-42 on Nov. 30), and the Waves also have two close losses to teams that went to national postseason tournaments last season in UCLA and Cal Baptist. The Waves only lost by nine points, 78-69, against then-No. 20 UCLA on No. 10, and fell by only six points, 63-57, on Dec. 2 to a Cal Baptist team that started last season 26-0.

But the Waves are also similar to the Vikings in that they're both reliant on some key newcomers/freshmen. Freshman Ally Stedman leads the Waves with 12.3 points per game this season, while newcomer Eve Braslis ranks third on the team with 10.1 points per game behind a team-best .554 field goal percentage.

The Vikings, meanwhile, have started three freshmen in every game this season, while the team's fourth freshman – Mia 'Uhila – ranks fifth on the team with 22.8 minutes per game. But the Vikings really are young up and down their roster as only one player – the team's lone senior, Savannah Dhaliwal – has played a collegiate basketball season that was unaffected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The pandemic negated any spring work for the team's four juniors – Marina Canzobre, Jada Lewis, Megan Nieto and Syd Schultz – while the team's five sophomores – Morgan Baird, Nakia Boston, Reilly Kelty, Jenna Kilty and Itziar Ugarte – played their entire freshman seasons in isolation due to the pandemic.

Even with that youth, the Vikings have shown the ability to light it up when everything is clicking. The Vikings opened the season with back-to-back 80-point games, and were shooting over 40 percent from three-point range through their first four games. A cold spell has hurt the Vikings over their past three games, though the Vikings may have finally broken out of that in the fourth quarter of their game against Weber State. The Vikings went 4-of-7 from deep in the fourth quarter against the Wildcats, hitting nearly as many three-pointers as they had over their previous 11 quarters when they were just 5-of-41 (.122) combined from the outside.

Kilty helped break the Vikings out of their struggles from the outside, as she went 2-of-3 from deep in the fourth quarter against the Wildcats, while finishing 3-of-4 for the game. Lewis and Esmeralda Morales lead the Vikings with 2.14 and 1.86 three-pointers made per game, respectively, averages that rank them fifth and ninth in the Big Sky this season.

The part of the Vikings' game that's remained throughout this season has been their command of the ball. The Vikings rank second in the Big Sky in both turnover margin (+2.57) and assist-to-turnover ratio (0.99), while also leading the conference with 10.3 steals per game. Morales and 'Uhila lead that effort, as they rank sixth and tied for 13th in the conference with 3.71 and 3.14 assists per game, respectively. 'Uhila, meanwhile, ranks third in the Big Sky with 2.43 steals per game, as well as sixth with a 1.47 assist-to-turnover ratio. Morales ranks fourth in the conference with 2.14 steals per game, and stands 10th with a 1.24 assist-to-turnover ratio.

Whether the Vikings can combine their skills in ball control with a strong shooting game Friday, remains to be seen when they tip off against the Waves at 6 p.m. (PT). More importantly, Friday's game will reveal how the young team responds to its tough conference opening weekend.

GAME NOTES: PORTLAND STATE (3-4) vs. PEPPERDINE (3-4)

LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO
GAME DETAILS: Friday, Dec. 10, 6 p.m. PT, Portland, Ore. (Viking Pavilion)
SCOUTING PEPPERDINE: The Pepperdine Waves haven't left California yet this season, and why would they? They're having success staying close to home as they have three wins and a couple of quality losses so far this season. The Waves have beaten Eastern Washington (67-48, Nov. 14), UAB (66-50, Nov. 24) and CSU Bakersfield (52-42, Nov. 30), while also losing by only nine points at then-No. 20 UCLA (78-69, Nov. 10) and by only six points at Cal Baptist (63-57, Dec. 2), both postseason teams a season ago. The Waves began the year picked to finish ninth out of 10 teams in a deep West Coast Conference, after finishing last at 2-16 in WCC play last season. Newcomers have helped lift the Waves this season, however, as freshman Ally Stedman leads the Waves with 12.3 points per game. Additionally, Eve Braslis redshirted last season after transferring from Utah Valley, but now ranks third on the team with 10.1 points per game behind a team-best .554 field goal percentage to go with 5.6 rebounds per game. Malia Bambrick, the team's lone All-WCC honorable mention last season, ranks second in the Big Sky with 10.9 points per game. Becky Obinma leads the Waves with 7.4 rebounds per game, an average that ranks her third in the WCC this season, while she also averages 8.9 points per game on .472 shooting from the floor. Sophomore Kendyl Carson leads the Waves with 4.57 assists per game, an average that ranks her fourth in the WCC.
ALL-TIME SERIES: The Waves lead the all-time series between them and the Vikings, 4-0. The teams haven't played since the 2003-04 season, however. The Waves beat the Vikings 67-50 in Malibu that season. The teams have only played in Portland once, which was during the 2002-03 season when the Waves beat the Vikings, 79-65.

STORYLINES/STREAKS/RECORDS

After topping 75 points in their first three games, the Vikings have been held to under 60 points in their past three games. As a result, the Vikings have dropped to sixth in the Big Sky with 64.3 points per game after leading the conference earlier in the season.
The Vikings went 5-of-41 (.122) over their previous 11 quarters before breaking out of a shooting slump from the outside in the fourth quarter against Weber State. The Vikings went 4-of-7 from three-point range in the final quarter against the Wildcats, with Jenna Kilty going 2-of-3 in the quarter and 3-of-4 from deep for the game. Kilty scored 10 of her team-high 13 points in the fourth quarter.
The Vikings have won the turnover battle in six of their seven games this season, as they lead the conference in steals per game (10.3) while ranking second in both turnover margin (+2.57) and assist-to-turnover ratio (0.99).
Three different Vikings rank in the top 10 of the Big Sky for steals per game. Mia 'Uhila and Esmeralda Morales rank third and fourth with 2.43 and 2.14 steals per game, respectively, while Jada Lewis ranks tied for sixth with 1.86 steals per game.
Esmeralda Morales has been held to 10 points or less in the past three games, but still ranks tied for third in the Big Sky with 14.9 points per game. Morales scored 19 points or more in three of her first four games as a Viking.
Savannah Dhaliwal has done a little bit of everything for the Vikings this season, as she averages 11.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.1 three-pointers per game this season. Dhaliwal's production has provided a feel-good storyline for the Vikings this season, after she missed the last two seasons due to back-to-back ACL tears. Dhaliwal played in her first counting game in 985 days when she started the team's season opener against Warner Pacific on Nov. 9.
Freshman Alaya Fitzgerald scored in double figures in each of her first four games of the season, but has been held to 11 points combined on 5-of-21 shooting in the team's last three games.
Rhema Ogele and Savannah Dhaliwal rank 13th and 15th in the Big Sky with 6.57 and 6.29 rebounds per game, respectively. The pair also rank among the conference leaders in offensive rebounds per game, as Ogele stands fourth with 2.57 o-boards a game, while Dhaliwal stands tied for sixth with 2.43.
Esmeralda Morales and Mia 'Uhila rank sixth and tied for 13th in the Big Sky with 3.71 and 3.14 assists per game, respectively. The pair also rank in the top 10 in assist-to-turnover ratio with 'Uhila sixth at 1.47 and Morales 10th at 1.24.
The Vikings have started three freshmen in Esmeralda Morales, Alaya Fitzgerald and Rhema Ogele in every game this season. Additionally, Mia 'Uhila averages 22.8 minutes per game off the bench, ranking her fifth on the team in minutes.
Head coach Chelsey Gregg is in her first year at the helm of the Vikings after spending the previous six seasons as first an assistant then an associate head coach for the Vikings. The players dumped ice water over Gregg's head following the team's first win of the season on Nov. 9. A photo of the moment was shared by the @NCAAWBB accounts as their photo of the week that week.
The Vikings have nine underclassmen out of the 14 players on their roster this season, while Savannah Dhaliwal represents the team's lone senior.

MIXED OFFENSIVE RESULTS

What started as a strength for the Vikings – the team's offense – has hit a rocky patch over their last three games. The Vikings scored 80 points or more in their first two games, but have failed to top 60 points in their past three games. The team's three-point shooting has been the primary victim of the team's recent offensive slump. After starting the year shooting over 40 percent from deep through their first four games, the Vikings went 5-of-41 (.122) combined over the next 11 quarters before breaking out of the slump in the fourth quarter against Weber State. The Vikings went 4-of-7 from deep in the fourth quarter against the Wildcats, making nearly as many shots from the outside as they did over their previous 11 quarters combined. Despite their recent struggles, Jada Lewis still ranks fifth in the Big Sky with 2.14 three-pointers made per game while also standing fourth in three-point field goal percentage at .357. Esmeralda Morales also ranks ninth in the Big Sky with 1.86 three-pointers made per game, though she hasn't hit from the outside since the Vikings' game against Hawai'i on Nov. 21. Morales still ranks tied for third in the Big Sky with 14.9 points per game despite her recent shooting struggles. Savannah Dhaliwal also ranks 14th in the Big Sky with 11.3 points per game.

BALL CONTROL

Last Thursday's game against Idaho State marked the first time this season that an opponent has won the turnover battle over the Vikings. Otherwise, the Vikings have dominated the ball control game, even in their other losses this season. The Vikings lead the Big Sky in steals per game (10.3), while ranking second in turnover margin (+2.57) and assist-to-turnover ratio (0.99). The Vikings have forced at least 15 turnovers in six of their first seven games this season, and have finished with at least seven steals in all six games so far. Esmeralda Morales and Mia 'Uhila have led the effort, as they rank in the top 15 of the Big Sky for assists per game, steals per game and assist-to-turnover ratio. Morales stands sixth with 3.71 assists per game, while 'Uhila ranks tied for 13th with 3.14 helpers a game. 'Uhila leads the pair in the other two categories, as she ranks third with 2.43 steals per game and sixth with a 1.47 assist-to-turnover ratio. Morales, meanwhile, ranks fourth with 2.14 steals per game, and stands 10th with a 1.24 assist-to-turnover ratio. Jada Lewis joins the two among the Big Sky leaders for steals, as she ranks tied for sixth with 1.86 steals per game.

MORE OF MORALES, PLEASE

After a recording-breaking debut, Esmeralda Morales has had to adjust to being the target of opposing teams' defensive plans. That's led to some lower outputs recently, but with Morales only being a freshman, everyone knows she'll figure it out eventually. Morales still ranks tied for third in the Big Sky with 14.9 points per game, while she also ranks ninth in three-pointers made per game (1.86). Outside of scoring, Morales has also been a big part of why the Vikings lead the conference in steals per game (10.3), and rank second in turnover margin (+2.57) and assist-to-turnover ratio (0.99). Morales ranks fourth in the Big Sky with 2.14 steals per game individually, and also stands sixth in the conference with 3.71 assists per game. Additionally, her 1.24 assist-to-turnover ratio ranks her 10th in the Big Sky individually. Morales' best game this season remains her debut, when she tied a single-game record that has stood since 1991 with eight made three-pointers against Warner Pacific. She also set five other freshman records in the game between the records for points (32), points in a debut (32), field goals made (11), three-point field goals made (8) and three-point field goal percentage (.727). Morales also made the Bank of Hawai'i Classic All-Tournament Team after averaging 19.5 points, 4.5 assists, 2.5 steals and 2.0 three-pointers per game against Prairie View A&M on Nov. 20, and Hawai'i on Nov. 21.

JADA CAN KNOCK DOWN THE J's, DUH

Every defense the Vikings face this season should know that Jada Lewis can fill it up from the outside. She showed that while posting two of her best games ever as a Viking in back-to-back contests against Dixie State on Nov. 12 and Prairie View A&M on Nov. 20. Lewis set a new career high for points in both games, while going a combined 13-of-21 (.619) from beyond the arc in both contests. Lewis started with 22 points on 6-of-9 shooting from deep against Dixie State, then topped that with 23 points on 7-of-12 shooting from the outside against Prairie View A&M. Lewis has gone cold since then, but she still ranks fifth in the Big Sky with 2.14 three-pointers made per game, as well as fourth in three-point field goal percentage at .357.

THE LONG-AWAITED RETURN OF SAVANNAH DHALIWAL

Savannah Dhaliwal hit a go-ahead three-pointer with 38 seconds left in the Vikings' game against Hawai'i on Nov. 21 that could have made for a storybook ending for the redshirt senior. Unfortunately, Hawai'i immediately responded with its own three-pointer to take back the lead, and the Rainbow Wahine went on to win the game. Still, the storybook element for Dhaliwal has been the simple fact that she's back out there playing for the Vikings, and playing well. The Vikings' season opener against Warner Pacific on Nov. 9 marked the first counting game for Dhaliwal in 985 days. Dhaliwal first tore the ACL in her right knee in the Vikings' home game against Idaho on Feb. 28, 2019, which kept her out of the entire 2019-20 season. She re-tore her ACL in the fall of 2020, which forced her out of the entire 2020-21 season as well. But ever since her return, Dhaliwal has shown no ill-effects of the injuries as she's scored in double figures in six of the team's seven games this season. She recorded the first double-double of her Viking career in the team's win over Prairie View A&M on Nov. 20, finishing with 13 points and 11 rebounds (five offensive). Dhaliwal's done a little bit of everything for the Vikings this season, as she's averaging 11.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.1 three-pointers made per game while shooting .484 from the field and .471 (8-of-17) from three-point range. Dhaliwal ranks 14th in the Big Sky with her 11.3 points per game, while she also ranks tied for sixth in offensive rebounds per game (2.43) and 15th in total rebounds per game (6.29).

OOOOOOOOOO-HEE-LUH

Pixar took the little green aliens saying 'oooooooooo' in Toy Story from watching freshman guard Mia 'Uhila. At least that's the story we're telling ourselves. 'Uhila has the game to make it believable, especially in terms of her perimeter defense as she has three games this season where she has recorded at least three steals. 'Uhila ranks third in the Big Sky and 77th in the NCAA with 2.43 steals per game as a result, which has also helped the Vikings take the Big Sky lead while ranking 56th in the nation with 10.3 steals per game as a team. 'Uhila also ranks tied for 13th in the Big Sky with 3.14 assists per game, and ranks sixth in the conference with an assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.47. All of this despite 'Uhila only playing 22.8 minutes per game.

YOUTHFUL ROSTER

Nine of the Vikings' 14 players this season will be freshmen or sophomores, and neither class has had a normal basketball season due to the pandemic since they were either sophomore or juniors in high school. That should make for a youthful roster at times for the Vikings this season, especially considering the Vikings' only have one senior – Savannah Dhaliwal – to counterbalance that youth. Even the Vikings' juniors had their freshmen years in 2019-20 cut short in March due to the pandemic, and then weren't able to work on their games nearly as much as they would have liked as sophomores during the 2020-21 season.

PRESEASON PREDICTIONS

Big Sky coaches and media members picked the Vikings to finish ninth and eighth in their respective preseason polls. The top three in both polls were identical, with Idaho State the clear favorite in both. The Bengals return several key players from last year's team that ran away with the Big Sky regular-season and tournament titles. Because of that, the Bengals earned all but their own first-place vote in the coaches poll, and picked up 17 of the 22 first-place votes in the media poll. Montana State followed the Bengals at second in both polls, narrowly edging Idaho in third.

SEASON HIGHLIGHTS

Nov. 20, 2021, Portland State 75, Prairie View A&M 61: Savannah Dhaliwal recorded the first double-double of her career with 13 points and 11 rebounds. Jada Lewis set career highs for points (23) and three-pointers (7) to lead the Vikings offensively.
Nov. 12, 2021, Portland State 80, Dixie State 52: The Vikings held a Dixie State team that had just set a new school record with 22 made three-pointers in its season opener to 5-of-34 (.147) shooting from deep. Jada Lewis set a career high with 22 points on 6-of-9 shooting from beyond the arc.
Nov. 9, 2021, Portland State 87, Warner Pacific 64: Esmeralda Morales tied a single-game record that's stood since 1991 with eight three-pointers against the Knights, while setting five new freshman records in the game. Morales broke the freshman records for points (32), points in a debut (32), field goals made (11), three-point field goals made (8) and three-point field goal percentage (.727). Savannah Dhaliwal also made her return after missing the last two seasons due to back-to-back ACL tears. Dhaliwal had 13 points on 5-of-6 shooting while setting new career highs for assists (6) and steals (2) in her first counting game in 985 days.

Print Friendly Version