MISSOULA, Mont. — Toughest team wins.
 
Kylie Jimenez and the Portland State women's basketball team proved that Thursday as Jimenez shook off a tough shooting night to deliver a game-winning layup for the Vikings with 1.7 seconds remaining. The late game-winner delivered a 61-60 win for the Vikings over Montana in a game where they trailed for more than 36 minutes, and were out-shot (.356-to-.309) and out-rebounded (47-to-35).
 
The victory gave the Vikings only their fifth-ever victory against the Lady Griz in Dahlberg Arena, and only their second since 2011.
 
"We found a way to win on the road. It wasn't pretty basketball tonight but we fought every possession and that's what you have to do at such a tough place to play," Portland State head coach Lynn Kennedy said afterward.
 
Jimenez was just 1-of-17 from the field and 0-of-10 from three-point range before hitting her game-winner. Jimenez dribbled idly just past the half-court line until driving along the perimeter on the right with about seven seconds left. The senior point guard got past her defender along the baseline, and no other Montana defender crashed on her until it was too late as Jimenez banked it off the glass for the go-ahead bucket.
 
Montana got an entry pass into the paint on their final possession, but Abby Anderson didn't get off a quality shot for the Lady Griz as the Viking defense sealed the victory.
 
"Kylie stepped up when we needed her most on that last possession. That's what great players do. They have a short memory and finish in the present," Kennedy said of Jimenez.
 
The Lady Griz had the ball with a 60-59 lead with 20 seconds left when Jimenez and Tatiana Streun combined for a steal that gave the Vikings the ball back. Jimenez deflected the pass initially, while Streun dove to the ground to secure the Vikings' chance at a game-winner.
 
Streun showed the same grit as Jimenez, as she quickly forgot two missed free throws late in the fourth quarter to come up with the crucial steal in the final minute. Streun scored 10 of her 12 points in the second half, including two second-chance buckets in the fourth quarter. Streun got in foul trouble in the first half – playing only 3:25 of the opening 20 minutes – but raised her level after halftime.
 
Junior Desirae Hansen dominated the rest of the game for the Vikings, as she scored 22 of the Vikings' 61 points Thursday while adding nine rebounds, a career-high five blocks, and two steals. Hansen scored 18 of her 22 points in the second half, when she was 4-of-9 from the field and 3-of-5 from three-point range.
 
Hansen kept the Vikings in range for much of the game, as the Lady Griz led from the 7:20 mark of the first quarter until 2:23 remained in the fourth.
 
The Lady Griz took a 10-point lead at 25-15 mid-way through the second quarter, but the Vikings answered with a three-pointer from Jada Lewis, and a three-point play from Syd Schultz to make it 29-24 just before halftime.
 
Hansen cut it to a one-point game early in the third quarter, as she hit her second three-pointer of the game to make it 30-29 less than 90 seconds after halftime. The Vikings cut it to a one-point game two more times in the third, but could never get over the hump until late in the fourth.
 
The Lady Griz took a 49-44 lead into the final period, and stretched it to a 51-44 advantage with 8:28 remaining on a pair of second-chance free throws from Carmen Gfeller. Hansen was fouled on a three-pointer the next time down the court, however, and hit all three foul shots to make it 51-47.
 
Streun followed with a second-chance bucket to make it 52-49, while freshman Nakia Boston cut it to 52-51 with a strong drive down the lane for a layup.
 
Streun muscled down another offensive rebound with 3:21 remaining, then hit a baseline jumper off an ensuing in-bounds play to make it 56-54. The Viking defense got a stop on the other end, and Hansen hit a triple to give the Vikings their first lead since the opening minutes at 57-56.
 
The Lady Griz answered with a second-chance layup and two free throws to go back up 60-57. Hansen hit two free throws on the other end to make it 60-59 with 41 seconds remaining.
 
The Lady Griz then ran the clock down to 20 seconds before Jimenez and Streun combined for the crucial steal that set up Jimenez's game-winner.
 
Hansen (22) and Streun (12) were the only Vikings in double figures Thursday, though Boston added nine points on 3-of-6 shooting to go with two steals.
 
The Vikings and Lady Griz face each other again Saturday, with an 11 a.m. (PT) / 12 p.m. (MT) tipoff scheduled for Dahlberg Arena.
 
Game Notes: The Vikings improved to 21-50 all-time against Montana following Thursday's win…The Vikings had been just 4-29 against the Lady Griz in Missoula before winning Thursday…Streun grabbed five rebounds Thursday, leaving her eight shy of matching former teammate Pia Jurhar for 10th all-time at Portland State…Jimenez needs one more steal to become just the fourth player in Portland State history to record 250 in her career…Jimenez also remains 11 assists away from 500 in her career, a benchmark only two other players (Hall of Famers Claire Faucher and Kim Manifesto) have reached in their Portland State careers.