TIPOFF

Returning to form offensively over the weekend, the Portland State women's basketball team now looks to solidify its groove with a final Big Sky series before heading to the conference tournament in Boise next week. The Vikings head down to Cedar City, Utah, to face the Southern Utah Thunderbirds this Wednesday and Friday in their final games of the regular season.
 
The Vikings broke out of a shooting slump Saturday against Northern Colorado, even as they fell 62-60 to the Bears. The Vikings shot 40.4 percent (21-of-52) from the field in the game, more than 10 percent better than their mark Thursday, when the Vikings shot 29.5 percent (18-of-61).
 
Before Saturday's game, the Vikings hadn't cracked as much as 35 percent from the field in their previous four games, let alone 40 percent.
 
What's more, Saturday marked the resurgence of Desirae Hansen, after she went just 3-of-20 and 2-of-13 from three-point range Thursday against the Bears. Hansen was back to her old self Saturday, going 5-of-11 from the field and 2-of-5 from three-point range while scoring 14 of her team-high 17 points in the second half.
 
Hansen backed up her resurgence with a dominant game Sunday, as the Vikings stepped out of Big Sky play for a non-conference game against Warner Pacific. Hansen finished with nine points, six assists and five rebounds despite playing only 12 minutes of the 83-41 rout for the Vikings. Most importantly, Hansen was 3-of-4 from the field and 3-of-3 from three-point range in the game. In her last two games, Hansen is 8-of-15 (.533) from the field and 5-of-8 (.625) from deep, a stark turnaround from when she was 10-of-51 (.195) over the Vikings' previous five games.
 
Hansen and the Vikings won't have an easy time extending their hot streak against the Thunderbirds, however, as Southern Utah ranks third in the conference while holding opponents to 37.9 percent from the field this season.
 
If the Vikings do start missing shots again, rebounding will become the biggest key of the game. The Thunderbirds lead the Big Sky in rebounding by nearly two rebounds a game. Additionally, they lead the Big Sky with a +8.6 rebounding margin, nearly double the average of the No. 2 team in the conference, Idaho State at +4.4.
 
Liz Graves and Darri Frandsen lead the Thunderbirds with 8.8 and 8.1 rebounds per game, respectively – averages that also rank them second and fourth in the Big Sky individually. Graves also leads the conference with 16.7 points per game.
 
The Thunderbirds have had an odd season, though, as they come into the final weekend of the regular season with the fewest conference games under their belt of any team in the Big Sky. The Thunderbirds did not play Montana, Montana State, Eastern Washington and Idaho State, and had one of their two games against Northern Colorado canceled as well.
 
The Thunderbirds also sport a minus-2.53 turnover margin, making them potentially susceptible to the Vikings' pressure defense. The Viking defense has also been rounding into form lately, as the Vikings have forced 18 or more turnovers in each of their last four games. Additionally, the Vikings have averaged 12.75 steals per game during that stretch.
 
Senior Kylie Jimenez entered the career top 10 for steals within the Big Sky Conference Sunday, passing current Montana State head coach Tricia Binford for 10th all-time with 272 steals now in her career. Jimenez ranks second in the conference with 2.3 steals per game this season, while Hansen and Tatiana Streun rank tied for 12th with 1.4 steals per game each. Freshman Nakia Boston has also recorded three steals in each of the last four games.
 
Even with that pressure defense, the first game of the week has been a struggle for the Vikings in their past two Big Sky series. The Vikings lost by wide margins in their Thursday games to Idaho and Northern Colorado the past two weeks before coming back and playing closer games against both teams Saturday.
 
The Vikings will hope for a better start to their series against the Thunderbirds this week, which gets underway a day earlier due to the Big Sky tournament starting the following Monday. The Vikings and Thunderbirds open their series Wednesday with a 5:30 p.m. PT / 6:30 p.m. MT tip at America First Event Center in Cedar City, Utah.
 

GAME NOTES: PORTLAND STATE (10-11, 6-10 Big Sky) vs. SOUTHERN UTAH (10-7, 5-4 Big Sky)

LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO
GAME #1: Wednesday, March 3, 5:30 p.m. PT / 6:30 p.m. MT, Cedar City, Utah (America First Event Center)
GAME #2: Friday, March 5, 5:30 p.m. PT / 6:30 p.m. MT, Cedar City, Utah (America First Event Center)
SCOUTING SOUTHERN UTAH: The Southern Utah Thunderbirds have played the fewest Big Sky games of any team in the conference this season. The Thunderbirds have only nine conference games under their belts heading into the final weekend of the regular season. The Thunderbirds did not play Montana, Montana State, Eastern Washington and Idaho State, and had one of their two games against Northern Colorado canceled as well. Of the games the Thunderbirds did play, they split games against Sacramento State and Northern Arizona, lost both games to Idaho, swept Weber State, and won their only game against Northern Colorado. Even with the cancellations, the Thunderbirds have established a potent core of four players who all average in double figures. Liz Graves, a transfer from Weber State, leads the Thunderbirds with 16.7 points per game, an average that also leads the Big Sky this season. Besides Graves, fellow newcomer Cherita Daugherty ranks second on the team with 12.6 points per game, while Thunderbird returners Darri Frandsen and Madelyn Eaton average 11.6 and 10.6 points per game, respectively. Graves also leads the Thunderbirds with 8.8 rebounds per game, an average that ranks her second in the Big Sky this season. Frandsen also ranks in the top five of the conference for rebounds, coming in fourth with 8.1 rebounds per game. As a team, the Thunderbirds lead the Big Sky in rebounding by nearly two rebounds a game. The Thunderbirds also have a +8.6 rebounding margin, nearly double the average of the No. 2 team in the conference – Idaho State at +4.4. The Thunderbirds also rank second in the Big Sky with 4.71 blocks per game, and stand third with an opponent field goal percentage of .379. Offensively, the Thunderbirds rank third in the Big Sky with a .423 field goal percentage, and stand fourth with 71.7 points per game. The Thunderbirds also lead the Big Sky in free throw percentage, hitting 79.3 percent of their shots from the line. 
ALL-TIME SERIES: The Vikings lead the all-time series between them and the Thunderbirds, 15-10. The Thunderbirds swept the Vikings last season between a 71-58 game at Southern Utah on Dec. 30, 2019, and an 81-72 game in Portland on Feb. 8, 2020. The Vikings had won four of their previous six games against the Thunderbirds before that.
 

STORYLINES/STREAKS/RECORDS

• The Vikings have generally played better in the second game of each Big Sky weekend this season. The average margin in those second games is more than six points closer than the average margin for the team's Thursday games. That's been especially true the last two weeks, as the Vikings lost by more than 20 points in their Thursday games to Idaho and Northern Colorado, only to come back and force overtime against the Vandals and drop a two-point game to the Bears last Saturday.
• The Vikings broke out of a shooting slump against Northern Colorado last Saturday, and have now shot over 40 percent from the field in their past two games after failing to shoot over 35 percent in any of their previous four games.
• The Vikings have come back to win despite trailing by six points or more in the fourth quarter of four different games during Big Sky play. The first fourth-quarter comeback came against defending champion Montana State on Jan. 16, when the Vikings trailed by six with 7:37 remaining. The Vikings then came back to beat Montana on Feb. 4 despite trailing by seven with 8:28 left, before posting back-to-back comebacks while sweeping Northern Arizona on Feb. 11 and 14. The Vikings came back after trailing by six with 4:35 left on the 11th, and then overcame an eight-point deficit with 4:30 left on the 14th. 
• Kylie Jimenez has entered the career top 10 within the Big Sky for assists and steals this season. Jimenez entered the top 10 for assists during the Vikings game against Idaho on Feb. 20, and now ranks ninth all-time in the Big Sky with 528 career assists. Jimenez also entered the career top 10 for steals during Sunday's game against Warner Pacific, passing current Montana State head coach Tricia Binford for 10th all-time. 
• The Vikings have averaged 12.75 steals per game over their last four games, and rank second in the Big Sky and in the top 50 nationally with 9.67 steals per game across the whole season. Individually, Kylie Jimenez ranks second in the Big Sky with 2.3 steals per game, while Tatiana Streun and Desirae Hansen rank tied for 12th with 1.4 steals per game each. Freshman Nakia Boston has also recorded three steals in each of the last four games.
• Tatiana Streun recorded her fifth double-double of the season Saturday with 14 points and 10 rebounds against Northern Colorado. Streun leads all current Vikings with 11 career double-doubles, and ranks in the career top 10 at Portland State for rebounds and field goal percentage.
• Junior Desirae Hansen ranks in the top 15 of the Big Sky in scoring (14th, 12.4 ppg), rebounding (13th, 6.2 rpg) and assists (11th, 2.9 apg). Hansen also ranks in the top 15 of the Big Sky in six other statistical categories, including three-pointers made per game (12th, 1.7), blocks per game (10th, 0.9) and assist-to-turnover ratio (6th, 1.5).
• Senior Kylie Jimenez recorded her 500th career assist on Jada Lewis' game-winning three-pointer against Northern Arizona on Feb. 11. The epic context of the assist was appropriate, as it also made Jimenez only the third player in program history to reach 1,000 points, 500 assists and 250 steals in her career at Portland State. Jimenez joined two PSU Hall of Famers in the elite club between Claire Faucher (2006-10) and Kim Manifesto (1992-96). With seven more three-pointers, Jimenez will stand alone as the only one of those three to also hit 200 three-pointers in her career.
• With 528 career assists now, Kylie Jimenez stands fourth among active players in the NCAA. Jimenez ranks behind only Tiana Mangakahia of Syracuse (726), Ane Olaeta of California Baptist (608) and Destiny Slocum of Arkansas (607).
• Sophomore Jada Lewis ranks third in the Big Sky in three-point field goal percentage, hitting 41.7 percent of her shots from the outside. Lewis also ranks 31st in the nation in the category, and stands fourth in the Big Sky with 2.2 makes per game.
• The Vikings had six of their first seven games of the season canceled, and did not play their season opener until Dec. 16.
• The Vikings played their season opener against Dixie State with only seven 5-on-5 practices under their belts. The Vikings did not have an exemption to practice 5-on-5 until Nov. 25, the official opening date of the season. However, practice was shut down again four days later for a two-week quarantine and didn't resume again until Dec. 10.

 

FOURTH-QUARTER VIKS

Opponents should always be wary of the Vikings. No lead is safe, especially in the fourth quarter. The Vikings have come back to win despite trailing by six points or more in the fourth quarter of four different games during Big Sky play. The first fourth-quarter comeback came against defending champion Montana State on Jan. 16, when the Vikings trailed by six with 7:37 remaining. The Vikings then came back to beat Montana on Feb. 4 despite trailing by seven with 8:28 left. Poor Northern Arizona saw the Vikings post back-to-back comebacks from sizeable fourth-quarter deficits as the Vikings swept the Lumberjacks on Feb. 11 and 14. The Vikings came back after trailing by six with 4:35 left on the 11th, and then overcame an eight-point deficit with 4:30 left on the 14th. The Vikings' last two Saturday games also featured near-comebacks. The team made up an eight-point deficit with 4:20 remaining against Idaho on Feb. 20, ending regulation on an 11-3 run to force overtime. The Vandals out-scored the Vikings 13-2 in overtime, but a fourth-quarter comeback got the Vikings into overtime at least. The Vikings also trailed by five with 3:18 remaining against Northern Colorado last Saturday, before tying the game in the final seconds. The Bears came out ahead in the end, however, 62-60.
 

CREATING CHAOS

The Portland State defense has created chaos on the perimeter this season. The Vikings have averaged 12.75 steals per game over their last four games, and rank second in the Big Sky and in the top 50 nationally with 9.67 steals per game across the whole season. Individually, Kylie Jimenez ranks second in the Big Sky with 2.3 steals per game, while Tatiana Streun and Desirae Hansen rank tied for 12th with 1.4 steals per game each. Freshman Nakia Boston has also recorded three steals in each of the last four games.
 

GET YOUR OWN TOTS!

Fifth-year senior Tatiana Streun recorded her fifth double-double of the season Saturday with 14 points and 10 rebounds against Northern Colorado. Streun leads all current Vikings with 11 career double-doubles, and ranks in the career top 10 at Portland State for rebounds and field goal percentage. Streun entered the career top 10 for rebounds during the Vikings' weekend in Montana, surpassing former teammate Pia Jurhar for 10th all-time. Streun needs only seven more rebounds to catch the next player in front of her, Hiedi Hatcher (1997-2001) at 612, at which point she'll move up to ninth all-time. This season, Streun ranks ninth in the Big Sky with 6.9 rebounds per game, and stands fourth with 2.6 offensive rebounds per game. Additionally, Streun, who came up with a crucial steal to set up Kylie Jimenez's game-winning layup at Montana on Feb. 4, also ranks tied for 12th in the Big Sky with 1.4 steals per game. 
 

IRON WOMAN

Senior Kylie Jimenez has started all 118 games of her Portland State career, and has played 39 minutes or more in 10 of the team's 21 games this season. If the Vikings get both games against Southern Utah in this weekend, and play at least two games at the Big Sky tournament, then Jimenez will tie Kelsey Kahle's career record for starts at 122. Jimenez's durability has helped her hit milestone after milestone during her Viking career. Jimenez surpassed 1,000 career points against Weber State on Feb. 29 last season, and hit two more milestones earlier this season. Jimenez recorded her 250th career steal against Montana on Feb. 6, and recorded her 500th career assist on Jada Lewis' game-winning three-pointer to beat Northern Arizona on Feb. 11. Only two other players at Portland State have reached 1,000 points, 500 assists and 250 steals in their career, and they're both PSU Hall of Famers in Kim Manifesto and Claire Faucher. If Jimenez hits seven more three-pointers, then she'll separate herself from Manifesto and Faucher as the only one of the three with 200-career three-pointers in addition to the other three milestones. Jimenez ranks well against her contemporaries, as well, as she stands fourth among active players in the NCAA. Jimenez ranks behind only Tiana Mangakahia of Syracuse (726), Ane Olaeta of California Baptist (608) and Destiny Slocum of Arkansas (607). Jimenez has also entered the career top 10 within the Big Sky Conference for assists and steals earlier this season. Jimenez entered the top 10 for assists during the Vikings' game against Idaho on Feb. 20, and now ranks ninth all-time. Jimenez entered the career top 10 for steals during Sunday's game against Warner Pacific, passing current Montana State head coach Tricia Binford for 10th all-time. 
 

JADA CAN KNOCK DOWN THE J's, DUH

Jada Lewis' game-winning three-pointer against Northern Arizona on Feb. 11 provided a standout moment in a season full of knockdown three-pointers for the sophomore guard. Lewis ranks third in the Big Sky and 31st in the nation while hitting 41.7 percent of her three-point attempts this season, and ranks fourth in the Big Sky with 2.2 makes per game. The sophomore guard has nine games this season with at least three triples, including a career-high six against Eastern Washington on Jan. 2 when she was making her first career start. 
 

GET READY FOR BOISE DES

As we enter March, one sight should strike fear into every Big Sky Conference head coach, and that's Desirae Hansen in Boise, Idaho. Boise Des will re-emerge at the Big Sky tournament, starting March 8. Boise Des has already provided the game-winning shot of the Vikings' 2019 Big Sky tournament title run, and Hansen followed that up with 27 points on 9-of-16 shooting and 5-of-6 from three-point range in the team's first-round game against Eastern Washington last season. Hansen started a return to her Boise form Saturday, breaking out of a shooting slump that had plagued her over the Vikings' previous several games. Hansen had been just 10-of-51 (.196) combined over the Vikings' previous five games before going 5-of-11 from the field and 2-of-5 from three-point range in the team's game against Northern Colorado Saturday. Despite her recent struggles, Hansen still ranks in the top 15 of the Big Sky in scoring (14th, 12.4 ppg), rebounding (13th, 6.2 rpg) and assists (11th, 2.9 apg). Hansen also ranks in the top 15 of the Big Sky in seven other statistical categories between defensive rebounds per game (4th, 5.7), free throw percentage (9th, .800), three-pointers made per game (12th, 1.7), assist-to-turnover ratio (6th, 1.5), blocks per game (10th, 0.9) and steals per game (T-12th, 1.4).
 

MILESTONE WATCH

Three different Vikings are waiting on some career milestones this season between Kylie Jimenez, Desirae Hansen and Tatiana Streun. It's up in the air how many games the Vikings will get in this season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, with any luck, those three will reach the following milestones:

• Jimenez needs 7 three-pointers to reach 200 in her career
• Jimenez needs 5 starts to break the career record for starts at Portland State
• Hansen needs 32 points to reach 1,000 in her career
• Hansen needs 72 rebounds to reach 500 in her career
• Hansen needs 139 assists to reach 400 in her career
• Streun needs 179 points to reach 1,000 in her career

Jimenez, who has already become only the third player in Portland State history with at least 1,000 points, 500 assists and 250 steals in her career, would stand alone as the only player to add 200 career three-pointers if she reaches the milestone. Hansen and Streun, meanwhile, could each become the first Viking to record over 1,000 points and 500 rebounds in their career since Kelli Valentine reached both marks during the 2010-11 season. Whoever is first to both milestones will become just the 11th member of the 1,000-point, 500-rebound club at Portland State.
 

STREUN DEBUTS WITH SWISS NATIONAL TEAM

Tatiana Streun made her debut with the Swiss National Team in two qualifying games for the FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2021 tournament. Streun, who has dual citizenship between the U.S. and Switzerland thanks to her father Boris, appeared in the Swiss team's games against Russia and Estonia on Nov. 12 and Nov. 14, respectively. There's another qualifying period on Feb. 4 and 6, 2021, which Streun could potentially play in as well. Switzerland already played two of their qualifying games within Group C, beating Estonia 73-63 before losing 80-61 to Bosnia and Herzegovina. The nine group winners and the five-best second-place teams in each group will advance to the final round of the EuroBasket tournament.
 

NEWCOMERS

The Vikings added five freshmen this season in Morgan Baird, Nakia Boston, Reilly Kelty, Jenna Kilty and Itziar Ugarte. Of the freshmen, Baird, a 5-11 forward out of Coquille, Ore., was the Oregon State 2A Player of the Year as a junior, and was a unanimous all-state first-team selection as a senior even as Coquille moved up a classification to 3A. Boston, a 5-9 guard from Everett, Wash., regularly scored 30-plus points for Lynnwood High School, and was the 3A/2A WESCO Player of the Year. Kelty, a 6-3 forward out of Cottage Grove, Ore., played her first three years of high school for Cottage Grove before transferring to Sheldon for her senior season. Kilty, a 5-10 guard out of Oakland, Calif., won back-to-back NorCal titles as a junior and senior, and finished as state runners-up as a junior. Finally, Ugarte, a 5-11 guard out of Madrid, Spain, was the MVP of the 2017 International Basket Cup in Benidorm, Spain.
 

SEASON HIGHLIGHTS

Feb. 28, Portland State 83, Warner Pacific 41: Labrea Denson and Ruchae Walton started for the first time in their careers while playing in their last home games. Kylie Jimenez also entered the career top 10 for steals within the Big Sky Conference during the game, passing current Montana State head coach Tricia Binford.
Feb. 22, Portland State 66, Warner Pacific 30: The Vikings set a Big Sky-era program record by allowing only 30 points to Warner Pacific, the fewest points by a Viking opponent since the 1975-76 season. The Vikings also held the Knights to 18.8 percent (12-of-64) shooting, the lowest mark for a Viking opponent since game-by-game records date back through the 2006-07 season.
Feb. 14, Portland State 58, Northern Arizona 56: Desirae Hansen hit three game-winning free throws with 4.5 seconds remaining, giving the Vikings their third last-second win out of their last four. The Vikings trailed by eight with less than five minutes left, but out-scored the Lumberjacks 12-2 the rest of the way.
Feb. 11, Portland State 75, Northern Arizona 73: Jada Lewis hit the game-winning three-pointer with 2.1 seconds left off a dish from Kylie Jimenez. The assist gave Jimenez 500 in her Portland State career, making her just the third player to reach 1,000 points, 500 assists and 250 steals for the Vikings.
Feb. 4, Portland State 61, Montana 60: The Vikings won in Missoula for just the fifth time in program history as Kylie Jimenez hit a game-winning layup with 1.7 seconds remaining. The Vikings led for less than three minutes of game time, but won despite being out-shot and out-rebounded in the game. 
Jan. 27, Portland State 59, The College of Idaho 37: The Vikings grabbed a season-high 56 rebounds against the Yotes, bettering their previous best by 11. The 56 rebounds tied last season's opener against Multnomah as the highest total in a game over the past four seasons.
Jan. 23, Idaho State 70, Portland State 62: The Vikings out-rebounded the Big Sky's top rebounding team in Idaho State, 43-37. Tatiana Streun scored 21 of her game-high 23 points in the second half, while adding a game-high 12 rebounds, too. Streun also went went 10-of-10 from the free-throw line to become just the 14th player in program history to go perfect from the line while attempting at least 10 shots.
Jan. 16, Portland State 72, Montana State 70: The Vikings had five players score in double figures for the first time during the season. Desirae Hansen led the way with 20 points, 15 coming in the second half and 10 in the fourth quarter.
Jan. 14, Montana State 75, Portland State 67: Jada Lewis scored 15 of the Vikings' 19 points in the fourth quarter, and assisted on the team's only other field goal. Lewis' 15 points came within one of the school record for points in a quarter.
Jan. 9, Portland State 74, Sacramento State 64: The Viking bench scored a season-high 25 points, its highest scoring output in nearly two years. Freshman Morgan Baird, who hadn't scored yet coming into the game, led the way with 10 points. Sophomore Syd Schultz added eight points and seven rebounds, while senior Labrea Denson chipped in five points, four rebounds and two assists.
Jan. 7, Portland State 66, Sacramento State 64: The Vikings recorded their first overtime win since Dec. 16, 2017. The Vikings shot just 2-of-17 in the fourth quarter as the Eagles came back, but stayed ahead in overtime thanks to a 26-15 advantage on the boards in the second half and overtime.
Jan. 2, Eastern Washington 73, Portland State 67: Sophomore Jada Lewis scored a career-high 20 points on 6-of-8 shooting from three-point range while making her first-career start. Lewis scored 12 of her 20 points while going 4-of-4 from deep in the third quarter. The Vikings erased 14 of a 16-point halftime deficit in the third quarter, but couldn't complete the comeback. 
Dec. 31, Eastern Washington 73, Portland State 71: Freshman Jenna Kilty came within two points of the school record for points in a quarter with 14 in the third quarter. Kilty was 5-of-7 from the field in the quarter, and hit 2-of-3 from deep.
Dec. 16, Portland State 63, Dixie State 53: The Vikings won their long-delayed season opener, 281 days after they last took the court in an official game. The Vikings trailed 37-28 at the 7:13 mark of the third quarter but turned that into a 56-43 advantage with 4:26 left in the fourth behind an extended, 28-6 run.