TIPOFF

The Portland State women's basketball team has played well enough to win in their last two games, but late-game situations have gone against the Vikings each time. So, the challenge becomes to maintain that level despite not getting the reward of a victory.
 
Fortunately for the Vikings, Monday's game offers the chance for revenge from one of the team's two recent losses. Southern Utah comes to Viking Pavilion Monday, four days after the Thunderbirds beat the Vikings, 64-63, on a last-second free throw with 0.8 seconds remaining.
 
The Vikings erased an 11-point deficit in the third quarter of that game, taking the lead three different times on three different three-pointers in the fourth quarter. Jada Lewis hit the Vikings' last go-ahead three-pointer with 1:12 remaining that put them up 63-62. The Thunderbirds made the plays to win from there, but it was a solid performance for the Vikings against a Southern Utah team that re-took the top spot in the Big Sky standings with the win.
 
The Vikings followed with the best three quarters they've played this season in their game against Northern Arizona Saturday. The Vikings led 63-52 with eight minutes remaining, but were then out-scored 27-5 over the rest of the game. Still, the Vikings assisted on 19 of their 29 field goals against NAU, tied for their most assists in a game since they had a season-high 23 against Dixie State on Nov. 12. Additionally, the Vikings out-scored NAU 40-20 in the paint, with the 40 points marking a new season-high for the Vikings from the inside.
 
Alaya Fitzgerald posted a career game against the Lumberjacks. The freshman wing scored 23 points on 9-of-12 shooting overall and 3-of-4 from three-point range. Fitzgerald either set or tied her career-highs for points (23), field goal percentage (.750), field goals made (9), three-pointers made (3), assists (8), steals (3), and minutes played (37) in the game.
 
Savannah Dhaliwal has also stepped up her game over the Vikings' last two games as she's in the middle of a career weekend. Dhaliwal scored 14 of her game-high 21 points in the second half of Thursday's game at Southern Utah, while going 9-of-12 from the field and 3-of-4 from three-point range. The fifth-year senior then followed with 16 points on 7-of-9 shooting in Saturday's game against the Lumberjacks. In the Vikings' two games this weekend, Dhaliwal is averaging 18.5 points per game while shooting 76.2 percent (16-of-21) from the field and 71.4 percent (5-of-7) from three-point range.
 
Lizzy Williamson and Darri Dotson led the Thunderbirds in their previous game against the Vikings. Dotson hit the game-winning free throw with 0.8 seconds remaining as part of a 17-point, 14-rebound double-double for her in the game. Williamson, meanwhile, led the Thunderbirds with 18 points on 8-of-13 shooting to go with six rebounds and four blocks.
 
Those two lead the Thunderbirds' rebounding efforts, which rank as the best in the Big Sky Conference this season. Williamson ranks third in the conference with 8.5 rebounds per game, while Dotson stands seventh with 7.38 boards a game. Dotson and Williamson also rank third and fourth, respectively, with 3.25 and 2.88 offensive rebounds per game. As a team, the Thunderbirds lead the Big Sky in rebounding margin (+8.71) and offensive rebounds per game (13.9), while also ranking second in total rebounds per game (42.3).
 
The Thunderbirds also lead the conference in scoring offense with 73.8 points per game, and that scoring output has been remarkably balanced for the Thunderbirds all season. Five different players average in double figures between Williamson (11.4 ppg), Dotson (10.8), Cherita Daugherty (10.8), Kinsley Barrington (10.6) and Daylani Ballena (10.2). Madelyn Eaton (8.9) and Samantha Johnson (7.5) aren't far off double figures either.
 
But the Vikings held the Thunderbirds to 10 points below their scoring average in Thursday's game against them. The teams were essentially even on the offensive glass, as well, as the Thunderbirds only held a slight advantage at 13-12.
 
So, the Vikings have the ability to beat the Thunderbirds, they just have to complete the job this time around. Tipoff for Monday's game is set for 5 p.m., as the Vikings play a doubleheader with the Portland State men's basketball team, which faces off against Northern Colorado at 7:30 p.m.
 

GAME NOTES: PORTLAND STATE (5-11, 0-8) vs. SOUTHERN UTAH (11-6, 7-1)

LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO
GAME DETAILS: Monday, Jan. 31, 5 p.m., Portland, Ore. (Viking Pavilion)
SCOUTING SOUTHERN UTAH: The Southern Utah Thunderbirds didn't play Saturday, so they haven't played since beating the Vikings 64-63 last Thursday on a last-second free throw. Darri Dotson hit the game-winning free throw for the Thunderbirds with 0.8 seconds remaining, which was the final point of a 17-point, 14-rebound double-double for Dotson in the game. Lizzy Williamson led the Thunderbirds with 18 points on 8-of-13 shooting to go with six rebounds and four blocks. Williamson and Dotson both rank in the top 10 of the Big Sky for rebounds this season, as Williamson stands third with 8.5 boards a game, while Dotson averages 7.38 to rank seventh in the conference. The pair rank third and fourth in offensive rebounds per game, too, as Dotson stands third with 3.25 o-boards a game, while Williamson ranks fourth with 2.88. Williamson also ranks second in the Big Sky for field goal percentage (.542) and third in blocks per game (1.38). As a team, the Thunderbirds rank as the top offense in the Big Sky with 73.8 points per game, even after the Vikings held them to 10 points below their scoring average last Thursday. The Thunderbirds also rank second in the conference in scoring margin (+7.12) and third in field goal percentage (.428). The Thunderbirds' offense has been remarkably balanced while leading the conference in scoring. Five different Thunderbirds average in double figures between Williamson (11.4 ppg), Dotson (10.8), Cherita Daugherty (10.8), Kinsley Barrington (10.6) and Daylani Ballena (10.2). Madelyn Eaton (8.9) and Samantha Johnson (7.5) aren't far off double figures either. Rebounding has been key in fueling the Thunderbirds' attack. They lead the conference in rebounding margin (+8.71) and offensive rebounds per game (13.9), while also ranking second in total rebounds per game (42.3). The Thunderbirds' win over the Vikings last Thursday moved them back into the top spot in the Big Sky standings at 7-1 in conference play. 
ALL-TIME SERIES: The Vikings still lead the all-time series between them and the Thunderbirds, 16-12, despite dropping Thursday's game at SUU. The Thunderbirds' victory Thursday gave them their fourth win out of their last five against the Vikings. The Vikings haven't beaten the Thunderbirds at home since they won 63-49 on Jan. 17, 2019. 
 

STORYLINES/STREAKS/RECORDS

• The Vikings went 27 days without a game. They made their return against Sacramento State on Jan. 15, then followed with four straight road games. Last Thursday's road game at Southern Utah kicked off a stretch of what will be 10 games in a span of 22 days from Jan. 27 to Feb. 17.
• The Vikings assisted on 19 of their 29 field goals Saturday against Northern Arizona, tied for their most assists since they had a season-high 23 against Dixie State on Nov. 12. The Vikings also set a season-high with 40 points in the paint against NAU while outscoring the Lumberjacks 40-20 from the inside.
• Esmeralda Morales (12.4 ppg), Savannah Dhaliwal (11.7), Jada Lewis (10.4) and Alaya Fitzgerald all average in double figures. Dhaliwal and Fitzgerald are the only two averaging in double figures in Big Sky play, however. Dhaliwal leads the Vikings with 12.4 ppg in conference games, while Fitzgerald is averaging 10.4 after scoring a career-high 23 points Saturday against Northern Arizona
• Esmeralda Morales' 12.4 points per game overall this season rank her 12th in the Big Sky, though she's averaging only 8.4 points per game in Big Sky play.
• The Vikings are just 5-of-12 (.417) from the free-throw line in their last two games, which is uncharacteristic of the Vikings, who rank second in the Big Sky and 18th in the nation with a team free throw percentage of .776. Esmeralda Morales has gone 40-of-43 (.930) from the free-throw line individually, good for second in the Big Sky and sixth in the nation. 
• The Vikings lead the Big Sky and rank 67th in the nation with a three-point field goal percentage defense of .280. Eight of the Vikings' 16 opponents this season have failed to shoot better than 30.0 percent from beyond the arc, though NAU went 11-of-19 (.579) against the Vikings Saturday.
• The Vikings are averaging 8.67 made three-pointers a game on 36.6 percent (26-of-71) shooting from the outside in their last three games. Jada Lewis leads the conference with 2.38 three-pointers made per game, while Esmeralda Morales ranks tied for ninth with 1.75 makes per game. Lewis also ranks fourth in three-point field goal percentage (.384).
• The Vikings have 21 steals combined in their last two games, and have now recorded 10+ steals in 10 of their 16 games this season. Three different Vikings rank in the top 15 of the Big Sky for steals per game, while the Vikings rank second in the Big Sky and 93rd in the NCAA with 9.13 steals per game. Esmeralda Morales and Mia 'Uhila rank third and fifth, respectively, with 2.13 and 1.93 steals per game individually. Alaya Fitzgerald ranks tied for 14th in the league with 1.31 steals per game.
• Alaya Fitzgerald scored a career-high 23 points on 9-of-12 shooting overall and 3-of-4 from three-point range in the Vikings' game against Northern Arizona Saturday. All told, she either set or tied her career-highs for points (23), field goal percentage (.750), field goals made (9), three-pointers made (3), assists (8), steals (3), and minutes played (37) in the game.
• Savannah Dhaliwal has averaged 18.5 points per game while shooting 76.2 percent (16-of-21) from the field and 71.4 percent (5-of-7) from three-point range over the Vikings' last two games. Dhaliwal has scored in double figures in all but three games this season, and was within a basket of double figures in two of the other three games. 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.
• Reilly Kelty has eight blocks combined in the Vikings' last two games, and now ranks sixth in the Big Sky with 1.21 blocks per game.
• The Vikings have started three freshmen in Esmeralda Morales, Alaya Fitzgerald and Rhema Ogele in all but one game this season. Additionally, Mia 'Uhila averages 21.4 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.

 

MONEY FROM THE LINE

The Vikings have gone 5-of-12 (.429) from the free-throw line in their last two games, an uncharacteristic dip in what has otherwise been a standout area of the Vikings' game this season. The Vikings rank second in the Big Sky and 18th in the nation with a team free-throw percentage of .776. Esmeralda Morales is 40-of-43 (.930) from the line individually, as she ranks second in the conference and sixth in the nation in free-throw percentage. Morales has a chance to break the single-season school record for free-throw percentage if she maintains that level. Eryn Jones set the current record at .911 during the 2011-12 season when she went 51-of-56 from the line.
 

STRONG PERIMETER DEFENSE

Seven of the Vikings' first 11 opponents of the season failed to shoot over 30.0 percent from three-point range, which has seen the Vikings claim the Big Sky lead and rank 67th in the nation with a three-point field goal percentage defense of .280. But that number has risen recently as two of the Vikings' last four opponents have shot better than 40.0 percent from outside. Montana went 12-of-29 (.414) against the Vikings on Jan. 20, while Northern Arizona shot 11-of-19 (.579) from the outside. The high point defensively came against cross-town rival University of Portland on Dec. 12, when the Vikings held the Pilots without a make from three-point range on 0-of-17 shooting from the outside. That game came as part of a three-game stretch in which the Vikings' opponents went a combined 4-of-50 (.080) from three-point range.
 

UP-AND-DOWN OFFENSE

The Vikings topped 50.0 percent from the field for only the third time this season while going 29-of-57 (.509) from the floor Saturday against Northern Arizona. But the Vikings also have two games out of their last five in which they've shot in the 20s. So, the offense has been up-and-down for the Vikings this season, which is typical of life with a young team. The Vikings have shown the ability to light it up with five games in which they've scored 73 points or more, but they have also failed to score more than 60 points in eight games this season. The team's three-point shooting has been in form recently. The Vikings have averaged 8.67 three-pointers made per game in their last three games while going a combined 26-of-71 (.366) from the outside. Overall, the Vikings rank fifth in the conference in both three-pointers made per game (6.94) and three-point field goal percentage (.328). Jada Lewis leads the Big Sky with 2.38 makes per game individually, and also ranks fourth in three-point field goal percentage (.384). Esmeralda Morales, meanwhile, ranks tied for ninth in the Big Sky with 1.75 makes per game.
 

THEFT ON THE WING

The Vikings have grabbed 21 steals combined in their last two games, and have now topped 10+ steals in 10 of their 16 games this season. The Vikings average 9.13 steals per game for the season, an average that ranks them second in the Big Sky and 93rd in the nation. Three different Vikings rank in the top 15 of the conference for steals per game, led by Esmeralda Morales and Mia 'Uhila who rank third and fifth, respectively, with 2.13 and 1.93 steals per game. Alaya Fitzgerald also ranks tied for 14th in the conference with 1.31 steals per game.
 

MORE OF MORALES, PLEASE

Esmeralda Morales has had to adjust to being one of the primary targets of opposing teams' defensive plans, which she's been the subject of ever since her record-breaking debut against Warner Pacific on Nov. 9. Morales tied a single-game record that has stood since 1991 with eight made three-pointers in her debut 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. Morales ranks 12th in the Big Sky with 12.4 points per game, though she's averaging only 8.4 points per game against Big Sky opponents. Morales has found other ways to contribute, however, as she ranks second in the Big Sky in free-throw percentage (.930), third in steals per game (2.13), fifth in assists per game (4.06), seventh in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.48) and tied for ninth in three-pointers made per game (1.75). 
 

JADA CAN KNOCK DOWN THE J's, DUH

Jada Lewis has hit 10 three-pointers combined over the Vikings' last three games, including a 5-of-7 performance against Montana State on Jan. 22. The performance against the Bobcats was the fourth time this season Lewis has hit five or more three-pointers in a game. The previous three times all resulted in wins for the Vikings, including two in back-to-back games against Dixie State and Prairie View A&M on Nov. 12 and 20, respectively. Lewis set a new career-high for points in both games while going a combined 13-of-21 (.619) from beyond the arc. 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 also scored over 20 points against Pepperdine on Dec. 10, when she went 5-of-7 from three-point range for 21 points. Lewis has now made at least one three-pointer in the Vikings' last 10 games, a stretch in which she's shooting 40.0 percent (24-of-60) from beyond the arc. Lewis also showed a new facet of her game against Sacramento State on Jan. 15, as she recorded her first double-double with a career-high 11 rebounds to go with 13 points. For the season, Lewis leads the Big Sky in three-pointers made per game (2.38), while ranking fourth in three-point field goal percentage (.384).
 

THE LONG-AWAITED RETURN OF SAVANNAH DHALIWAL

For someone who went 985 days between counting games, Savannah Dhaliwal has been remarkably consistent for the Vikings since making her return from back-to-back ACL tears. Dhaliwal has scored in double figures in all but three games so far this season, and was within a bucket of double figures in two of the other three games. Dhaliwal put together her best performance of the season last Thursday against Southern Utah, as she scored a season-high 21 points on 9-of-12 shooting overall and 3-of-4 from three-point range. Dhaliwal followed with 16 points on 7-of-9 shooting Saturday against Northern Arizona, giving her a two-game average of 18.5 points on 76.2 percent (16-of-21) shooting overall and 71.4 percent (5-of-7) from three-point range. Dhaliwal now leads the Vikings with 12.4 points per game in Big Sky games this season. So, it's been a dream return to play for Dhaliwal, who first tore the ACL in her right knee in the Vikings' home game against Idaho on Feb. 28, 2019. That kept her out of the entire 2019-20 season, and she re-tore her ACL in the fall of 2020, which forced her out of the entire 2020-21 season as well.
 

ROOTING FOR LAY IS A LAY-UP

Alaya Fitzgerald, nicknamed Lay, put together a career game Saturday against Northern Arizona. The freshman wing scored a career-high 23 points on 9-of-12 shooting from the field and 3-of-4 from three-point range while adding a career-high eight assists, five rebounds and three steals. The career game came as part of a strong stretch of games for Fitzgerald since the Vikings re-started their season against Sacramento on Jan. 15 following a 27-day layoff. Fitzgerald has averaged 12.8 points, 4.33 rebounds, 2.33 assists and 2.17 steals per game over the Vikings' six games since their re-start. Fitzgerald scored in double figures in the Vikings' first three games since the re-start, while Saturday's game against NAU marked the first 20-point game of her career. Fitzgerald also opened the season with four straight double-digit scoring games, a stretch that included a 17-point performance against Hawai'i on Nov. 21, when she went 5-of-11 from the field and 3-of-4 from three-point range.
 

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. 'Uhila has grabbed at least three steals in five of her 15 appearances this season. That's put 'Uhila fifth in the Big Sky with 1.93 steals per game. 'Uhila has also helped the Vikings rank second in the Big Sky and 93rd in the nation with 9.13 steals per game as a team.
 

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

Jan. 29, 2022, Northern Arizona 79, Portland State 68: The Vikings assisted on 19 of their 29 field goals, tied for their most assists since they had a season-high 23 against Dixie State on Nov. 12. Additionally, the Vikings topped 50.0 percent from the field for only the third time this season while going 29-of-57. The Vikings out-scored NAU 40-20 in the paint, with the 40 points marking a new season-high for the Vikings from the inside.
Jan. 27, 2022, Southern Utah 64, Portland State 63: Savannah Dhaliwal recorded only the second 20-point game of her career while leading the Vikings with 21 points on 9-of-12 shooting overall and 3-of-4 shooting from three-point range. The Vikings came within a late free throw with 0.8 seconds remaining of upsetting the Big Sky leaders at the time in Southern Utah.
Dec. 19, 2021, Portland State 73, Simpson 45: Every player who dressed scored for the Vikings in their game against the Red Hawks. The Vikings assisted on 19 of their 27 field goals in the game, while nine of their 12 players recorded at least one assist.
Dec. 10, 2021, Portland State 75, Pepperdine 71: The Vikings erased a 16-6 deficit early in the game while returning to form from the outside. The Vikings went 12-of-19 (.632) from three-point range after going just 9-of-48 (.188) combined over their previous three games. Jada Lewis and Esmeralda Morales both broke out of individual shooting slumps, as they tied for the game high with 21 points while going 5-of-7 and 5-of-6 from deep, respectively.
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.