Complete game notes
 

TIPOFF

Home for the holidays is the theme of about a thousand different Christmas songs. There's got to be something to it then, right? The Portland State women's basketball team sure hopes so as the Vikings look to snap a mini, two-game skid with a pair of home games over the next week.
 
The Vikings host New Mexico State Saturday at 2 p.m., then close out their non-conference schedule with a home game against Evergreen next Tuesday, Dec. 20, at 6 p.m.
 
Wins in either or both games would set the Vikings up well going into Big Sky play, which gets underway on New Year's Eve when the Vikings host Sacramento State at 2 p.m.
 
The Vikings had some momentum after back-to-back wins over Utah Valley and Fresno State, but lost that a little bit following losses to Pepperdine and Portland in their last two contests.
 
Both of those schools limited the Vikings' Three-and-D identity. Both teams scored over 60 points, a benchmark the Vikings held four of their first six opponents at or under to start the season. Additionally, the Vikings were held to 11-of-38 (.289) combined from three-point range in their two recent losses, after they had started the year shooting 37.6 percent (53-of-141) through their first six games of the season.
 
Jada Lewis has continued to hit from three-point range despite the team's recent dip. She's hit four or more threes in each of the past four games and now leads the Big Sky while ranking fifth in the NCAA with 3.38 makes per game from the outside. Lewis is also in the middle of her most consistent stretch of scoring, having topped 10+ points in six straight games for the first time in her career. She now ranks 10th in the Big Sky with a career-best 13.9 points per game.
 
Esmeralda Morales ranks seventh in the Big Sky with 15.4 points per game, but she's been limited in the team's two recent losses. Morales had scored 19+ in four of the team's first six games, but both Pepperdine and Portland held her to single figures. Part of that has been defenses adjusting to Morales' outside shooting. She had been leading both the conference and the nation for three-point makes per game after hitting at least four shots from deep in five of the team's first six games. Since then, she's gone just 1-of-8 (.125) from deep against Pepperdine and Portland.
 
The Vikings could use a breakout performance from Morales to break out of their mini skid when they host New Mexico State Saturday.
 
The Aggies entered this week having lost five of their last six games, including a 68-62 loss to Idaho out of the Big Sky Conference on Dec. 4. The Aggies' one win in that stretch, however, was a 57-52 road win over San Diego on Dec. 3. That gave the Aggies a win over a team that beat the Vikings earlier this season, as the Toreros won, 57-47, at Viking Pavilion on Nov. 12.
 
Beyond head-to-head comparisons, though, the game against the Aggies represents a chance at redemption for the Vikings against a defense that forces a lot of turnovers. Portland represented just such a team when the Vikings played the Pilots last Saturday, and the Vikings did not handle the pressure well. The Pilots turned the Vikings over 16 times in the first half, while 16 of the Pilots' first 27 points came off turnovers.
 
The Aggies have forced teams into 18.9 turnovers per game this season while also ranking third in the WAC and 91st in the NCAA with a positive turnover margin of 3.11. Sylena Peterson leads the team while ranking eighth in the WAC with 2.00 steals per game. She also ranks second on the team with 10.6 points per game, just behind Molly Kaiser, who leads the Aggies with 11.0 points per game.
 
Evergreen also presents a chance for the Vikings to get some head-to-head comparisons. The Geoducks have played four teams that the Vikings have either already played or will play this season. The Geoducks beat Lewis & Clark College, 75-62, to open their season, five days after the Vikings beat the Pioneers, 91-37, in an exhibition on Nov. 3. Evergreen lost to Portland (87-35 on Nov. 30) and Boise State (91-37 on Dec. 12), two teams that also beat the Vikings though by much smaller margins. Meanwhile, the Geoducks lost to Eastern Washington out of the Big Sky Conference, 90-44, on Nov. 20.
 
The Geoducks' loss to the Eagles will provide a good peek at what's to come for the Vikings. After opening Big Sky play against the Hornets on Dec. 31, the Eagles are the next team on the schedule for the Vikings, as they come to Viking Pavilion on Jan. 5.
 
So, two wins this week would certainly boost the Vikings' confidence heading into the holiday break and Big Sky play shortly after. And it's got to help that they're home, right?
 

PROMOTIONS

Saturday's game will be Kid's Day, presented by The Barbers. The Barbers will be providing free youth t-shirts and haircut cards to the first 50 guests at each game. Additionally, there will be free activities on the concourse, as well as 100 free PSU stuffed animals for all kids in attendance.
 

GAME NOTES: PORTLAND STATE (4-4) vs. NEW MEXICO STATE (3-6)

GAME DETAILS: Saturday, Dec. 17, 2 p.m. PT, Portland, Ore. (Viking Pavilion)
LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO
SCOUTING NEW MEXICO STATE: The New Mexico State Aggies have lost five of their last six games, including a 68-62 loss to Idaho out of the Big Sky Conference on Dec. 4. However, the Aggies' one win during that stretch came over a San Diego team that beat the Vikings, 57-47, at Viking Pavilion on Nov. 12 earlier this season. The Aggies beat San Diego on the Toreros' home floor on Dec. 3, winning 57-52 behind 16 points from Sylena Peterson. Coming into the year, coaches within the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) picked the Aggies to finish 10th in the league, while media slotted them for 12th. The Aggies are coming off a season in which they went 10-19 overall and fell to Lamar in the opening round of the WAC tournament. The Aggies lost second-team All-WAC selection Bigue Sarr off of that team, but returned their next four leading scorers. One of those returners, Molly Kaiser, leads the team with 11.0 pointers per game so far this season. Peterson ranks second on the team with 10.6 points per game, a major jump from her freshman season when she averaged just 2.1 points in 21 games off the bench. Three other players average at least eight points a game between Fama Thiam (9.7), Taylor Donaldson (9.1) and Soufia Inoussa (8.1). Four different players also average at least four rebounds per game. Thiam leads the team with 4.4 rebounds per game, while Peterson (4.1), Donaldson (4.0) and Inoussa (4.0) are all above four rebounds a game as well. Statistically, the Aggies are forcing teams into 18.9 turnovers per game this season. They also rank third in the WAC and 91st in the NCAA with a positive turnover margin of 3.11. Peterson leads the team while ranking eighth in the WAC with 2.00 steals per game. The Aggies will host UTEP Tuesday night before traveling to face the Vikings Saturday.
ALL-TIME SERIES: This will be the first meeting between the Vikings and Aggies.
 

GAME NOTES: PORTLAND STATE (4-4) vs. EVERGREEN (5-1)

GAME DETAILS: Tuesday, Dec. 20, 6 p.m. PT, Portland, Ore. (Viking Pavilion)
LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO
SCOUTING EVERGREEN: The Evergreen State College Geoducks have played four opponents who the Vikings have either already played or will play this season. The Geoducks beat Lewis & Clark College, 75-62, to open their season, five days after the Vikings beat the Pioneers, 91-37, in an exhibition on Nov. 3. Evergreen lost to Portland (87-35 on Nov. 30) and Boise State (91-37 on Dec. 12), two teams that also beat the Vikings though by much smaller margins. Meanwhile, the Geoducks lost to Eastern Washington out of the Big Sky Conference, 90-44, on Nov. 20. All three of those losses counted as exhibitions for the Geoducks, however. The team's lone counting loss this season came in a Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) game to Lewis-Clark State, 61-53, on Dec. 3. Otherwise, the Geoducks have won their five other counting games, including two conference wins over Walla Walla (53-48 on Dec. 2) and Northwest University (65-60 on Dec. 9). Coming into the season, the Geoducks were picked to finish 10th in the CCC in the preseason coaches poll. The Geoducks returned last season's CCC Newcomer of the Year in Sha'nece Garrett, though she hasn't played since the team's season opener against Lewis & Clark. Monique Bungay leads the team's regular starters with 16.8 points per game, ranking her fourth in the CCC so far this season. Sydney Vanness ranks close behind her with 15.6 points per game, while Jalyn Sackrider stands third on the team with 11.3 points per game. Sackrider leads the team with 8.5 rebounds per game, an average that also ranks her fourth in the CCC. Tran Thuyvi leads the CCC with 5.4 assists per game, while she's also averaging 7.2 points and 3.8 rebounds per game. The Geoducks will play two more CCC games this weekend before facing the Vikings, as they'll travel to face Southern Oregon Friday and Oregon Tech Saturday. Tuesday's game against the Vikings will count as an exhibition for the Geoducks, even as it's a counting game for the Vikings.
ALL-TIME SERIES: This will be the first meeting between the Vikings and Geoducks.
 

STORYLINES/STREAKS/RECORDS

• Back-to-back wins over Utah Valley (73-55 on Nov. 26) and Fresno State (62-60 on Dec. 1) have been followed by back-to-back losses to Pepperdine (65-59 on Dec. 3) and Portland (71-56 on Dec. 10).
• The Vikings committed 16 first-half turnovers in their loss to Portland last Saturday. Sixteen of the Pilots' first 27 points came off turnovers as the Pilots built a double-digit lead in the first half that the Vikings couldn't overcome.
• Jada Lewis hit four three-pointers against the Pilots, the fourth straight game in which she's hit at least four shots from deep. Lewis now leads the Big Sky and ranks fifth in the NCAA with 3.38 three-pointers made per game this season.
• Besides Jada Lewis, Esmeralda Morales ranks tied for second in the Big Sky and 14th in the NCAA with 3.13 three-pointers made per game. She's just 1-of-8 combined over the Vikings' last two games, however. Morales started the year hitting at least four three-pointers in five of the team's first six games.
• Esmeralda Morales and Jada Lewis are both shooting over 40 percent from three-point range, and rank second and fourth in the Big Sky, respectively. Morales ranks second in the Big Sky and 33rd in the NCAA while shooting 47.2 percent from deep. Lewis ranks fourth in the Big Sky and 82nd in the NCAA while shooting 41.5 percent.
• As a team, the Vikings rank second in the Big Sky and 44th in the NCAA while shooting 35.8 percent from beyond the arc. They also rank sixth in the Big Sky and 51st in the NCAA with 8.00 makes per game.
• Jada Lewis has scored in double figures in six straight games, the longest such streak of her career. Her improved consistency means she's averaging a career-best 13.9 points per game this season, ranking her 10th in the Big Sky. Her previous best scoring average came last season when she averaged 10.0 points per game as a junior.
• After scoring 19 points or more in four of the Vikings' first six games of the season, Esmeralda Morales has been held to single figures in each of the past two games. Morales was shooting 36-of-72 (.500) from the field before her cold spell, but is just 4-of-19 (.211) combined in the last two games. She still leads the Vikings while ranking seventh in the Big Sky with 15.4 points per game.
• The Vikings rank second in the Big Sky and 40th in the nation with 10.9 steals per game. The Vikings have forced at least 16 turnovers in seven of their eight games, while recording at least 10 steals five times.
• The Vikings rank fourth in the Big Sky and 127th in the NCAA for scoring defense, giving up only 61.5 points per game. The Vikings have held four of their eight opponents to 60 points or under.
• Esmeralda Morales and Mia 'Uhila rank second and tied for third in the Big Sky, respectively, with 2.63 and 2.38 steals per game. Cinco McCartney ranks tied for 10th in the conference with 1.63 steals per game.
• Esmeralda Morales has played every minute of four of the team's eight games this season. She played all 45 minutes of the Vikings' 80-73 overtime win over Seattle U on Nov. 17.
• Esmeralda Morales ranks in the top 15 of the Big Sky in nine different statistical categories so far this season. Besides leading the conference in minutes played, she ranks second or tied for second in steals per game (2.63), three-point field goal percentage (.472) and three-pointers made per game (3.13).
• Alaya Fitzgerald has recorded 5+ assists in three of the Vikings' last six games and now ranks 11th in the Big Sky with 3.00 assists per game.
• Jada Lewis passed Sidney Rielly (2016-19) for sixth on the all-time career list for made three-pointers with her five makes against Fresno State on Dec. 1. Lewis now has 153 makes in her PSU career. She needs 31 more to pass Karrin Wilson (1996-2000) for fifth all time.
• The Vikings chose "competitive," "hungry," and "family" as the three words to define their 2022-23 season. The players voted on the words at their team retreat in September.
• The Vikings are coming off a 2021-22 season in which they went 5-24 overall and 0-20 in Big Sky play. The Vikings started three freshmen in all but one game last season, while four of the team's top six scorers were freshmen. Esmeralda Morales, then a freshman, led the Vikings while ranking 11th in the Big Sky with 12.5 points per game last season. Her classmates Alaya Fitzgerald, Mia 'Uhila and Rhema Ogele followed with 9.3, 6.0 and 5.2 points per game, respectively.
• Head coach Chelsey Gregg enters her second year at the helm for the Vikings. Before becoming head coach, she spent the previous six seasons as first an assistant then an associate head coach for the Vikings.
• A season after they started three freshmen, the Vikings will still be young this season as they sport 10 underclassmen between three freshmen and seven sophomores (includes redshirts).

 

THREE-POINT SHOOTING

Jada Lewis and Esmeralda Morales have taken their three-point shooting to another level this season. The pair both average over 3.00 makes per game while shooting better than 40 percent from three-point range. Lewis leads the Big Sky while ranking fifth in the NCAA with 3.38 three-pointers made per game. Morales had been leading the conference in the category. She made four or more three-pointers in five of the team's first six games, but has gone just 1-of-8 combined over the past two games. She still ranks tied for second in the Big Sky and 14th in the NCAA with 3.13 makes per game, however. Morales has the upper hand between the two in terms of percentage. She ranks second in the Big Sky and 33rd in the NCAA while shooting 47.2 percent from three-point range. Lewis, meanwhile, ranks fourth in the Big Sky and 82nd in the NCAA while shooting 41.5 percent from deep. Beyond anything, it's the consistency that has made both so potent this season. Lewis has hit at least two three-pointers in every game this season, while hitting four or more in the last four games straight. A year ago, Lewis had seven games in which she hit 4+ threes but also had 13 games in which she was held to one or less. Morales, meanwhile, already has as many games with four or more three-pointers than she had all of last season with five. As a team, the Vikings now rank second in the Big Sky and 44th nationally in three-point field goal percentage (.358), as well as sixth in the conference and 51st nationally in three-pointers made per game (8.00).
 

DE-FENSE, DE-FENSE

A season after the Vikings ranked last in the Big Sky and 322nd in the NCAA for scoring defense, they've shown vast improvements on the defensive end so far this season. Four of the Vikings' first six opponents scored 60 or less, including both Utah Valley and Fresno State in the team's back-to-back wins against them on Nov. 26 and Dec. 1, respectively. Only three teams have scored more than 70 points against the Vikings, and one of those came in an overtime game against Seattle U on Nov. 17. The Vikings now sit fourth in the Big Sky and 127th in the NCAA in scoring defense, allowing just 61.5 points per game. Strong on-the-ball defense has led the way for the Vikings. They're forcing 18.0 turnovers per game, which ranks them fourth in the Big Sky. They also rank third in the conference with a positive turnover margin of 2.00.
 

SWIPING LEFT AND RIGHT

Gen Z knows how to swipe. Not just on their phones it turns out, as the Vikings have proven so far this season. The Vikings opened the year with 22 steals against Warner Pacific on Nov. 7, the program's most steals in a single game since they also had 22 in a win over Idaho on Dec. 20, 2006. They've followed with 10+ steals in four of their next seven games, including 13 against Portland last Saturday. As a team, the Vikings now rank second in the Big Sky and 40th in the NCAA with 10.9 steals per game. Individually, Esmeralda Morales and Mia 'Uhila rank second and tied for third in the Big Sky, respectively, for steals per game, while both players also rank in the top 100 of the NCAA. Morales ranks 51st nationally with 2.63 steals per game, while 'Uhila ranks 87th with 2.38 thefts a game. Cinco McCartney joins them among the Big Sky leaders with 1.63 steals per game herself, ranking her tied for 10th in the conference.
 

MONEY FROM THE LINE

You know you're a good free throw shooting team when the player who set the single-season individual record a year ago is now shooting the lowest percentage of any of the team's five starters. That player is Esmeralda Morales, who has uncharacteristically shot 69.2 percent (18-of-26) from the line so far this season. Every other Viking starter is shooting 77.8 percent or better from the line. Alaya Fitzgerald, who hit four clutch free throws in the final minute of the Vikings' win over Fresno State on Dec. 1, ranks seventh in the Big Sky while shooting 84.2 percent from the line. The other starters haven't shot enough free throws to qualify for the rankings, but have either shot 88.9 percent (Jada Lewis, 8-of-9) or 77.8 percent (Rhema Ogele and Cinco McCartney, 7-of-9). As a team, the Vikings rank in the top 100 nationally (97th) while making 73.0 percent of their free throws.
 

MORE OF MORALES, PLEASE

Esmeralda Morales was a captain in stature if not in name last season when she led the Vikings in scoring as a freshman. Now also a captain in name, Morales has continued to play like one as she scored 19+ points in four of the team's first six games. She's dipped a bit in the team's last two games – scoring in single figures both times – but she's seventh in the Big Sky with 15.4 points per game. Morales has been elite from three-point range this season. She hit four or more three-pointers in five of the team's first six games, and shot 50.0 percent or better in all five of those games. Morales ranks tied for second in the Big Sky and 14th nationally with 3.13 three-pointers made per game. She also ranks second in the conference and 33rd nationally while shooting 47.2 percent from deep. Outside of those two categories, Morales ranks in the top 15 of the Big Sky in seven other statistical categories. That includes being the conference and national leader with 39.3 minutes played per game. She's played every minute of four of the team's eight games this season, including all 45 minutes of the Vikings' overtime win over Seattle U on Nov. 17. Additionally, Morales ranks seventh in the Big Sky for points per game (15.4), ninth in field goal percentage (.440), tied for ninth in assists per game (3.25), 15th in free throw percentage (.692), second in steals per game (2.63) and eighth in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.18).
 

JADA CAN KNOCK DOWN THE J's, DUH

Head coach Chelsey Gregg said Jada Lewis has ice in her veins after she hit four three-pointers in the fourth quarter to lead the Vikings past Fresno State on Dec. 1. But Lewis' heroics against the Bulldogs were just the latest example. She also came up big late in the Vikings' game against Seattle U on Nov. 17, converting a four-point play with 23.9 seconds left to force overtime. It's the consistency from Lewis this season that has made her so potent. She's scored in double figures in six straight games, the longest such streak of her career. That's led to her averaging a career-best 13.9 points per game, ranking her 10th in the Big Sky for scoring. She's also hit at least two three-pointers in every game this season, including at least four in the past four games. Her consistency means she now leads the Big Sky and ranks fifth in the NCAA with 3.38 three-pointers made per game. She also ranks fourth in the conference and 82nd nationally while shooting 41.5 percent from three-point range. Lewis' consistent play has seen her move up the career rankings at Portland State this season. She passed Sidney Rielly (2016-19) for sixth in career three-pointers during the win over Fresno State. She now has 153 career makes from three-point range, and needs 31 more to pass Karrin Wilson (1996-2000) for fifth all time.
 

ROOTING FOR LAY IS A LAY-UP

Alaya Fitzgerald, nicknamed Lay, scored a season-high 18 points against Pepperdine on Dec. 3, while adding five rebounds and five assists. The assists have been one of Fitzgerald's biggest contributions to the Vikings this season. Over the team's last six games, she's posted 5+ assists three times and leads the team with 21 helpers during that stretch. She now ranks 11th in the Big Sky with 3.00 assists per game this season, and also ranks seventh in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.20). Additionally, Fitzgerald ranks seventh in the conference in free throw percentage (.842) and 14th in minutes played per game (31.9). From a scoring perspective, Fitzgerald has scored in double figures in three of the team's last five games after not doing so over the team's first three games. She now ranks third on the team with 8.3 points per game to go with her 3.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game.
 

YOUTHFUL ROSTER

A season after the Vikings started three freshmen in all but one game, the Vikings will again have a youth-heavy roster this season. Ten of the team's 15 players enter the year as underclassmen between three freshmen and seven sophomores (including redshirts). Last year's freshmen – Alaya Fitzgerald, Esmeralda Morales, Rhema Ogele and Mia 'Uhila – got plenty of experience last season, but they'll still only be sophomores. Sophomore transfers Sofía Llanos and Paige Winter-Blanchard will join them as underclassmen this season, while Nakia Boston also returns as a redshirt sophomore after sitting all of last season with an ankle injury. Additionally, the Vikings brought in three freshmen in Alani Encinas, Brooklyn Strandy and Kiana Yesiki, all of whom could see time for the Vikings this season.
 

PRESEASON PREDICTIONS

Last season's struggles shaped the preseason expectations for the Vikings among Big Sky coaches and media members. The Vikings were picked to finish last in the conference by both groups, while last year's tournament champion Montana State was picked to finish first in both polls. The Vikings returned five of their top six scorers from a year ago, however, between Esmeralda Morales (12.5 points per game), Jada Lewis (10.0 ppg), Alaya Fitzgerald (9.3 ppg), Mia 'Uhila (6.0 ppg) and Rhema Ogele (5.2 ppg). This year's roster also features a full 15 players, including six newcomers between three freshmen – Alani Encinas, Brooklyn Strandy and Kiana Yesiki – and three transfers – Sofía Llanos (from Marshall), Cinco McCartney (from Northeastern) and Paige Winter-Blanchard (from Centralia/William Jessup).
 

SEASON HIGHLIGHTS

Dec. 1, 2022, Portland State 62, Fresno State 60: Jada Lewis hit four three-pointers in the fourth quarter after Fresno State took its only lead of the game. Lewis and Esmeralda Morales both hit five three-pointers in the game while matching each other with 19 points to lead the way.
Nov. 26, 2022, Portland State 73, Utah Valley 55: The Vikings avenged a 19-point loss to Utah Valley last season with an 18-point win over the Wolverines on the same weekend of the calendar, Thanksgiving Saturday. Esmeralda Morales went a perfect 5-of-5 from three-point range, while she and teammate Jada Lewis combined to go 9-of-13 from deep.
Nov. 17, 2022, Portland State 80, Seattle U 73: The Vikings erased a five-point deficit with 38 seconds remaining thanks in part of a four-point play by Jada Lewis that tied the game with 25 seconds remaining. It was the Vikings' first road win since the end of the 2020-21 regular season, and their first overtime win since Jan. 7, 2021.
Nov. 7, 2022, Portland State 67, Warner Pacific 40: The Vikings recorded 22 steals for their most steals in a single game since Dec. 20, 2006. They also assisted on their first 19 field goals in the game, while finishing with 20 assists on 22 field goals.