Strong Recent Finishes Give Vikings Spark Heading into Road Game Thursday against Bengals

Complete game notes (PDF)

TIPOFF

How do you become an expert at something? You've got to struggle with it at first.

For the Portland State women's basketball team, that process has been on display in how the Vikings are finishing games this season. A year ago, the Vikings couldn't finish. They led or were tied in the fourth quarter of three of their last five regular-season games last season, only to lose them all. This year, the Vikings are winning all of their close games, including two last weekend over Northern Colorado and Northern Arizona by a combined nine points.

"We've experienced what it feels like to not [finish]," Portland State head women's basketball coach Chelsey Gregg said after the team's win over Northern Arizona last Saturday. "I told them at the end of the game, especially for those who are returners, I would never have wanted to go through last year, but it brought us to here. I don't think we're here and making the progress that we are without last year."

And that progress is now record-breaking. At 7-6 in Big Sky play entering Thursday's game at Idaho State (6 p.m. PT / 7 p.m. MT, the Vikings have already improved their conference win total by seven. That's the biggest year-to-year improvement in conference wins in program history. It's also tied for the third biggest year-to-year turnaround in Big Sky Conference history.

That turnaround doesn't happen if the Vikings didn't learn how to finish games, though, and they've done that time and time again. After their sweep of Northern Colorado and Northern Arizona last weekend, the Vikings are now 4-0 in Big Sky games decided by five points or less. They're also 6-3 in conference play when games are decided by 10 points or less.

Defense has led the Vikings to those strong finishes. Against Northern Arizona Saturday, the Vikings held the Lumberjacks to just 2-of-13 (.154) shooting in the fourth quarter. Two days earlier against Northern Colorado, the Vikings held the Bears without a field goal over the final 3:32 of game time.

One of the teams the Vikings closed out earlier in the season was the same Idaho State Bengals they'll face Thursday. The Bengals led the Vikings 47-42 with 3:33 remaining, but the Vikings would hold them scoreless the rest of the way while Cinco McCartney hit two clutch three-pointers to give the Vikings a 48-47 win at Viking Pavilion on Jan. 21.

For the Bengals, the loss came in the middle of a six-game losing streak following the loss of Finley Garnett for the season due to an injury. The Bengals have snapped out of that recently, splitting their last four games heading into Thursday. Idaho State picked up an impressive road split against the Montana schools last weekend, beating Montana by a point, 55-54, Thursday before losing to Montana State, 70-53, Saturday.

The win over the Lady Griz came via a fourth-quarter comeback that saw the Bengals make up a nine-point deficit early in the period. Camryn Collman completed the comeback with two clutch free throws with 0.9 seconds remaining.

The 54 points the Bengals gave up to the Lady Griz was indicative of the level of defense the Bengals have played throughout the year despite their ups and downs. The Bengals head into Thursday leading the Big Sky and ranked 38th nationally in scoring defense, as they're giving up only 57.5 points per game. The Bengals also lead the conference in both field goal percentage defense (.367) and three-point field goal percentage defense (.281).

Besides their defense, the Bengals also represent a strong rebounding team. They stand second in the Big Sky in total rebounds per game (38.9), offensive rebounds per game (13.2) and rebounding margin (+5.5). Individually, Laura Bello and Callie Bourne have led the Bengals' rebounding efforts. Bello ranks second in the Big Sky and 39th nationally with 9.3 rebounds per game, while Bourne stands ninth in the conference with 7.0 rebounds per game.

The Vikings should have the defense to match the Bengals. While the Bengals lead the Big Sky, the Vikings rank third in the conference in scoring defense. They just held NAU, the conference's top scoring offense, to a season-low 55 points – 22 points below their scoring average coming into the game.

The question Thursday will be how the Vikings respond on the glass. The last time the teams played each other, the Bengals outrebounded the Vikings by 16 (41-to-25), including a 15-to-7 advantage on the offensive glass. And while the Vikings got away with it at home, they know they can't give up that same rebounding advantage to the Bengals on the road.

Reed Gym has been a house of horrors for the Vikings in the past. The Vikings are just 1-12 in their last 13 games in Pocatello, with their lone win coming on Jan. 18, 2020.

The Vikings likely should have added a second recent road win over the Bengals last season, but let it slip through their fingers. The Vikings led 60-55 with 3:09 remaining in that one, only to see the Bengals come back and win, 67-64.

But that was last year's team. This year's team knows how to finish, and they'll want a measure of revenge for that loss when they return to Reed Gym Thursday.

GAME NOTES: PORTLAND STATE (12-11, 7-6) vs. IDAHO STATE (10-14, 5-8)

GAME DETAILS: Thursday, Feb. 16, 6 p.m. PT, Pocatello, Idaho (Reed Gym)
LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO
SCOUTING IDAHO STATE: The Idaho State Bengals have split their last four games, including a quality, 55-54 win at Montana last Thursday. The Bengals trailed by as many as nine points in the fourth quarter of that game but came back to win it on two free throws from Camryn Collman with 0.9 seconds left on the clock. The Bengals weathered a six-game losing streak earlier in Big Sky play, a stretch that included a 48-47 loss to the Vikings at Viking Pavilion on Jan. 21. The Bengals' struggles have come both on the road and at home, however. The truly bizarre statistic for a program that usually plays so well at home is that the Bengals are just 1-5 in conference home games so far this season. Still, the defense that has been a staple of the Bengals' program under head coach Seton Sobolewski has been there this season. The Bengals enter Thursday leading the Big Sky and ranked 38th nationally in scoring defense, as they're giving up only 57.5 points per game. The Bengals also lead the conference in both field goal percentage defense (.367) and three-point field goal percentage defense (.281). Besides their defense, the Bengals also represent a strong rebounding team. They stand second in the Big Sky in total rebounds per game (38.9), offensive rebounds per game (13.2) and rebounding margin (+5.5). Individually, Laura Bello and Callie Bourne have led the Bengals' rebounding efforts. Bello ranks second in the Big Sky and 39th nationally with 9.3 rebounds per game, while Bourne stands ninth in the conference with 7.0 rebounds per game. Bourne has been the do-everything player for the Bengals this season. Besides her rebounding, she also leads the Bengals while ranking seventh in the Big Sky with 14.5 points per game. Additionally, she leads the team while ranking fourth in the conference with 4.3 assists per game. Besides Bourne, Laura Bello is the only other Bengal averaging in double figures with 11.0 points per game. Finley Garnett had been averaging 11.4 points per game, but suffered a season-ending injury in the Bengals' game against Weber State on Jan. 7.
ALL-TIME SERIES: The Bengals lead the all-time series between them and the Vikings, 42-24. The Vikings' 48-47 win over the Bengals on Jan. 21 earlier this season was just the Vikings' second win in their past 24 games against the Bengals. The Vikings are 1-12 in their last 13 games in Pocatello, with their lone win coming on Jan. 18, 2020.

STORYLINES/STREAKS/RECORDS

The Vikings have won three straight games heading into Thursday, including their last five at home.
The Vikings swept Northern Colorado and Northern Arizona at home last weekend, both times pulling out close games in the fourth quarter. The Vikings held Northern Colorado without a field goal over the final 3:32 of game time while turning a tied game at 44-all with 7:51 remaining into a 56-52 win. Against Northern Arizona, the Lumberjacks took a 51-50 lead with 6:39 remaining, only to have the Vikings hold them to four points the rest of the way in a 60-55 win.
The Vikings are now 4-0 in Big Sky games decided by five points or less. They're 6-3 in conference games decided by 10 points or less.
The Vikings held NAU to just 2-of-13 (.154) shooting in the fourth quarter of their win last Saturday. The Lumberjacks were 0-of-6 from three-point range in the quarter.
At 7-6 in Big Sky play, the Vikings have improved their conference win total by seven after going 0-20 last season. The +7 improvement in wins is the biggest year-to-year improvement in school history, while it's tied for the third most in Big Sky Conference history. The conference record is +9, which four different teams have accomplished, most recently by North Dakota during the 2013-14 season.
The Vikings held Northern Arizona – the Big Sky top scoring offense at 77.5 points per game entering last Saturday – to a season-low 55 points. The Lumberjacks became the ninth different team that the Vikings have held below 60 points this season.
The Vikings are allowing just 61.9 points per game this season, ranking them third in the Big Sky and 108th nationally. That's a big improvement from a year ago, when the Vikings ranked 322nd in scoring defense while giving up close to 72 points a game.
Alaya Fitzgerald has scored 15+ points in each of the last four games. During that time, Fitzgerald is averaging 16.8 points per game on 45.5 percent shooting from the field. She is also averaging 2.25 three-pointers made per game on 34.6 percent shooting over the last four games.
Northern Colorado shot 11 more free throws (14-to-3) than the Vikings in their game last Thursday. That's been a common theme for the Vikings within Big Sky play. Conference opponents are averaging 4.4 more free throw attempts per game than the Vikings (15.2-to-10.8).
The Vikings swept Northern Colorado and Northern Arizona despite an atypically off weekend for them from three-point range. The Vikings were 11-of-44 (.250) combined from three-point range between the two games, a week after they were 20-of-40 (.500) combined against Idaho (Feb. 2) and Eastern Washington (Feb. 4). For the season, the Vikings rank second in the Big Sky and 31st in the NCAA while shooting 35.3 percent from three-point range.
Esmeralda Morales led the Vikings with 21 points in Saturday's win over Northern Arizona. It was her eighth 20-point game of the season, while she's scored in double figures in 20 of the team's 23 games. She enters this weekend ranked third in the Big Sky and 91st in the NCAA with 16.6 points per game.
Jada Lewis had a tough shooting weekend against Northern Colorado and Northern Arizona, going just 2-of-11 (.182) from three-point range between both games. That followed what had been a breakout stretch for Lewis, as she had been 14-of-27 (.519) combined over the team's previous four games. She enters this weekend ranked fifth in the Big Sky in three-pointers made per game (2.39) and sixth in three-point field goal percentage (.364).
Esmeralda Morales leads the Big Sky in three different statistical categories while she ranks in the top 15 of the conference in nine. Morales leads the conference in three-point field goal percentage (.458), three-pointers made per game (2.61) and minutes played per game (36.7). Her 45.8 percent mark is just behind the current single-season school record of 47.0 percent that P.J. Hall set during the 1993-94 season.
The Vikings rank third in the Big Sky and 108th nationally with 8.65 steals per game. However, they're averaging just 6.3 steals per game over their last seven games. Individually, Esmeralda Morales ranks second in the Big Sky and 83rd nationally with 2.13 steals per game.
Jada Lewis needs just three more three-pointers to pass Karrin Wilson (1996-2000) for fifth all time. Five more makes will see Lewis pass Claire Faucher (2006-10) for fourth 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).

YEAR-TO-YEAR IMPROVEMENTS

At 7-6 in Big Sky play, the Vikings have already improved their Big Sky win total by seven this season after going 0-20 last year. That's the best year-to-year improvement in terms of conference wins in program history. It's also tied for the third-best year-to-year improvement within Big Sky Conference history. And with five games to go in the regular season, the Vikings could still add to it.

Best Year-to-Year Improvements in Conference Wins (Big Sky History)

+Total     Team                            Year
+9           Idaho State                   1996-97
+9           Montana State             2000-01
+9           Idaho State                   2003-04
+9           North Dakota                2013-14
+8           Montana State             2019-20
+8           Southern Utah              2021-22
+8           Sacramento State         2021-22
+7           CSUN                             1997-98
+7           Eastern Washington     2009-10
+7           Montana                       2012-13
+7           Portland State              2022-23

THE CLOSERS

One of the elements that has improved the most for the Vikings in their turnaround season this year has been how they've finished games. The Vikings have repeatedly closed games out late that wouldn't have gone their way last year. Just within Big Sky play, the Vikings are 6-3 in games decided by 10 points or less, and 4-0 in games decided by five points or less. That includes two one-point wins, which came in back-to-back games against Weber State (65-64 on Jan. 19) and Idaho State (48-47 on Jan. 21). The Vikings' fourth-quarter defense has led them to many of their close wins. In the Vikings' initial breakthrough against Idaho on Jan. 7, the Vikings held the Vandals to 4-of-14 (.286) shooting while outscoring them 17-8 in the fourth quarter. Against Idaho State on Jan. 21, the Vikings held the Bengals scoreless over the final 3:33 of game time. The Vikings held Northern Colorado without a field goal over the final 3:32 of their game Thursday, while they held Northern Arizona to 2-of-13 (.154) shooting in the fourth quarter Saturday.

THREE-POINT SHOOTING

Through January, the Vikings' three-point shooting had largely been led by two players, Esmeralda Morales and Jada Lewis, who together have accounted for 115 of the Vikings' 166 made three-pointers this season. But the Vikings have seen more balance in their last four games. Four different players hit at least three three-pointers in their game against Idaho on Feb. 2, the first time that had happened this season. That balance saw the Vikings tie their season high with 13 three-pointers, which came on 48.1 percent shooting from beyond the arc. The Vikings followed up by shooting a season-high 53.8 percent (7-of-13) from three-point range against Eastern Washington last Saturday. They now rank second in the Big Sky and 31st nationally while shooting 35.3 percent from three-point range this season. They also stand fifth in the Big Sky and 76th nationally with 7.22 makes per game. Morales and Lewis still lead the Vikings individually. Morales tops the conference in both percentage and makes, while also ranking in the top 40 nationally in both categories. Morales ranks fifth in the NCAA while shooting 45.8 percent from three-point range, while she's 40th nationally with 2.61 makes per game. Morales' 45.8-percent mark is just over the current single-season school record of 47.0 percent that P.J. Hall set during the 1993-94 season. Meanwhile, Lewis ranks fifth in the Big Sky and 73rd nationally in makes per game (2.39). She also ranks sixth in the Big Sky and 94th nationally in percentage (.364). Alaya Fitzgerald – third on the team with 26 three-pointers this season – has been on fire recently. She's averaging 2.25 three-pointers made per game while shooting 34.6 percent from deep in the team's last three games.

D-FENCE, D-FENCE

A season after the Vikings ranked last in the Big Sky and 322nd in the NCAA for scoring defense, it's been almost a 180-degree turn for the Vikings' defense this season. The Vikings held Northern Arizona – the Big Sky Conference's highest scoring offense at 77.5 points per game entering its game against the Vikings – to a season-low 55 points Saturday. NAU shot just 2-of-13 (.154) in the fourth quarter, when they were also 0-of-6 from three-point range. It was the second straight strong defensive performance of the weekend for the Vikings, as they also held Northern Colorado to 52 points in a win Thursday. The weekend represented a return to form for the Viking defense, after the team's previous three opponents were averaging 78.7 points per game on 48.6 percent shooting against the Vikings. The Vikings have now held nine different opponents to under 60 points in a game. They rank third in the Big Sky and 108th nationally in scoring defense while allowing 61.9 points per game. The Vikings held Idaho to just 43 points in their first game against each other this season – a 53-43 win on Jan. 7 – the fewest points a conference opponent has scored against the Vikings since Weber State totaled 38 points on Jan. 31, 2019. Idaho State didn't score that much more in their game against the Vikings on Jan. 21, as the Vikings held them to just 47 points.

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 recorded 12 steals against Weber State on Jan. 19, as Syd Schultz, Mia 'Uhila and Esmeralda Morales all had at least three steals. As a team, the Vikings have posted 10+ steals in eight games this season, though they're averaging just 6.3 steals per game over their last seven games. The Vikings now rank third in the Big Sky and 108th in the NCAA with 8.65 steals per game. Individually, Esmeralda Morales ranks second in the Big Sky and 83rd nationally with 2.13 steals per game.

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 proved against Weber State on Jan. 19 with her game-winning three-pointer with 1.9 seconds remaining. Morales has twice scored a season-high 28 points within Big Sky play, while she's also topped 20 points against Idaho (26 points) on Feb. 2 and Northern Arizona (21 points) last Saturday. Overall, Morales is averaging 16.6 points per game this season, ranking her third in the Big Sky and 91st nationally. Morales ranks in the top 15 of the Big Sky in nine different statistical categories, including scoring, and she leads the conference in three of those nine. Morales leads the conference in three-point field goal percentage (.458), three-pointers made per game (2.61) and minutes played per game (36.7). Her three-point field goal percentage also ranks her fifth in the NCAA, while it stands just below the current single-season record of 47.0 percent that P.J. Hall set during the 1993-94 season. Additionally, Morales ranks 18th nationally in minutes played and 40th in three-pointers made per game. Outside of those categories, Morales ranks fourth in the Big Sky in field goal percentage (.460), sixth in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.29), 10th in assists per game (3.13) and 13th in free throw percentage (.776).

JADA CAN KNOCK DOWN THE J's, DUH

While she dipped last weekend, Jada Lewis had been on fire from three-point range recently. She was 2-of-11 (.182) combined from three-point range against Northern Colorado and Northern Arizona, but had been 14-of-27 (.519) from deep over the Vikings' previous four games. That streak represented a turnaround for Lewis from the start of Big Sky play, when she was just 7-of-35 (.200) over the team's first seven conference games. Lewis also had a dominant run from three-point range earlier in the season. She hit at least four three-pointers in five of the Vikings' final six non-conference games. That included a performance against Fresno State on Dec. 1 that saw her hit four three-pointers in the fourth quarter alone to help the Vikings turn back a comeback attempt from the Bulldogs. Lewis now ranks fifth in the Big Sky and 73rd nationally with 2.39 three-pointers made per game, while she stands sixth in the conference and 94th nationally in three-point field goal percentage (.364). From a career perspective, Lewis has moved up the three-point 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 181 career makes from three-point range, putting her three away from passing Karrin Wilson (1996-2000) for fifth all time, and five away from passing Claire Faucher (2006-10) for fourth all time.

ROOTING FOR LAY IS A LAY UP

Alaya Fitzgerald – nicknamed Lay – had a career game against Idaho State on Jan. 21. With her sister and her sister's boyfriend singing the national anthem before the game, Fitzgerald scored a career-high 24 points on 7-of-10 shooting from the field and 4-of-6 from three-point range. Fitzgerald's 24 points accounted for half of the Vikings' total in the game (48), while her four three-pointers also marked a new career high. Fitzgerald has followed that with a strong run of play over the team's last four games. She's scored 15+ points in each of the last four games, while she's averaging 16.8 points per game on 45.5 percent shooting overall and 2.25 three-point makes per game during that time. Fitzgerald led the Vikings with 16 points against Northern Colorado last Thursday, including the team's first eight points in the fourth quarter when the Vikings needed a spark after the Bears had tied it. She followed with 17 points Saturday against Northern Arizona, 15 of which came in the second half. Statistically, Fitzgerald now ranks second on the team with 12.0 points per game within Big Sky play. She also ranks in the top 15 of the Big Sky in three different statistical categories. She stands fifth in the conference in free throw percentage (.839), and 12th in both assists per game (2.57) and minutes played per game (32.1).

TALKIN' SHIP

Head coach Chelsey Gregg has started a series in which she interviews one of her players weekly as they walk around Viking Pavilion. Previous episodes have featured the following players on the following topics:

Alaya Fitzgerald talking about her support system and some of her viral moments on TikTok with teammate Rhema Ogele.
Syd Schultz talking about her love for Giannis Antetokounmpo – both his game and his shoes – as well as her Wisconsin roots (no wonder she loves Giannis).
Sofía Llanos talking about coming from Spain and teaching Coach Chelsey how to say "Defend The Ship" in Spanish (defiende el barco).
Cinco McCartney talking about her family (including her baby sister) back on the East Coast and her clothing line (@continued_confidence) that highlights mental health.
Paige Winter-Blanchard talking about her favorite WNBA players (Maya Moore and Breanna Stewart) as well as her Christmas morning traditions with her family.
Jada Lewis talking about her love for cooking and her "Shoot Like a Girl" clothing brand.
Marina Canzobre talking about her interest in fashion, adjusting to classes in English, and teaching Coach Chelsey how to say "Home of the Vikings" in her native language (Fogar Dos Viquingos).
Rhema Ogele talking about her biggest influence (her brother, Danny Ogele), her Chicago roots, and her favorite moment as a Viking.
Mia 'Uhila talking about her Hawaiian and Alaskan roots, the fishing and wildlife in Alaska, her pre-game routines and her sneaker game.
Esmeralda Morales talking about being co-captain of the team, who she models her game after (Sue Bird, Skylar Diggins-Smith & Diana Taurasi), and what she gets up to with her teammates outside of basketball.
Alani Encinas talking about balancing school with basketball, her favorite home-cooked meal that she misses while at school (caldo de queso), and what a day in the life looks like for her.
Reilly Kelty talking about having her family nearby, her family's pet pig Melvin, her roommates Syd and Sofía, and her game day routines.

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

Feb. 11, 2023, Portland State 60, Northern Arizona 55: The Vikings held a Northern Arizona team that came into the game leading the Big Sky while scoring 77.5 points per game to a season-low 55 points. It was the Vikings' third straight win overall and fifth straight at home.
Feb. 9, 2023, Portland State 56, Northern Colorado 52: The Vikings assisted on 20 of their 24 field goals, recording their most assists and highest assist percentage within Big Sky play this season. It was also the Vikings' fourth straight win at home.
Feb. 4, 2023, Portland State 80, Eastern Washington 71: The Vikings shot 60.4 percent for their best mark in a game since shooting 64.6 percent against Northern Arizona on Feb. 7, 2008. All eight Vikings who played shot at least 50 percent from the field. The Vikings were 8-of-10 (.800) from the field and 11-of-12 (.917) from the line in the fourth quarter alone when they outscored the Eagles, 30-22.
Feb. 2, 2023, Idaho 77, Portland State 70: The Vikings tied a season high with 13 made three-pointers. Four different players hit at least three three-pointers in the game for the first time all season.
Jan. 21, 2023, Portland State 48, Idaho State 47: The Vikings beat Idaho State at home for the first time since 2011, and just the second time in their past 24 games against the Bengals across all venues. Cinco McCartney hit back-to-back three-pointers to give the Vikings the lead for good with 1:53 remaining. The Vikings held the Bengals scoreless over the final 3:33 of game time.
Jan. 19, 2023, Portland State 65, Weber State 64: Esmeralda Morales hit a game-winning three-pointer with 1.9 seconds remaining, delivering the Vikings their third win in their past four games. The Vikings trailed 58-52 with 4:46 left in regulation after an extended 23-5 run for the Wildcats but reversed the momentum late.
Jan. 12, 2023, Portland State 78, Northern Arizona 66: A 30-point third quarter – the team's highest scoring quarter this season – led the Vikings to their second straight conference win. The Vikings shot a season-high 51.8 percent from the floor, while their 78 points were their most in a regulation game against a Division I opponent this season.
Jan. 7, 2023, Portland State 53, Idaho 43: The Vikings recorded their first conference win since March 5, 2021, while beating the Vandals. They held the Vandals to 28.6 percent shooting from the field (16-of-56), the lowest mark by a conference opponent against the Vikings since Montana shot 28.0 percent (21-of-75) on Jan. 13, 2020. Additionally, the 43 points Idaho scored were their lowest ever against the Vikings, and the lowest by any Big Sky opponent since Weber State scored 38 points on Jan. 31, 2019.
Jan. 5, 2023, Eastern Washington 65, Portland State 56: Esmeralda Morales scored 20 of the Vikings' first 29 points in the game on her way to a season-high 28 points on 11-of-17 shooting overall and 5-of-8 from three-point range.
Dec. 20, 2022, Portland State 83, Evergreen 45: The Vikings set season highs for points (83), rebounds (41), rebounding margin (+13, assists (23 on 27 field goals) and three-pointers (13) in their win over Evergreen. Nakia Boston made her return from injury in the game, playing for the Vikings for the first time in 651 days.
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.

Print Friendly Version