OGDEN, Utah — A month ago, the Portland State women's basketball team engineered a late comeback against Weber State, as Esmeralda Morales hit a game-winning three-pointer with 1.9 seconds remaining. Facing the Wildcats again Saturday, this time at Dee Events Center, the Vikings couldn't conjure the same late-game magic, falling 62-55.
 
A cold fourth quarter ended up costing the Vikings. Portland State had been finishing games well this season, but the Vikings shot just 4-of-18 (.222) from the field in the fourth quarter, while Weber State closed the game on an 11-2 run.
 
The Vikings (12-13, 7-8 Big Sky) went on their own 6-0 run to take a 51-48 lead earlier in the fourth. A second-chance three-pointer from Alaya Fitzgerald put the Vikings up 49-48, while a layup from Rhema Ogele on the next possession stretched the lead to three with seven minutes remaining.
 
But the Vikings would hit just one more field goal the rest of the way, as the Wildcats (6-21, 2-13 Big Sky) controlled the endgame.
 
"Kudos to Velaida [Weber State head coach Velaida Harris] and staff for getting their team ready to go," Portland State head women's basketball coach Chelsey Gregg said afterwards. "They had players step up big for them.
 
"We didn't listen and trust each other today. We'll take tomorrow off and then be back Monday to get ready for the week."
 
Fitzgerald and Jada Lewis tried to get the Vikings over the hump Saturday, as they combined for 36 of the Vikings' 55 points. Lewis tied her season high with 20 points while shooting 8-of-16 from the floor and 4-of-8 from three-point range.
 
Lewis hit two shots from deep in the third quarter, the second of which gave the Vikings a 35-33 lead as the teams seesawed back and forth.
 
Fitzgerald added a three-pointer a little later, while Sofía Llanos hit another that gave the Vikings a 43-38 lead with three minutes remaining in the period.
 
But the Vikings could never distance themselves from the Wildcats Saturday. Their largest lead of the game stood at just six points, which remained the largest lead for either team until the final margin.
 
True to form, Weber State immediately responded to Llanos' three with an 8-0 run to close the third quarter. The Vikings seesawed back in front behind Fitzgerald's three and Ogele's layup early in the fourth quarter, but the Wildcats claimed the final momentum shift with their 11-2 run to finish.
 
Besides Lewis, Fitzgerald added 16 points on 6-of-13 shooting, the fifth time in the Vikings' past six games that she's scored 15+. Esmeralda Morales chipped in 10 points, but the majority of that came from the free throw line.
 
The Vikings struggled from the field outside of Lewis and Fitzgerald. While those two combined to go 14-of-29 (.483) from the field, the rest of the Vikings were just 5-of-26 (.192) Saturday.
 
Weber State countered by shooting 46.7 percent (21-of-45) from the floor. The Wildcats also owned a 38-to-27 advantage on the glass, which didn't lead to a lot of second-chance points (6) but did limit the Vikings to one shot mostly in a tough shooting game.
 
The loss means the Vikings will be in a tricky battle over the final week of the regular season for one of the top six seeds at the Big Sky tournament. The No. 3-6 seeds at the tournament don't play until quarterfinals on Monday, March 6, while the No. 7-10 seeds play Saturday, March 4. The Vikings were in position for a top-six seed before this weekend, but now need to finish strong next week in order to secure a bye into the quarterfinals.
 
"This road trip isn't indicative of our potential as a team. However, we have to choose to change our trajectory and commit to doing things together. I'm proud of the progress we've made this season, but consistency is an area where we can continue to grow in," Gregg said.
 
"I'm glad for the opportunity to be back at home for two of the last three."
 
The final push for a top-six seed starts Thursday (6 p.m. tip), when the Vikings host Montana at Viking Pavilion. The Vikings then host Montana State Saturday, Feb. 25 (1 p.m. tip), before closing the regular season at Sacramento State Monday, Feb. 27 (7 p.m. tip).
 
So, even if the Vikings didn't finish strong Saturday, a strong finish to the regular season is still in play.
 
Game Notes: The Vikings' all-time series against the Wildcats is now tied at 31-all…Lewis' four three-pointers Saturday moved her into fourth place all time in career three-pointers made at Portland State…The Vikings are now 2-6 on the road in Big Sky games this season, compared to a 5-2 record at home…Morales hit the shot of the game Saturday despite the loss, banking home a half-court shot that beat the first-quarter buzzer.