Close Game All But Guaranteed, Vikings Look to Send Seniors Out with Win over Montana State Saturday

Complete game notes (PDF)

TIPOFF

Fans were encouraged not to come to Thursday's game between Portland State and Montana due to the winter weather outside Viking Pavilion. Still, several Portland State student-athletes – already on campus and with nothing to do – found their way to the Pavilion.

And boy, did they get treated to one of the best games of the season as the Vikings made up a four-point deficit with 11.6 seconds remaining in regulation to force overtime. Cinco McCartney banked in the tying three-pointer with no time left on the clock, while Esmeralda Morales added the go-ahead three-pointer with 25.0 seconds left in overtime that put the Vikings up for good.

The hope is that more fans can make it safely to Viking Pavilion Saturday, as the Vikings play their final home game of the regular season against Montana State at 1 p.m. The Vikings will honor seniors Marina Canzobre, Jada Lewis and Syd Schultz before the game, while an alumane event will happen at Rogue Hall after the game.

The Vikings can now almost guarantee that all fans, whether they're alums of the program or not, will be treated to a close game. While the Vikings have won six in a row at home, the last five have come by a combined margin of only 13 points. That includes Thursday's two-point overtime win over Montana, as well as back-to-back one-point wins over Weber State (65-64 on Jan. 19) and Idaho State (48-47 on Jan. 21).

That recent history had to give the Vikings confidence going into the late stages against Montana. The Vikings never led at any point in the second half, while McCartney's tying three as the buzzer sounded in regulation was also the only tie in the entire second half. The Vikings also trailed in the final minute of overtime until Morales' late three put them up for good.

That closing ability is a major reason why the Vikings have now won eight more Big Sky games than they did last season. That +8 improvement stands as the best year-to-year turnaround for conference wins in program history, while it's tied for the second-best ever in Big Sky Conference history. The conference record stands at +9, set by four different teams, so the Vikings could tie that with a win over the Bobcats Saturday.

A win over the Bobcats would also go a long way towards helping the Vikings' potential seed at the Big Sky tournament. Currently, while the Vikings are tied with Idaho for sixth in the Big Sky standings, they would be seeded seventh if the tournament started today. The difference between being the sixth and seventh seeds is a major one, too, as the top six seeds receive a bye into the quarterfinals of the tournament, while the No. 3-6 seeds don't have to play until Monday, March 6. Should the Vikings fall to the seventh seed, however, they would have to play in the first round on Saturday, March 4.

Idaho holds the tiebreaker over the Vikings at the moment due to an earlier win over Montana State. But the Vikings can erase that advantage should they pick up a win over the Bobcats on Saturday. If they do that, then it goes to each team's record against the other top teams in the conference, in which case the Vikings' 2-0 record against Northern Arizona could come in play.

But the first step comes with a win over the Bobcats, and that will be no easy feat. The Bobcats will have plenty to play for themselves Saturday. They let a chance to clinch at least a share of the Big Sky regular-season title slip away Thursday as Sacramento State beat them 82-73. The Bobcats could still clinch that Saturday, however, with a win over the Vikings.

The loss to the Hornets snapped a run of nine wins in the Bobcats' previous 10 games, a stretch that included a 64-52 win over the Vikings in Bozeman on Jan. 26 earlier this season. A large free throw discrepancy helped the Bobcats in that win. While Montana State shot 20 free throws in the game, the Vikings only garnered two free throw attempts, and those didn't come until midway through the fourth quarter.

Still, the Vikings led 35-31 midway through the third quarter of that game, but a big second half from the Bobcats the featured runs of 16-2 and 12-2 closed out the Vikings. The Vikings held preseason Big Sky MVP Darian White to just eight points on 2-of-10 shooting in that game, but the Bobcats countered with their depth that saw six different players score at least seven points. Kola Bad Bear led the way for the Bobcats with 17 points.

The Vikings answered with 11 points each from Morales and Lewis. Alaya Fitzgerald added nine points, but none of the Vikings' three leading scorers shot better than 33.3 percent in the game.

Shoot better and even out the free throw discrepancy Saturday, and the Vikings will give themselves a chance. Of course, after Thursday and the four other recent narrow victories, a close game at Viking Pavilion seems all but guaranteed.

GAME NOTES: PORTLAND STATE (13-13, 8-8) vs. MONTANA STATE (19-9, 12-4)

GAME DETAILS: Saturday, Feb. 25, 1 p.m. PT, Portland, Ore. (Viking Pavilion)
LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO
SCOUTING MONTANA STATE: The Montana State Bobcats had a chance to clinch at least a share of the Big Sky regular-season title Thursday night, but lost 82-73 on the road to Sacramento State. The Bobcats trailed by 22 early in the fourth quarter, but a 14-0 run made it an eight-point game with three and a half minutes remaining. They didn't get any closer than seven points the rest of the way, however. The Bobcats can now clinch a share of the regular-season title Saturday with a win over the Vikings. The loss to the Hornets snapped a four-game winning streak, as well as ending a stretch in which they had won nine of their last 10 games. That stretch included a 64-52 win over the Vikings in Bozeman on Jan. 26 earlier this season. The Bobcats were helped by a large free throw discrepancy in that game. While Montana State shot 20 free throws, the Vikings only had two and those didn't come until midway through the fourth quarter. Free throw shooting has been a frequent advantage for the Bobcats over their opponents this season. They come into Saturday's game leading the Big Sky while ranking 13th nationally in free throw percentage, as they're shooting 78.4 percent as a team from the line. The Bobcats also rank second in the Big Sky and 47th in the nation with 14.3 free throws made per game. The Bobcats have also frequently won the turnover battle within games, as they did the last time they played the Vikings when they forced 19 turnovers from PSU compared to just 13 for themselves. The Bobcats come into Saturday ranked second in the Big Sky and 45th nationally with 3.82 turnovers forced per game. They only give up 13.4 turnovers per game themselves, a total that ranks them third in the conference and 34th in the nation. Individually, preseason Big Sky MVP Darian White leads the way, averaging team bests for points (13.9), rebounds (5.5) and assists (3.7) per game. White also ranks third in the Big Sky and 75th in the nation with an assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.87. The Vikings held White to only eight points on 2-of-10 shooting the first time they played the Bobcats. Montana State countered with its depth distribution, however, as six different players scored at least seven points. Kola Bad Bear led the way with 17 points on 7-of-13 shooting. Bad Bear ranks second on the team with 10.0 points per game to go with 4.4 rebounds per game this season. Leia Beattie and Lexi Deden rank third and fourth on the team, respectively, with 9.7 and 8.6 points per game.
ALL-TIME SERIES: The Bobcats lead the all-time series between them and the Vikings, 41-30. The Bobcats have won six of their last seven games against the Vikings, including a 64-52 win in Bozeman on Jan. 26 earlier this season. The Vikings' last win in the series came on Jan. 16, 2021, via a 72-70 win at Viking Pavilion.

STORYLINES/STREAKS/RECORDS

The Vikings erased a four-point deficit with 11.6 seconds remaining against Montana Thursday, tying the game on a three-pointer from Cinco McCartney as time expired. Esmeralda Morales then hit the go-ahead three-pointer with 25.0 seconds left in overtime, as the Vikings won 74-72.
Thursday's win over Montana was the Vikings' sixth straight win at home, the team's longest home winning streak since they won 11 in a row between the 2017-18 and 2018-19 season.
The Vikings' last five wins at home have been by a combined margin of only 13 points. That included Thursday's two-point overtime win over the Lady Griz, as well as two one-point wins against Weber State and Idaho State on Jan. 19 and 21, respectively.
The Vikings are 5-0 in Big Sky games decided by five points or less this season, while they're 7-4 in conference games decided by 10 points or less.
At 8-8 in Big Sky play, the Vikings have improved their conference win total by eight after going 0-20 last season. The +8 improvement is the biggest year-to-year turnaround in school history, while it's tied for the second biggest in Big Sky Conference history. The conference record is +9, which four different teams have accomplished, most recently North Dakota during the 2013-14 season.
The Vikings were outrebounded by Montana Thursday, but only by two (46-44). That's a win for the Vikings considering Idaho State and Weber State had outrebounded the Vikings by a combined margin of 30 the previous weekend. The Vikings turned 16 offensive rebounds into 19 second-chance points Thursday against the Lady Griz.
The Vikings have held 10 different teams to under 60 points this season, including five times in Big Sky play.
The Vikings are allowing just 62.2 points per game this season, ranking them third in the Big Sky and 120th 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.
Opponents have consistently shot more free throws than the Vikings this season. Within Big Sky play, opponents are averaging 15.3 free throw attempts per game to just 10.9 for the Vikings. Thirteen of the Vikings' 16 Big Sky opponents have shot more free throws than the Vikings. The Vikings are 3-0 within Big Sky play when shooting more free throws than their opponent.
The Vikings hit 10 three-pointers as a team Thursday, including the massive ones at the end of regulation and in overtime. Overall this season, the Vikings rank second in the Big Sky and 39th nationally for three-point field goal percentage (.350), while they also rank fifth in the conference and 68th nationally with 7.38 three-pointers made per game.
Cinco McCartney set career highs for points (15) and rebounds (12) in addition to hitting the game-tying three-pointer at the end of regulation. McCartney finished as a plus-18 in the plus/minus category, making her by far the biggest difference maker in the game.
Esmeralda Morales led all scorers with 27 points Thursday, 20 of which she scored in the second half and overtime. Morales has scored 20+ points in nine games this season, including five times in Big Sky play. She ranks fourth in the Big Sky with 16.3 points per game, the highest scoring average by a Viking since Ashley Bolston averaged 16.6 points per game, respectively, during the 2017-18 season.
Alaya Fitzgerald was held without a field goal Thursday, but had scored 15+ points in five of the Vikings' previous six games. Fitzgerald ranks second on the team with 11.3 points per game within Big Sky play.
Jada Lewis moved up two spots in the PSU record book last weekend for career three-pointers made. Lewis went 6-of-12 combined between the Vikings' games at Idaho State and Weber State, and followed that up with four makes from three-point range Thursday. Lewis now ranks fourth all time with 191 made three-pointers in her career. She needs eight more to pass former teammate Kylie Jimenez (2017-21) for third all time.
Esmeralda Morales ranks in the top 15 of the Big Sky Conference in nine different statistical categories while she leads the league in minutes played per game (36.9). She ranks second or tied for second in three other categories between steals per game (2.12), three-point field goal percentage (.436) and three-point field goals made per game (2.50).
Jada Lewis and Esmeralda Morales rank tied for second in the Big Sky with 2.50 three-pointers made per game.
The Vikings rank third in the Big Sky and 118th nationally with 8.42 steals per game. However, they're averaging just 6.2 steals per game over their last nine games. Individually, Esmeralda Morales and Mia 'Uhila rank second and fifth in the Big Sky, respectively, with 2.12 and 1.75 steals per game individually.
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 8-8 in Big Sky play, the Vikings have already improved their Big Sky win total by eight this season after going 0-20 last year. That's the best year-to-year turnaround in conference wins in program history. It's also tied for the second-best turnaround in Big Sky Conference history. With a win over Montana State Saturday, the Vikings could tie the conference record, which stands at +9. Four different teams have improved by nine conference wins year-to-years, most recently North Dakota during the 2013-14 season.

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
+8           Portland State              2022-23
+7           CSUN                             1997-98
+7           Eastern Washington     2009-10
+7           Montana                       2012-13

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. Thursday's overtime win over Montana may have been the best illustration of that. The Vikings trailed by eight with less than four minutes left and made up a four-point deficit with 11.6 seconds remaining. The win left the Vikings 5-0 in Big Sky games decided by five points or less, as well as 7-4 in conference games decided by 10 points or less. The Vikings' last five wins at home have come by a combined margin of just 13 points. That includes Thursday's two-point overtime win over Montana, as well as back-to-back one-point wins over 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, they 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 on Feb. 9, while they held Northern Arizona to 2-of-13 (.154) shooting in the fourth quarter on Feb. 11. Thursday night, the Vikings held Montana to 6-of-23 (.261) shooting between the fourth quarter and overtime.

HOME SWEET HOME

The Ship has been sweet this season. The Vikings haven't lost at home since initially breaking through with a win over Idaho on Jan. 7. That's a run of six straight wins for the Vikings at home, including Thursday night's 74-72 overtime win over Montana. The Vikings' six-game home winning streak represents the program's longest home winning streak since they won 11 in a row between the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons. The team's last five home wins have come by a combined margin of just 13 points, a stretch that has included several big shots late. Esmeralda Morales hit a go-ahead three-pointer with 1.9 seconds remaining in the Vikings' 65-64 home win over Weber State. Morales also hit a go-ahead three-pointer with 25.0 seconds remaining that put the Vikings up for good in their overtime win over Montana Thursday. Of course, Morales only had the opportunity to hit that shot in overtime thanks to Cinco McCartney's banked-in three-pointer as time expired in regulation. Several of the team's recent home wins have come against opponents that have tormented the Vikings in the past. The Vikings' win over Idaho marked just the third time the Vikings had beaten the Vandals in their past 20 games against each other. Meanwhile, the Vikings beat Idaho State for just the second time in their past 24 games, while their win over Northern Colorado was just their second in their last 16 games.

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 130 of the Vikings' 192 made three-pointers this season. But the Vikings have seen more balance since the beginning of February. Four different players hit at least three three-pointers in their game against Idaho on Feb. 2, the first time that had happened all 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. Against Idaho State last Thursday, the Vikings went 8-of-18 (.444) from three-point range against the best three-point shooting defense within the Big Sky. The Vikings now rank second in the Big Sky and 39th nationally while shooting 35.0 percent from three-point range this season. That would go down as the fourth-best single-season percentage by the Vikings during the program's Division I era. Morales and Lewis still lead the way individually. The pair rank tied for second in the Big Sky with 2.50 three-pointers made per game each. Morales also ranks second in the conference in percentage, having made 43.6 percent of her shots from three-point range this season. That mark also ranks her 12th nationally in the category, while it would rank third all time at Portland State if the season ended today. Lewis, meanwhile, ranks seventh in the Big Sky at 36.9 percent from three-point range. Alaya Fitzgerald – third on the team with 30 three-pointers this season – had been on fire until being held without a field goal Thursday. Despite the off night against the Lady Griz, Fitzgerald is still averaging 1.86 three-pointers made per game over the team's last seven 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 on Feb. 11. NAU shot just 2-of-13 (.154) in the fourth quarter, when the Lumberjacks were also 0-of-6 from three-point range. Three of the Vikings' last five opponents have scored fewer than 60 points against the Vikings, and the lone exception is Weber State. All told, the Vikings have held 10 opponents to under 60 points this season, including five times in Big Sky play. The Vikings now rank third in the Big Sky and 120th nationally in scoring defense while allowing just 62.2 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 first 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. As a team, the Vikings have posted 10+ steals in eight games this season, though they're averaging just 6.2 steals per game over their last nine games. The Vikings now rank third in the Big Sky and 121st in the NCAA with 8.42 steals per game. Individually, Esmeralda Morales and Mia 'Uhila rank second and fifth in the Big Sky, respectively, with 2.12 and 1.75 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's proven time and time again. Morales now has a pair of big-time shots late in wins for the Vikings this season. Her go-ahead three-pointer with 25.0 seconds remaining Thursday against Montana put the Vikings up for good. She also hit a game-winning three-pointer with 1.9 seconds remaining against Weber State on Jan. 19. Outside of those big shots, Morales has scored 20+ points five times in Big Sky play and nine times overall this season. That includes a game-high 27 points Thursday against Montana, 20 of which came in the second half or overtime. Morales has also twice scored a season-high 28 points within Big Sky play, the first time coming against Eastern Washington on Jan. 5, while the second came against Northern Arizona on Jan. 12. Overall, Morales is averaging 16.3 points per game this season, ranking her fourth in the Big Sky Conference. That's the highest scoring average by a Viking since current assistant coach Ashley Bolston averaged 16.6 during the 2017-18 season. But Morales has been about more than just her scoring this season. She ranks in the top 15 of the Big Sky in nine different statistical categories, including scoring. Morales leads the conference in minutes played per game (36.9), while she ranks second or tied for second in three other categories between steals per game (2.12), three-point field goal percentage (.436) and three-pointers made per game (2.50). Outside of those categories, Morales ranks fourth in field goal percentage (.449), seventh in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.27), 10th in assists per game (3.08) and 12th in free throw percentage (.778).

JADA CAN KNOCK DOWN THE J's, DUH

Jada Lewis has been sure to leave her mark on the Viking record book during what could be her final season on the Park Blocks. The senior passed two players in the all-time top 10 for career three-pointers made last weekend. She now ranks fourth on the career list with 191 made three-pointers after knocking down another four Thursday night in the win over Montana. She could still pass one more this season, as she needs eight more makes to pass former teammate Kylie Jimenez (2017-21) for third all time. Within this season, Lewis has 65 made three-pointers, ranking her tied for sixth on the single-season top 10 list at Portland State. She ranks tied for second in the Big Sky with 2.50 three-pointers made per game, an average that also ranks her 59th nationally. She sits seventh in the Big Sky for three-point field goal percentage at .369. Lewis has had a couple periods of lights-out shooting this season. Last weekend, Lewis went 6-of-12 (.500) combined from three-point range in the Vikings' games against Idaho State and Weber State. Earlier in the season, she was 14-of-27 (.519) from deep over the team's four games from Jan. 26 to Feb. 4. She also hit at least four three-pointers in five of six games from Nov. 26 to Dec. 20. 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.

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 recently. While she was held without a field goal Thursday, Fitzgerald had scored 15+ points in five of the team's previous six games. Additionally, she often stepped up in key moments during that recent run. Against Northern Colorado on Feb. 9, Fitzgerald scored 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 15 second-half points against Northern Arizona on Feb. 11, leading the Vikings back from a halftime deficit to win, 60-55. Fitzgerald now ranks second on the team with 11.3 points per game within Big Sky play. She also ranks 12th in the Big Sky in minutes played per game (32.3) and 14th in assists per game (2.42) across all games this season.

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.
Brooklyn Strandy talking about her freshman year, living in the city, her drip, and her future career plans (Athletic Trainer for the Chicago Bears).
Nakia Boston talking about growing up in the PNW, her cat Nova, her injury battles, and how her dad has supported her through it all.

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. 23, 2023, Portland State 74, Montana 72 (OT): Cinco McCartney banked in a three-pointer with no time left in regulation, sending the game to overtime as the Vikings made up a four-point deficit with 11.6 seconds remaining. Esmeralda Morales then hit a go-ahead three-pointer with 25.0 seconds remaining that put the Vikings up for good.
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.

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