Let the Madness Begin! Vikings Open Big Sky Tournament Saturday against Idaho State

Complete game notes (PDF)

TIPOFF

The local pronunciation of Boise is boy-see. Not boy-zee. If nothing else helps you remember that, the Portland State women's basketball team hopes to help by sparking every fan at this week's Big Sky tournament to say, "boy, see those Vikings play!"

The start of the tournament at Boise's Idaho Central Arena represents the start of a new season for the Vikings, as they open the tournament Saturday with a first-round matchup against eighth-seeded Idaho State (Tipoff: 1:30 p.m. PT / 2:30 p.m. MT).

The Vikings will gladly take the opportunity for a new beginning. While they finished the regular season 8-10 in Big Sky play for an eight-win improvement over their conference win total last season, they come into the tournament having won just one of their last five games. That one was a doozy – a 74-72 overtime win over Montana in which the Vikings erased a four-point deficit with 11.6 seconds remaining in regulation – but the Vikings will want to show they can do more at the tournament.

The areas of struggle for the Vikings recently haven't been a secret. In the team's four recent losses, opponents have outrebounded the Vikings by 10 or more each time. Additionally, the Vikings haven't scored more than 55 points in any of their four recent losses. That includes a season-low 34 points against Montana State on Feb. 25.

But the Vikings also head into the tournament with certain advantages. The postseason always seems to feature close games, after all, and the Vikings were excellent in close games during the Big Sky season. Their overtime win over Montana left them 5-0 in Big Sky games decided by five points or less, while they were also 7-4 in conference games decided by 10 points or less.

One of those close wins came over the same Idaho State team they'll face in the first round Saturday. The Vikings beat the Bengals 48-47 at Viking Pavilion on Jan. 21, going ahead behind two late three-pointers from Cinco McCartney. The Viking defense held the Bengals scoreless over the final 3:33 of game time, as the Vikings came back from five points down late.

The Bengals got the better of the Vikings the second time around. Idaho State beat the Vikings 59-43 in Pocatello, Idaho, on Feb. 16, a loss that kicked off the Vikings' run of four losses in their last five games of the regular season. The Bengals outrebounded the Vikings 19 in that game (41-to-22), while the Vikings' 43 points represented a new season low for them at the time.

So, the teams are even heading into Saturday's rubber match.

One thing that seems like a guarantee for Saturday is a low-scoring game. The Vikings didn't top 50 points in either game against the Bengals, while Idaho State only averaged 53 points between both games.

What scoring does come from the Bengals will likely either come directly from or be sparked by Callie Bourne. The fifth-year senior does a little bit of everything for the Bengals as she's averaging 15.7 points, 6.8 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game this season. Bourne ranks in the top 10 of the Big Sky in all three categories as a result, while she also ranks sixth in the conference for field goal percentage (.402).

Laura Bello fuels the Bengals' strong rebounding numbers. She finished the regular season on top of the Big Sky with 9.4 rebounds per game, while she also ranked 37th nationally in the category.

Bourne and Bello both played well in the Bengals' two previous games against the Vikings this season. Bourne scored a game-high 22 points to go with nine rebounds and four assists in the Bengals' 59-43 win over the Vikings. Additionally, she finished one assist away from a triple-double in the Bengals' 48-47 loss to the Vikings, as she totaled 12 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists. Bello, meanwhile, recorded double-doubles in both games between 11 points and 15 rebounds on Jan. 21, and then 10 points and 11 rebounds on Feb. 16.

No player scored in double figures for the Vikings in their second game against the Bengals this season. However, Alaya Fitzgerald had a monster game in their victory over the Bengals earlier in the year. 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 heads into the Big Sky tournament having scored 15+ points in seven of the team's last nine games. She's also averaging 2.11 three-pointers made per game on 36.5 percent shooting from the outside during that stretch.

The Bengals held leading scorer Esmeralda Morales to single digits both times the Vikings played them. Morales only missed scoring in double figures five times this season, so the Bengals owning two of those five is quite the feat. Jada Lewis, the team's second-leading scorer, also didn't crack 10 points in either game.

But that was the regular season. The start of the Big Sky tournament Saturday represents the start of a new season, and a third meeting against the Bengals means things are likely to be different.

It's up to the Vikings to make sure it's different in a way that suits them.

GAME NOTES: PORTLAND STATE (13-15, 8-10) vs. IDAHO STATE (11-18, 6-12)

GAME DETAILS: Saturday, March 4, 1:30 p.m. PT / 2:30 p.m. MT, Boise, Idaho (Idaho Central Arena)
LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO
SCOUTING IDAHO STATE: The Idaho State Bengals come into the Big Sky tournament having lost their last four games of the regular season. Coincidentally, their last win was a 59-43 victory over the Vikings in Pocatello on Feb. 16. That game capped a run of three wins in five games for the Bengals, which immediately followed another six-game losing streak. One of the Bengals' losses in that six-game losing streak was a 48-47 loss to the Vikings at Viking Pavilion on Jan. 21. Despite the up-and-down nature of their season, the Bengals still rank as one of the best defenses in the Big Sky this season. They finished the regular season leading the conference in scoring defense (57.8) and field goal percentage defense (.375), while they also rank second in the conference in three-point field goal percentage defense (.305). The Bengals have also been a strong rebound team this season. They rank second in the Big Sky in total rebounds per game (38.0), rebounding margin (+4.6) and offensive rebounds per game (12.7). Individually, Callie Bourne has been a do-everything player for the Bengals, averaging 15.7 points, 6.8 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game this season. Bourne ranks in the top 10 of the Big Sky in all three categories as a result, while she also ranks sixth in the conference for field goal percentage (.402). Laura Bello, meanwhile, finished the regular season as the Big Sky Conference's top rebounder, as she topped the conference while ranking 37th nationally with 9.4 rebounds per game. Bello also ranked second in the Big Sky with 1.14 blocks per game. Bourne and Bello both played well in the Bengals' two games against the Vikings this season. Bourne scored a game-high 22 points to go with nine rebounds and four assists in the Bengals' 59-43 win over the Vikings. Additionally, she finished one assist away from a triple-double in the Bengals' 48-47 loss to the Vikings, as she finished with 12 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists. Bello, meanwhile, recorded double-doubles in both games between 11 points and 15 rebounds on Jan. 21, and then 10 points and 11 rebounds on Feb. 16.
ALL-TIME SERIES: The Bengals lead the all-time series between them and the Vikings, 43-24. They've won 23 of the last 25 against the Vikings, though the teams split their series during the regular season. The teams have only met in the Big Sky tournament three times, with Idaho State 2-1 in those three games. They last met at the Big Sky tournament on March 9, 2021, with the Bengals winning 66-50 in the quarterfinals en route to the tournament title that year.

A WIN WOULD…

A victory over Idaho State Saturday would…

Advance the Vikings to the Big Sky quarterfinals where they would face second-seeded Montana State Sunday at 1:30 p.m. PT / 2:30 p.m. MT.
Give the Vikings at least one win at the Big Sky tournament for the sixth time out of the last seven seasons.
Give Portland State head coach Chelsey Gregg her first win at the Big Sky tournament as head coach.
Give the Vikings a win over Idaho State in the Big Sky tournament for the first time since 2010.

STORYLINES/STREAKS/RECORDS

The Vikings come into the Big Sky tournament having lost four of their last five games. The lone exception was a dramatic, 74-72 overtime win over Montana on Feb. 23 in which they erased a four-point deficit with 11.6 seconds remaining in regulation.
The Vikings have been outrebounded by 10 or more in four of their last five games. Opponents are averaging 12.8 more rebounds per game than the Vikings over their last five games.
The Vikings have scored 55 points or less in their four recent losses. They scored a season-low 34 points on Feb. 25 against Montana State, when they also shot a season-low 18.2 percent from the field.
Sacramento State tied a season high for a Viking opponent with 13 made three-pointers Monday. The Hornets also posted the second-highest marks by a Viking opponent for points (80) and field goal percentage (.544).
The Vikings won six home games in a row before falling to Montana State on Feb. 25. That was the program's longest home winning streak since the Vikings won 11 in a row between the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons. In contrast, the Vikings finished the regular season 1-7 in their last eight road games.
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. The last five games of the Vikings' six game home winning streak were decided by only 13 points combined.
At 8-10 in Big Sky play, the Vikings 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 have held 10 different teams to under 60 points this season, including five in Big Sky play. The Vikings held Idaho State below 60 points in both of their regular-season meetings.
The Vikings are allowing just 62.9 points per game this season, ranking them third in the Big Sky and 139th 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 14.5 free throw attempts per game to just 10.8 for the Vikings. Thirteen of the Vikings' 18 Big Sky opponents shot more free throws than the Vikings during the regular season.
The Vikings rank third in the Big Sky and 54th nationally for three-point field goal percentage (.344). They also rank fifth in the conference and 70th nationally with 7.32 three-pointers made per game.
Esmeralda Morales finished the regular season fourth in the Big Sky with 15.8 points per game, the highest scoring average by a Viking since Ashley Bolston and Sidney Rielly averaged 16.6 and 16.2 points per game, respectively, during the 2017-18 season. Morales has scored 20+ points in nine games this season, including five times in Big Sky play.
Alaya Fitzgerald has scored 15+ points in seven of the Vikings' last nine games. During that time, Fitzgerald is averaging 13.4 points per game while making 2.11 three-pointers per game. She finished the Big Sky season averaging 11.7 points per game against conference opponents, ranking her second on the team.
Jada Lewis needs just four more three-pointers to pass former teammate Kylie Jimenez (2017-21) for third all time in career three-pointers made. Lewis has made 12 three-pointers over the Vikings' last four games.
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 (36.8). She ranks second in steals per game (2.07) and three-point field goal percentage (.420), while she's fourth in three other categories between points per game (15.8), field goal percentage (.433) and three-pointers made per game (2.43).
Jada Lewis ranks third in the Big Sky and 49th nationally with 2.46 three-pointers made per game. She also ranks sixth in the conference and 88th nationally while making 36.1 percent of her shots from three-point range.
The Vikings rank third in the Big Sky and 133rd nationally with 8.18 steals per game. However, they're averaging just 6.0 steals per game over their last 11 games. Individually, Esmeralda Morales and Mia 'Uhila rank second and sixth in the Big Sky, respectively, with 2.07 and 1.59 steals per game individually.
Head coach Chelsey Gregg announced publicly that she was pregnant with her second child Sunday, and that it was a girl. That matched the majority opinion among the players, who all speculated beforehand whether it was a girl or a boy.
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 8-10 in Big Sky play, the Vikings 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, and is also tied for the second-best turnaround in Big Sky Conference history. The conference record stands at +9, which four different teams have accomplished, 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. The team's overtime win over Montana on Feb. 23 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. Several of those close wins came at home. The last five wins in the Vikings' six-game home winning streak came by a combined margin of just 13 points. That included the two-point overtime win over Montana on Feb. 23, 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. Against Montana on Feb. 23, the Vikings held the Lady Griz to 6-of-23 (.261) shooting between the fourth quarter and overtime.

THREE-POINT SHOOTING

Through January, the Vikings' three-point shooting had largely been led by two players, Jada Lewis and Esmeralda Morales, who together have accounted for 137 of the Vikings' 205 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 on Feb. 16, the Vikings went 8-of-18 (.444) from three-point range against the best three-point shooting defense within the Big Sky. The Vikings head into the Big Sky tournament third in the Big Sky and 54th nationally while shooting 34.4 percent from three-point range this season. That would go down as the fifth-best single-season percentage by the Vikings during the program's Division I era. Lewis and Morales still lead the way individually. The pair rank third and fourth in the Big Sky with 2.46 and 2.43 three-pointers made per game, respectively. Morales also ranks second in the conference in percentage, having made 42.0 percent of her shots from three-point range this season. That mark also ranks her 19th nationally in the category, while it would rank tied for seventh all time at Portland State if the season ended today. Lewis, meanwhile, ranks sixth in the Big Sky at 36.1 percent from three-point range. Alaya Fitzgerald – third on the team with 36 three-pointers this season – has had a hot February. Despite an off night against Montana on Feb. 23, Fitzgerald is averaging 2.11 three-pointers made per game on 36.5 percent shooting over the team's nine games in February.

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 75.8 points per game – 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. All told, the Vikings have held 10 opponents to under 60 points this season, including five in Big Sky play. The Vikings now rank third in the Big Sky and 139th nationally in scoring defense while allowing just 62.9 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 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 6.0 steals per game over their last 11 games. The Vikings now rank third in the Big Sky and 133rd in the NCAA with 8.18 steals per game. Individually, Esmeralda Morales and Mia 'Uhila rank second and sixth in the Big Sky, respectively, with 2.07 and 1.59 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 in the Vikings' 74-72 overtime win over Montana on Feb. 23. Morales scored 20 of her 27 points against the Lady Griz in the second half or overtime. Morales has also twice scored a season-high 28 points within Big Sky play. The first time came against Eastern Washington on Jan. 5, while the second came against Northern Arizona on Jan. 12. Overall, Morales is averaging 15.8 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 and Sidney Rielly averaged 16.6 and 16.2 points per game 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, with scoring being one of those nine. Morales leads the conference in minutes played per game (36.8), while she ranks second in both steals per game (2.07) and three-point field goal percentage (.420), and fourth in three other categories between points per game (15.8), field goal percentage (.433) and three-pointers made per game (2.43). Outside of those categories, Morales also ranks seventh in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.28), 10th in assists per game (3.04) and 11th 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 during the Vikings' trip to Idaho State and Weber State on Feb. 16 and 18, respectively. She now ranks fourth on the career list with 195 made three-pointers after knocking down another three Monday at Sacramento State. She will pass former teammate Kylie Jimenez (2017-21) for third all time if she can make four more three-pointers this season. Within this season, Lewis has 69 made three-pointers, ranking sixth on the single-season top 10 list at Portland State. She ranks third in the Big Sky with 2.46 three-pointers made per game, an average that also ranks her 49th nationally. She also sits sixth in the Big Sky for three-point field goal percentage at .361. Lewis has had a couple periods of lights-out shooting this 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. Recently, Fitzgerald has been Ms. February for the Vikings. In the team's nine games in the month of February, Fitzgerald scored 15+ points seven times. During that stretch, Fitzgerald averaged 13.4 points per game and 2.11 three-point field goals made per game while shooting 36.5 percent from the outside. Additionally, Fitzgerald often stepped up in key moments for the Vikings. 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 finished the Big Sky season second on the team with 11.7 points per game against conference opponents. She also heads into the tournament ranked 12th in the Big Sky in minutes played per game (32.4) and 14th in assists per game (2.29) 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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