FARMINGTON, Utah — A player knows they have the respect of an opposing coach when they draw a double team. Esmeralda Morales has seen that type of respect all season, and that respect transferred into All-Big Sky second-team honors for Morales Thursday.
 
The second-team honors represent the highest post-season accolade for a Viking since Sidney Rielly and current assistant coach Ashley Bolston made the All-Big Sky first and second teams, respectively, following the 2018-19 season.
 
"Esme puts in the work," Portland State head coach Chelsey Gregg said of Morales. "She embraces the grind, is super competitive, and is always trying to find ways to get better. I'm excited for her to be recognized for those efforts and for her skill set."
 
Morales earned her second-team honors after ranking fourth in the Big Sky with 15.8 points per game during the regular season. That was just one of nine categories in which Morales ranked among the Big Sky leaders, however. Morales led the conference with 36.8 minutes per game, while she ranked in the top five in five other categories. She ranked second in both steals per game (2.07) and three-point field goal percentage (.420), while standing 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 finished the regular season seventh in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.28), 10th in assists per game (3.04) and 11th in free throw percentage (.778).
 
Morales' 15.8 points per game give her the best scoring average by a Viking since Bolston and Rielly averaged 16.6 and 16.2 points per game, respectively, during the 2017-18 season. She's scored 20+ points in nine different games this season, including five times in Big Sky play. She set her season high with 28 points against Eastern Washington on Jan. 5, then matched it a week later with 28 points against Northern Arizona on Jan. 12.
 
Her scoring ability has included a couple of clutch performances. Morales hit the game-winning three-pointer with 1.9 seconds remaining in the Vikings' 65-64 win over Weber State on Jan. 19. Additionally, Morales hit the go-ahead three-pointer with 25.0 seconds remaining in overtime against Montana on Feb. 23, putting the Vikings up for good in their 74-72 overtime win over the Lady Griz.
 
With Morales leading the way, the Vikings finished the conference season 5-0 in Big Sky games decided by five points or less. That included the two-point overtime win over Montana, as well as back-to-back one-point wins over Weber State on Jan. 19 and Idaho State on Jan. 21.
 
Morales and the Vikings also set a program record by improving their conference win total by eight this season. That tied the second-best year-to-year turnaround in Big Sky Conference history, trailing the conference record by only one.
 
Morales will now lead the Vikings into their Big Sky tournament opener Saturday. The Vikings face eighth-seeded Idaho State at 1:30 p.m. PT / 2:30 p.m. MT, with the winner advancing to face second-seeded Montana State in the quarterfinals Sunday.
 
2022-23 Women's Basketball Individual Awards
 
Most Valuable Player
Kahlaijah Dean, Sacramento State
 
Defensive Player of the Year
Jamie Loera, Eastern Washington
 
Newcomer of the Year
Kahlaijah Dean, Sacramento State
 
Top Reserve
Leia Beattie, Montana State
 
Freshman of the Year
Mack Konig, Montana
 
Tri-Coach of the Year
Tricia Binford, Montana State
Loree Payne, Northern Arizona
Mark Campbell, Sacramento State
 
2022-23 Women's Basketball All-Conference Team 
 
First Team All-Conference 
Beyonce Bea, Idaho*
Kahlaijah Dean, Sacramento State*
Darian White, Montana State*
Regan Schenck, Northern Arizona
Isnelle Natabou, Sacramento State
 
Second Team All-Conference 
Carmen Gfeller, Montana
Kola Bad Bear, Montana State
Callie Bourne, Idaho State
Esmeralda Morales, Portland State
Montana Oltrogge, Northern Arizona
 
Third Team All-Conference
Jamie Loera, Eastern Washington
Jaydia Martin, Eastern Washington
Hannah Simental, Northern Colorado
Sammy Fatkin, Montana
Daryn Hickok, Weber State
 
All-Conference Honorable Mention
Delaynie Bryne, Northern Colorado
Jacinta Buckley, Eastern Washington
Gina Marxen, Montana
Leia Beattie, Montana State
Laura Bello, Idaho State
 
* Unanimous First Team All-Conference