PORTLAND, Ore. — The Portland State women's basketball just got bigger. Lana Wenger, a 6-4 forward who played her first two collegiate seasons at Texas Tech in the Big 12 Conference, has signed a grant-in-aid to play for the Vikings next season, head coach Chelsey Gregg announced Monday.
 
The addition immediately bolsters the Vikings' inside presence, one of the program's biggest areas of need over the offseason. Out of nine returners off last year's Big Sky semifinal team, only Rhema Ogele (6-3) stands six-foot, one-inch or taller. Wenger gives the Vikings another option in addition to Ogele, or the potential to play the two as twin towers.
 
"Lana adds great length, athleticism and basketball feel to our program," Gregg said of Wenger. "She has good touch around the rim but also has the ability to face up and knock down jumpers and take you off the bounce. She fits great into our culture and so we couldn't be happier to have Lana joining our program."
 
Wenger played in 41 of Texas Tech's 65 games the past two seasons, averaging 3.7 minutes per game off the bench. She scored a career-high five points in three different games as a sophomore this past season, including five points and three rebounds in Texas Tech's 86-85 overtime win over Colorado – an eventual NCAA Sweet Sixteen team – on Nov. 16.
 
With Wenger, the Red Raiders made the Super 16 of the WNIT this past season, and reached the 20-win plateau for the first time since the 2012-13 season.
 
Wenger marks the first transfer to join the Vikings over the offseason. In addition to nine returners, the Vikings have signed three freshmen in Ella Kaleta, Alma Rashelbach and Laynee Torres-Kahapea. Wenger's signing puts the Vikings at 13 players for next season, giving them the option to sign two more.
 

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Lana Wenger, F, 6-4, JR, Hersberg, Switzerland (Texas Tech)
 
AT TEXAS TECH (2021-23)
Played in 41 games for the Red Raiders, averaging 2.4 minutes per game as a freshman and 4.7 minutes per game as a sophomore…Averaged 1.2 points and 0.9 rebounds per game as a sophomore…Scored a career-high five points three different times at Texas Tech, including five points and three rebounds in the team's 86-85 overtime win over Colorado, an eventual NCAA Sweet Sixteen team, on Nov. 16…Advanced to the WNIT Super 16 as a sophomore…Part of Texas Tech's first 20-win team since the 2012-13 season.
 
HIGH SCHOOL
Played for the Futures Academy and Monte Vista High School in Walnut Creek and Danville, Calif., respectively…Averaged 13.8 points, 11.1 rebounds, 2.6 blocks and 1.6 steals per game as a sophomore at Monte Vista…All-league honorable mention as a sophomore…Named Most Outstanding Offensive Player and MVP of the West Coast Jamboree as a sophomore at Monte Vista…Also a CIF North Coast nominee for the Cal-Hi All-State Team in 2019.
 
PERSONAL/MISCELLANEOUS
Daughter of Andy and Andrea Wenger…Lists diving and underwater photography as hobbies/interests…Hopes to one day be a marine biologist specializing in shark behavioral research…Majoring in ecology and environmental biology.