Complete game notes (PDF)

TIPOFF
All the Portland State women's basketball team wants for Christmas is another chance to get in the win column before its holiday break. Guess what, Viks? Santa is real and you get that chance Friday when Air Force comes to Viking Pavilion for a 1 p.m. tipoff.
 
The Vikings will be looking to snap a three-game losing streak when they face off against the Falcons Friday.
 
It's no secret what aspect of their game the Vikings need to correct. They need to find a way to take care of the ball. That had been a strength for the Vikings through their first five games of the season. They were averaging only 14.0 turnovers per game at that point, which ranked them atop the Big Sky Conference and in the top 50 nationally.
 
But since then? The Vikings have averaged 24.0 turnovers per game over their last three games. That came to a head in the Vikings' last game when they committed 34 turnovers in a 71-46 loss to cross-town rival University of Portland last Friday. The Pilots turned the Vikings' 34 turnovers – the most by the Vikings in a single game since they had 42 in a neutral-site game against Oklahoma on Dec. 21, 2016 – into a 41-14 advantage in points off turnovers.
 
Injuries have not helped the Vikings' efforts to take care of the ball. They started the year with three point guards in their regular rotation between Kyleigh Brown, Taylor Moffat and Laynee Torres-Kahapea. Alaya Fitzgerald could also bring up the ball. But the Vikings lost Moffat to injury during their game against Denver on Dec. 7, then saw Brown exit the game against the Pilots with a head injury after playing only 10 minutes.
 
Fitzgerald missed the Denver game with an illness, while the Vikings have also been without Lana Wenger since Nov. 24, and didn't have Joy Haltom for their two Big Sky-Summit Challenge games against Omaha (Dec. 4) and Denver (Dec. 7). As a result, the Vikings have used five different starting lineups out of eight games this season. They've been forced to use a new starting lineup in each of their last four games.
 
So, the Vikings will also wish for health this holiday season.
 
It'd certainly help the Vikings' offense to get a few of the missing players back. The offense has been missing during their three-game losing streak. The turnovers play into that. You can't get into your offense if you're turning the ball over, of course. Do that, and things should open up more for the Vikings.
 
The Vikings have also had success at getting to the line at times this season. Against the Pilots, while the Vikings turned the ball over too much, they still outshot the Pilots from the free throw line (21 attempts to 19). The Vikings head into Friday's game ranked fourth in the Big Sky and 35th nationally while making 76.5 percent of their foul shots.
 
Another success for the Vikings against the Pilots, despite the loss, came on the glass. They out-rebounded the Pilots 39-to-30, which included an 18-to-11 advantage on the offensive glass. Both the total rebounds (39) and offensive rebounds (18) represented season highs for the Vikings, as was their +9 rebounding margin.
 
Rhema Ogele led that effort with a game-high nine rebounds. She's recorded 10+ rebounds in three of the Vikings' last six games, while she heads into Friday's game ranked fourth in the Big Sky with 8.25 rebounds per game this season.
 
She'll have an interesting head-to-head battle with Air Force's Jayda McNabb. McNabb averages 8.4 rebounds per game – nearly the same average as Ogele – with over half of her rebounds coming on the offensive glass. McNabb leads the Mountain West Conference with 4.6 offensive rebounds per game, an average that also ranks her 12th nationally.
 
The bigger strength for the Falcons, though, has been on the ball. They lead the Mountain West while ranking in the top 25 nationally in both steals (13.1) and turnovers forced per game (23.6). They rank second in the conference with a +6.36 turnover margin. Madison Smith leads the conference individually with 2.64 steals per game, an average that also ranks her 41st nationally.
 
The Falcons have used that strength to record their best start to the season in over 40 years. They started the year 9-1 – their best start since the 1982-83 season – before losing big to Oregon, 98-36, Tuesday night in Eugene.
 
They'll be looking to get back in the win column, then, same as the Vikings. Again, it's no secret what the Vikings will need to do to get there, especially considering the Falcons' strength at turning over their opponents.
 
But if the Vikings can take care of the ball, then they'll be going into holiday break with a smile on their face.
 
GAME #9: PORTLAND STATE (3-5) vs. AIR FORCE (9-2)
GAME DETAILS: Friday, Dec. 20, 1 p.m. PT, Portland, Ore. (Viking Pavilion)
LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO
SCOUTING AIR FORCE: The Air Force Falcons started the season 9-1, which was their best start to a season in over 40 years, since the 1982-83 Falcons started 12-1. They picked up their second loss of the season Tuesday, however, when Oregon blew them out, 98-36, in Eugene. Otherwise, the Falcons have started the year strong. They beat Northern Colorado out of the Big Sky Conference, 73-66, on the road on Nov. 11. They also share a common opponent with the Vikings in Seattle U, which the Falcons beat 82-44 at home on Dec. 7. Coming into the year, Mountain West Conference coaches picked the Falcons to finish eighth in the 11-team conference in their first year under head coach Stacy McIntyre. Milahnie Perry picked up preseason All-Mountain West honors. She's proven worthy of that through the team's first 11 games of the season, as she leads the Falcons with 15.8 points per game. Madison Smith ranks second to Perry with 14.5 points per game, while Keelie O'Hollaren and Jayda McNabb are the third and fourth options for the Falcons with 9.0 and 8.7 points per game, respectively. McNabb leads the Falcons with 8.4 rebounds per game, over half of which come on the offensive glass. McNabb leads the Mountain West Conference with 4.6 offensive rebounds per game, an average that also ranks her 12th nationally. The Falcons' biggest strength this season has been how they've turned over their opponents. As a team, they lead the Mountain West in steals (13.1) and turnovers forced per game (23.6) while ranking in the top 25 nationally in both categories. They also rank second in the Mountain West and 33rd nationally with a +6.36 turnover margin. Individually, Smith leads the Mountain West with 2.64 steals per game, an average that also ranks her 41st nationally. McNabb and Jo Huntimer follow with 1.91 steals per game each, ranking them tied for sixth within the Mountain West. Huntimer leads the Falcons with 3.9 assists per game and a 2.26 assist-to-turnover ratio, both of which rank her second in the Mountain West.
ALL-TIME SERIES: The Falcons won their only other meeting with the Vikings, 94-65, on Dec. 28, 2020. That game was played at Air Force, making Friday's meeting the first at Viking Pavilion.
 
STORYLINES/STREAKS/RECORDS

• The Vikings have followed a three-game winning streak with a three-game losing streak. They lost their latest game, 71-46, to cross-town rival University of Portland last Friday.
• The Vikings committed a season-high 34 turnovers in their loss to the Pilots. They also shot just 29.2 percent (14-of-48) from the field, their second-lowest field goal percentage in a game this season. The Pilots turned the Vikings' 34 turnovers into a 41-14 advantage in points off turnovers.
• Before the start of the Vikings' three-game losing streak, they led the Big Sky Conference with only 14.0 turnovers committed per game. But since then, the Vikings are averaging 24.0 turnovers over their last three games.
• Recent absences have hurt the Vikings. The Vikings have used five different starting lineups in their first eight games of the season. They've been without starter Lana Wenger since Nov. 24, and lost another starter in Taylor Moffat during their game at Denver on Dec. 7. A third starter, Alaya Fitzgerald, also missed the Vikings' game at Denver.
• The Vikings are 3-0 when scoring 60 or more points in a game this season and 0-5 when they don't.
• Offensively, the Vikings rank last in the Big Sky in scoring offense (55.5), field goal percentage (.367), three-point field goal percentage (.286) and assists per game (11.0) while they rank ninth out of 10 teams in three-pointers made per game (5.25).
• The Vikings assisted on at least 50 percent of their field goals in their first five games of the season. But they've failed to hit 50 percent in their last three games, all losses. The Vikings are averaging 7.0 assists per game during their three-game losing streak, after averaging 13.4 through their first five games.
• Freshman Kyleigh Brown had scored in double figures in the Vikings' last three games before exiting Friday's game at Portland with only two points after suffering a hit to the head. Her status for Friday is questionable.
• Rhema Ogele has two double-doubles in the Vikings' last six games, while she was two points shy of a third with eight points and 10 rebounds against Denver on Dec. 7. Ogele ranks fourth in the Big Sky with 8.25 rebounds per game while she also ranks fourth in the conference in defensive rebounds (5.88) and seventh in offensive rebounds (2.38) per game.
• Portland was the first of the Vikings' last six opponents to shoot better than 40 percent against the Vikings. The Viks still held Portland below their season averages for points and field goal percentage. They remain ranked in the top half of the Big Sky Conference in scoring defense (5th, 62.1), field goal percentage defense (4th, .385) and three-point field goal percentage defense (2nd, .254).
• The Vikings rank fourth in the Big Sky and 35th nationally in free throw percentage (.765). They've shot more free throws than four of their eight opponents and they're 2-2 in those four games.
• Senior Alaya Fitzgerald ranks among the Big Sky leaders in three statistical categories between assists per game (13th, 2.71), three-pointers made per game (6th, 1.86) and minutes played per game (4th, 31.5).
• Laynee Torres-Kahapea leads the Big Sky and ranks 25th nationally while playing 35.5 minutes per game. She also ranks 14th in the Big Sky with 2.63 assists per game.
• Lana Wenger leads the Vikings with 11.3 points per game, though she hasn't played in the Vikings' last four games. She had scored in double figures in back-to-back games, including a career-high 18 points at San Francisco on Nov. 12, before being held to six points against Cal State Fullerton in the game she suffered her injury.
• The Vikings returned three starters from last season in Alaya Fitzgerald, Rhema Ogele and Lana Wenger. Fitzgerald and Ogele will both be four-year starters for the Vikings this season, while Wenger enters her second year as a starter.
• Big Sky coaches picked the Vikings to finish ninth in the Big Sky in their preseason poll, while conference media members picked the Vikings to finish 10th.
• The Vikings brought in eight newcomers to mesh with their eight returners. Out of the eight newcomers, three are freshmen – Katelyn Best, Kyleigh Brown and Avery Kraft – while five are transfers – Jamia Carter (Seward County CC/Salt Lake CC), Cici Ellington (Grambling State/Loyola Marymount), Taylor Moffat (Williston State/UAlbany) Kirstine Munk (Central Arizona) and Courtney Turner (FIU/USC Upstate/Harcum College).
• The Vikings have two former Oregon State Players of the Year on their roster now in Kyleigh Brown and Cici Ellington. Brown was the 5A State Player of the Year in 2024 after leading Silverton to the 5A state title. Ellington, meanwhile, was the 6A State Co-Player of the Year – sharing the award with former NCAA champion and current WNBA star Cameron Brink – in 2019 when she led Benson Polytechnic to the 6A state title.
• The Four R's of the Portland State women's basketball program are: Relational, Resilient, Reliable and Ready.
• The Vikings picked five words to define their 2024-25 season: Accountable, Driven, Commitment, Trust and Together. They worked that into a mantra, which is "TOGETHER we rise, DRIVEN by TRUST and COMMITTED to ACCOUNTABILITY."

 
EMERGING DEFENSIVE STRENGTH
The Vikings held an opponent below 30 percent shooting for the first time in nearly two years while beating Cal State Fullerton on Nov. 24. The Titans shot just 28.6 percent (18-of-63) from the field against the Vikings, the lowest mark for a Viking opponent since Idaho shot an identical 28.6 percent (16-of-56) on Jan. 7, 2023. The Vikings followed up by slowing a potent UC Davis offense in a 66-61 win on Nov. 30. They held the Aggies to 35.9 percent (23-of-64) from the floor, a season low for a UC Davis offense that came into the game leading the Big West Conference in scoring, field goal percentage and three-point field goal percentage. The Pilots became the first team to shoot better than 40 percent against the Vikings in their last six games, but the Vikings still enter Friday's contest ranked in the top half of the Big Sky Conference in several key defensive categories. The Vikings rank second in the Big Sky and 35th nationally in three-point field goal percentage defense (.254). They also rank fourth in the Big Sky for field goal percentage defense (.385) and fifth in scoring defense (62.1).
 
SOMETIMES THE BEST OFFENSE IS GETTING TO THE LINE
While the Vikings struggled offensively against the Pilots last Friday, they outshot the Pilots from the free throw line (21 attempts to 19). Free throw shooting has been the Vikings' best offense at times this season. Against Cal State Fullerton on Nov. 24, the Vikings used a 23-of-25 performance from the line to beat the Titans 61-52. The 23 makes were the most by the Vikings in nearly two years, dating back to their game against New Mexico State on Dec. 17, 2022. They now rank fourth in the Big Sky and 35th nationally for free throw percentage, as they're making 76.5 percent of their shots from the line. Jamia Carter leads the Vikings in both makes (19) and attempts (26) while shooting 73.1 percent from the line. Laynee Torres-Kahapea ranks second to her in both makes (16) and attempts (19) while making 84.2 percent of her free throws.
 
BALL CONTROL
What was once a strength has become a source of frustration for the Vikings over their last three games. Through their first five games of the season, the Vikings led the Big Sky Conference while committing only 14.0 turnovers per game. But they've followed that up by averaging 24.0 turnovers per game over their last three games. That included a season-high 34 turnovers against Portland last Friday, which the Pilots turned into a 41-14 advantage in points off turnovers. The 34 turnovers were the most by the Vikings since they had 42 in a neutral-site game against Oklahoma on Dec. 21, 2016. It didn't help that the Vikings were without one of their three primary ball handlers in Taylor Moffat at the start of the game, then lost another as Kyleigh Brown exited after playing just over 10 minutes. The Vikings still have two strong distributors in Alaya Fitzgerald and Laynee Torres-Kahapea. They rank 13th and 14th in the Big Sky with 2.71 and 2.63 assists per game, respectively.
 
SHARING IS CARING
A point of emphasis during preseason practices was to share the basketball. The Vikings had been on target with that goal through their first five games, as they averaged 13.4 assists per game while assisting on at least 50 percent of their field goals in all five games. But since then, the Vikings have averaged only 7.0 assists per game during their three-game losing streak. They've failed to assist on at least 50 percent of their field goals in all three recent losses. The Vikings hit their high-water mark in their season opener against Hawai'i, assisting on 13 of 15 field goals back on Nov. 9. That was a higher assist percentage (86.7%) than the Vikings had in any game last season. The Vikings followed up by assisting on 15 of 26 field goals in their win over Seattle U on Nov. 16. They helped on 12 of 17 field goals against Cal State Fullerton on Nov. 24, then 14 of 26 against UC Davis on Nov. 30, both wins.
 
BAD, BAD, KYLEIGH BROWN
Like Leroy Brown, Kyleigh Brown proved she's the baddest (player) in the whole darn (gym). We may have made a few edits there, but the sentiment remains the same given recent performances. With the Vikings trailing 49-40 entering the fourth quarter against UC Davis on Nov. 30, Brown went off for 14 points in the final period while leading the Vikings all the way back to a 66-61 victory over the Aggies. Brown's 14 points all came within the Vikings' first 16 points in the quarter, turning the team's nine-point deficit at the start of the period into a 56-all tie with 3:57 remaining. She finished with a game-high 18 points, then matched that with 18 points against Omaha five days later on Dec. 4. She added 10 rebounds to her 18 points against Omaha, giving the freshman her first double-double of her career.  She led the Vikings in scoring for a third straight game with 11 points and five rebounds against Denver on Dec. 7. That earned her a spot in the starting lineup for the first time against Portland last Friday, but she exited the game after playing only 10 minutes due to an injury.
 
A LEADER IN THE MIDDLE, RHEMA OGELE
One of two four-year starters on the roster with Alaya Fitzgerald, Rhema Ogele has owned the paint for the Vikings so far this season. She's posted two double-doubles in the Vikings' last six games, and was two points shy of a third with eight points and 10 rebounds in the Vikings' loss at Denver on Dec. 7. Her first double-double of the season came in the Vikings' first win of the season against Seattle U on Nov. 16. She finished with 12 points and 10 rebounds in that game, then followed up with 16 points and 13 rebounds two games later against UC Davis on Nov. 30. She now has eight double-doubles in her Portland State career, ranking her 10th all-time since game-by-game records were kept starting with the 2006-07 season. Ogele leads the Vikings with 8.25 rebounds per game, ranking her fourth in the Big Sky Conference. She also ranks fourth in the conference in defensive rebounds (5.88) and seventh in offensive rebounds (2.38) per game.
 
ROOTING FOR LAY IS A LAYUP
Alaya Fitzgerald – nicknamed Lay – will enter her fourth year in the Vikings' starting lineup this season, joining classmate Rhema Ogele as one of the two veterans in the team's starting five. She has scored in double figures in five of the seven games she's played this season. Her 10.6 points per game so far this season would be a new career high. She's proven capable of scoring the clutch points for the Vikings this season, too. She scored eight of her 10 points against UC Davis on Nov. 30 in the fourth quarter of the Vikings' comeback victory. She hit two go-ahead three-pointers within the final two minutes, including the one that gave the Vikings the lead for good. She had 13 points in the Vikings' win over Cal State Fullerton on Nov. 24. That came after she led the Vikings with 14 points on 5-of-9 shooting overall and 4-of-6 from three-point range in their road win over Seattle U on Nov. 16. Fitzgerald now ranks among the Big Sky leaders in three different statistical categories. She ranks 13th in the Big Sky in assists per game (2.71), sixth in three-pointers made per game (1.86) and fourth in minutes played per game (31.5).
 
GIVE HER A GATORADE…PLAYER OF THE YEAR, THAT IS
Sophomore Laynee Torres-Kahapea – the 2023 Gatorade Player of the Year for the state of Hawai'i – has seamlessly stepped into the starting lineup for the Vikings. Torres-Kahapea scored in double figures in back-to-back games against San Francisco and Seattle U, then followed with seven points and five assists in the Vikings' win over Cal State Fullerton on Nov. 24. She's handled duties as the Vikings' primary ball handler while leading the Big Sky and ranking 25th nationally with 35.5 minutes played per game. She also ranks 14th in the conference with 2.63 assists per game.
 
SHE'S HER FROM HERSBERG
Lana Wenger – from Hersberg, Switzerland – posted career numbers in the Vikings' close loss to San Francisco on Nov. 12. She scored a career-high 18 points to go with eight rebounds and three blocks against the Dons. She followed with 12 points to go with five rebounds in the Vikings' 67-57 win over Seattle U on Nov. 16. She's missed the Vikings' last three games due to a hip injury she suffered against Cal State Fullerton on Nov. 24. Because of that, she's dropped out of the statistical rankings but would rank among the scoring leaders as she leads the Vikings with 11.3 points per game. Wenger's strong start to the season follows a big finish to the previous year. Over the team's final seven games of the 2023-24 regular season, Wenger averaged 9.4 points per game while shooting 55.1 percent (27-of-49) from the field and 47.1 percent (8-of-17) from three-point range. That was a big jump from her season-long averages of 6.3 points per game on 44.3 percent shooting overall and 31.1 percent from three-point range.
 
SEASON HIGHLIGHTS
Portland State 66, UC Davis 61: The Vikings erased a nine-point fourth-quarter deficit to complete their second-biggest comeback in school history. Kyleigh Brown led the way, scoring 14 of her game-high 18 points in the final period.
Portland State 61, Cal State Fullerton 52: The Vikings held Cal State Fullerton to just 28.6 percent (18-of-63) shooting Sunday, the lowest mark by a Viking opponent since Idaho shot an identical 28.6 percent (16-of-56) from the floor on Jan. 7, 2023. The Vikings also went 23-of-25 from the free throw line in the win.
Portland State 67, Seattle U 57: The Vikings picked up their first win of the season as six different players scored eight or more points. They shot season highs from the field (49.1 percent) and from three-point range (42.9 percent) while out-rebounding the Redhawks 35-to-28.