Complete game notes (PDF)

TIPOFF
The Portland State women's basketball team broke through last Thursday with its 58-52 win over Northern Colorado. The Vikings were within a couple possessions of Northern Arizona Saturday, as they tried to make it a weekend sweep, but a late rally from the Lumberjacks put that to bed.
 
They'll now look to win on the road in Big Sky play for the first time in nearly two years, starting with a road game against Weber State Thursday at 5 p.m. PT / 6 p.m. MT.
 
With the exception of their game against Eastern Washington on Jan. 9, the Vikings have been in every game this season. They've led entering the fourth quarter in three of their five Big Sky games, while they were as close as three points down in one of the other two.
 
The Vikings' defense has kept them in games throughout this season. They held Northern Colorado to 52 points in last Thursday's win, tying a season low for a Viking opponent. The Vikings also held Cal State Fullerton to 52 points in a non-conference win on Nov. 24. They held the Titans to 28.6 percent (18-of-63) shooting from the field, the lowest mark by a Viking opponent since Idaho shot an identical 28.6 percent in a game on Jan. 7, 2023.
 
Ironically, Idaho also failed to top 30 percent against the Vikings this season. The Vikings held the Vandals to 29.9 percent (20-of-67) from the field even as the Vandals came back to beat the Vikings, 60-56.
 
Heading into Thursday, the Vikings rank in the top half of the Big Sky Conference in scoring defense (5th, 64.9), field goal percentage defense (3rd, .395) and three-point field goal percentage defense (3rd, .284).
 
Where the Vikings know they'll need to be better is on the offensive end. The Vikings have scored over 60 points in just one of their last nine games. Even still, the Vikings have put together some of their best offensive performances within Big Sky play. Three of the Vikings' four-best field goal percentages have come within their first five conference games. That includes a 46.0 percent shooting performance against Sacramento State on Jan. 4, when the Vikings also scored a season-high 74 points. The Vikings followed up by shooting 44.2 percent against Idaho on Jan. 11, then hit 43.9 percent of their shots against Northern Colorado last Thursday.
 
Alaya Fitzgerald has been consistent in her offensive production individually. She's scored in double figures in four of the team's five conference games, including a career-high 27 points in the Vikings' conference opener against Sacramento State. Fitzgerald heads into Thursday's game at Weber State averaging 15.6 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game within Big Sky play.
 
The Wildcats have been the opposite of the Vikings so far, as they're stronger offensively than they are defensively. They've been elite from the free throw line where they lead the Big Sky and rank 12th nationally while making 78.3 percent of their shots. They also get to the line a lot, as they rank third in the Big Sky and 76th nationally with 13.2 free throws made per game.
 
Outside of the free throw shooting, the Wildcats rank second in the Big Sky in three-point field goal percentage (.336), as well as fourth in scoring offense (66.1).
 
Where the Wildcats and Vikings align has been that both teams have struggled taking care of the ball at times this season. The teams rank ninth and 10th in the Big Sky in turnover margin (PSU -4.14, Weber -5.87).
 
Part of the reason for the Vikings' breakthrough last Thursday was because they took care of the ball. They committed only 11 turnovers in their win over the Bears, which was their second-lowest total of the season.
 
The Wildcats, meanwhile, have only won the turnover battle twice this season. They committed a season-high 32 turnovers in a 75-51 loss to conference-leader Montana State last Saturday.
 
Otherwise, the Wildcats had started the Big Sky Conference well. They were 2-1 after three straight home games to open Big Sky play, sandwiching wins over Northern Colorado (65-52) and Idaho State (72-67, OT) around a loss to Northern Arizona (92-78). They narrowly lost their first conference road game at Montana, 74-70, before the Bobcats blew them out last Saturday.
 
Individually, Taylor Smith leads the Wildcats with 13.4 points per game. Kendra Parra ranks second on the team with 10.0 points per game, while Antoinette Emma-Nnopu ranks third with 9.9 points per game. Emma-Nnopu leads the Wildcats with 9.0 rebounds per game, an average that ranks her fourth in the Big Sky this season. Parra leads the team with 2.8 assists per game.
 
Smith and Emma-Nnopu promise to challenge the Vikings' post players in Rhema Ogele and Lana Wenger. Those two responded well against Northern Colorado when the Bears came in with their top two scorers being in the post. Ogele and Wenger combined for 27 points and 17 rebounds against the Bears while shooting a combined 13-of-20 (.650) from the floor.
 
If they play well again Thursday, and the Vikings take care of the ball, then they could be looking at their first conference road win since Feb. 4, 2023, at Eastern Washington.
 
GAME #15: PORTLAND STATE (4-10, 1-4) vs. WEBER STATE (5-10, 2-3)
GAME DETAILS: Thursday, Jan. 23, 5 p.m. PT / 6 p.m. MT, Ogden, Utah (Dee Events Center)
LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO
SCOUTING WEBER STATE: The Weber State Wildcats opened Big Sky play 2-1, sandwiching wins over Northern Colorado (65-52) and Idaho State (72-67, OT) around a loss to Northern Arizona (92-78). All three of those games came at home. The Wildcats hit the road for the first time within Big Sky play last weekend, and dropped a close game at Montana (74-70) before losing big to conference-leader Montana State (75-51). The Wildcats came into the year, their second under head coach Jenteal Jackson, alternating with Portland State for ninth and 10th in the Big Sky preseason media and coaches polls. Big Sky coaches picked the Vikings to finish ninth and the Wildcats 10th, while the media picked the Wildcats to finish ninth and the Vikings 10th. Statistically, the Wildcats have been most successful at the free throw line. They lead the conference and rank 12th nationally while making 78.3 percent of their free throws. They also get to the line a lot, as they rank third in the Big Sky and 76th nationally while making 13.2 free throws per game. In general, the Wildcats have been stronger offensively than they have been defensively this season. Besides their free throw shooting, they also rank second in the conference in three-point field goal percentage (.336) and fourth in scoring offense (66.1). Where the Wildcats have struggled has been taking care of the ball. They rank last in the Big Sky in turnover margin (-5.87) and turnovers per game (20.5). Individually, Taylor Smith leads the Wildcats with 13.4 points per game. Kendra Parra ranks second on the team with 10.0 points per game, while Antoinette Emma-Nnopu ranks third with 9.9 points per game. Smith and Parra lead the team's efforts from the free throw line as they rank first and second in the Big Sky in free throw percentage (Smith .941, Parra .907). Emma-Nnopu leads the Wildcats with 9.0 rebounds per game, an average that ranks her fourth in the Big Sky this season. Parra leads the team with 2.8 assists per game. Lanae Billy leads the team with 2.00 three-pointers made per game on 39.0 percent shooting from the outside, marks that rank her third and second in the Big Sky, respectively.
ALL-TIME SERIES: The Wildcats lead the all-time series between them and the Vikings, 34-31. The Wildcats have won six of the last seven meetings, including a 62-53 win over the Vikings in the first round of last year's Big Sky tournament. The Vikings' most recent win was a memorable one as they beat the Wildcats on a last-second three-pointer, 65-64, at home on Jan. 19, 2023. The Vikings last beat the Wildcats in Ogden on Jan. 20, 2020.  
 
STORYLINES/STREAKS/RECORDS

• The Vikings broke through for their first conference win of the season, snapping a seven-game losing streak with a 58-52 victory over Northern Colorado last Thursday. They followed up with a 76-53 loss to Northern Arizona Saturday.
• The Vikings were within four points of NAU with seven minutes remaining when the Lumberjacks went on a 20-2 run to seal the game. Fourth quarters have been tough for the Vikings in general within Big Sky play. They've relinquished two fourth-quarter leads and are being outscored 107-65 in the period within conference play.
• Northern Arizona out-rebounded the Vikings 47-to-34 Saturday, including a 23-to-13 advantage on the offensive glass. The 23 offensive rebounds – which led to an 18-6 advantage in second-chance points for NAU – were a season high for a Viking opponent.
• Alaya Fitzgerald led the Vikings with 15 points Saturday. She's scored in double figures in four of the team's five Big Sky games and nine of her 13 appearances overall this season. Within Big Sky play, she's averaging 15.6 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game.
• Cici Ellington set season highs for points (13), rebounds (3), assists (2), blocks (2) and minutes played (21) in Saturday's game against Northern Arizona. The former OSAA 6A State Co-Player of the Year is still working her way back from an injury that kept her out for nearly all of the last two seasons, but has been playing more and more since the start of Big Sky play.
• The Vikings committed only 11 turnovers in Thursday's game against Northern Colorado. That was the team's second-lowest total of the season and came against a Northern Colorado team that had been forcing 21.3 turnovers per game. Northern Colorado committed 13 turnovers themselves, giving the Vikings their first win in the turnover battle since their game against UC Davis on Nov. 30.
• The Vikings recorded a season-high 17 assists on their 25 field goals against Northern Colorado Thursday. Freshman Kyleigh Brown and sophomore Laynee Torres-Kahapea each set or tied their career highs with nine and five assists, respectively.
• Three of the Vikings' four-best field goal percentages this season have now come in Big Sky play. The Vikings also shot 46.0 percent against Sacramento State on Jan. 4, 44.2 percent against Idaho on Jan. 11, and then 43.9 percent against Northern Colorado last Thursday.
• Last Thursday's game against Northern Colorado marked the first time this season the Vikings had won a game in which they didn't score at least 60 points. Sixty points still appears to be the magic number for the Vikings, as they're 3-1 when scoring more than 60 points versus 1-9 when they don't. Additionally, they're 3-1 when holding opponents below 60 points and 1-9 when they don't.
• Defensively, the Bears' 52 points last Thursday tied the lowest scoring output for a Viking opponent this season. The Vikings also held Cal State Fullerton to 52 points in a non-conference win on Nov. 24. The Vikings now rank in the top half of the Big Sky in scoring defense (5th, 64.9), field goal percentage defense (3rd, .395) and three-point field goal percentage defense (3rd, .284).
• If Rhema Ogele starts Thursday, it'll be her 100th career start as a Viking. She ranks ninth all-time in career starts at Portland State.
• The Vikings have started the same starting five in five straight games, snapping a run of seven straight games beforehand in which they started a new lineup each time. The changes had been necessitated due to injuries, but the Vikings got two starters back for the start of Big Sky play in Lana Wenger (missed five games with a hip injury) and Kyleigh Brown (missed a game and most of another with a concussion).
• Rhema Ogele recorded her third double-double of the season with 14 points and 10 rebounds last Thursday against Northern Colorado. She heads into Thursday's game at Weber State ranked sixth in the Big Sky for rebounds per game (7.43), as well as sixth in offensive rebounds (2.71) and ninth in defensive rebounds (4.71) per game.
• Alaya Fitzgerald ranks among the Big Sky leaders in four different statistical categories between points (11th, 12.0) assists (15th, 2.38), three-pointers made (10th, 1.46) and minutes played (3rd, 33.2) per game.
• Lana Wenger was held scoreless for the first time this season Saturday against Northern Arizona. Despite that, she heads into Thursday averaging 9.1 points and 4.9 rebounds per game this season. She's scored in double figures four times out of her nine appearances this season.
• Laynee Torres-Kahapea leads the Big Sky and ranks 21st nationally while playing 35.9 minutes per game. She also ranks 11th in the Big Sky with 2.79 assists per game.
• 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."

 
DEFENSIVE STRENGTH
The Vikings held Northern Colorado to 52 points in their breakthrough win over the Bears last Thursday. That'll usually do the job. The 52 points tied a season low for a Viking opponent this season. The Vikings also held Cal State Fullerton to a season 52 points in a non-conference win on Nov. 24. The Vikings' win over Cal State Fullerton also marked the first time the Vikings had held an opponent below 30 percent shooting from the floor in nearly two years. The Vikings held the Titans to 28.6 percent (18-of-63) from the floor, matching the mark Idaho shot against the Vikings on Jan. 7, 2023. Coincidentally, the Vikings would also hold Idaho below 30 percent shooting when they'd face each other later in the season. The Vandals shot just 29.9 percent (20-of-67) from the floor on Jan. 11 despite them pulling out a 60-56 win over the Vikings. Defense has been a strength for the Vikings in general this season and is often the key factor in the Vikings' victories. The Vikings are 3-1 when holding opponents below 60 points this season and 1-9 when they don't. Statistically, the Vikings rank in the top half of the conference in scoring defense (5th, 64.9), field goal percentage defense (3rd, .395) and three-point field goal percentage defense (3rd, .284).
 
EMERGING OFFENSE
Three of the Vikings' four-best shooting performances have come in their first four Big Sky Conference games, marking a strong start to league play for the team's offense. The Vikings had struggled at times during non-conference play, closing the preseason with three straight games in which they scored below 50 points. The Vikings snapped out of that with a season-high 74 points in their conference opener against Sacramento State, a game in which they also shot 46.0 percent from the field for their second-best mark of the season. The Viking offense then bounced back after a dip against Eastern Washington by outshooting Idaho .442-to-.299 on Jan. 11. In their first conference win last Thursday, the Vikings shot 43.9 percent (25-of-57) from the floor, including a 61.8-percent mark (21-of-34) on two-point field goals. The Vikings also assisted on a season-high 17 of their 25 field goals last Thursday, while Kyleigh Brown and Laynee Torres-Kahapea either set or tied their career highs with nine and five assists, respectively. Brown's return for the start of Big Sky play, along with Lana Wenger who missed the previous five games with a hip injury, has helped boost the Vikings. Alaya Fitzgerald has had the hot hand out of everyone, as she's averaging 15.6 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game through the team's first five conference games.
 
ROOTING FOR LAY IS A LAYUP
Alaya Fitzgerald – nicknamed Lay – put together a career performance in the Vikings' conference opener against Sacramento State on Jan. 4. The four-year starter scored a career-high 27 points while tying her then-season highs for rebounds (5) and assists (5) against the Hornets. She played aggressively, converting two three-point plays and driving to the basket throughout the game, including a game-tying layup with 36 seconds remaining in overtime. That kicked off a strong start to Big Sky play for the Viking senior. She's scored in double figures in four of the team's five conference games so far, including some clutch baskets in the Vikings' first conference win in which she scored the last eight points of the game against Northern Colorado. Through five conference games, Fitzgerald is averaging 15.6 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game. She heads into Thursday's game at Weber State ranked among the Big Sky leaders in four different statistical categories. She ranks 11th in the Big Sky in points (12.0), 15th in assists (2.38), 10th in three-pointers made (1.46) and third in minutes played (33.2) per game.
 
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 scored in double figures seven times this season, including a game-high 14 points on 7-of-9 shooting from the floor in last Thursday's breakthrough win over Northern Colorado. Ogele added 10 rebounds to her 14 points Thursday, leading the Vikings to a 35-to-28 rebounding advantage, and giving Ogele her third double-double of the season. Her other two double-doubles also came in wins, as she recorded 12 points and 10 rebounds in the Vikings' win over Seattle U on Nov. 16. She followed up with season highs for points (16) and rebounds (13) two games later against UC Davis on Nov. 30. She now has nine 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. She also ranks ninth all-time in career starts with 99, and will hit 100 if she starts Thursday. Ogele leads the Vikings with 7.43 rebounds per game, ranking her sixth in the Big Sky Conference. She also ranks sixth in the conference in offensive rebounds (2.71) and ninth in defense rebounds (4.71) per game.
 
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. 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 the first double-double of her career. She's found that form again for the start of Big Sky play. She finished with nine points and nine assists in last Thursday's breakthrough win over Northern Colorado. The nine assists marked a new career high for the freshman, while it led the Vikings to a season-high 17 as a team. Brown also scored in double figures against Eastern Washington and Idaho, while she's scored at least nine points in four of the team's Big Sky games and nine of her last 11 appearances overall.
 
SHE'S HER FROM HERSBERG
Lana Wenger – from Hersberg, Switzerland – made an immediate impact in her return from a five-game absence due to a hip injury. Starting again immediately, Wenger posted 14 points on 6-of-11 shooting from the floor against Sacramento State on Jan. 4. She went into double figures again in last Thursday's win over Northern Colorado, scoring 13 points on 6-of-11 shooting while also grabbing seven rebounds. Wenger's presence has helped buoy the Viking offense. Three of the team's four-best field goal percentages have come since Wenger's return for Big Sky play.  In the three games before Wenger's return, the Vikings averaged 42.3 points per game while shooting just 33.5 percent from the floor. Wenger also scored in double figures in two of the four games before her injury absence. That included a career-high 18 points to go with eight rebounds in the Vikings' loss at San Francisco on Nov. 12.
 
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 21st nationally with 35.9 minutes played per game. She also ranks 11th in the conference with 2.79 assists per game.
 
SEASON HIGHLIGHTS
Jan. 16, 2025, Portland State 58, Northern Colorado 52: The Vikings won their first conference game of the season behind a season-high 17 assists. They out-rebounded the Bears 35-to-28, while tying their fewest points allowed with 52.
Nov. 30, 2024, 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.
Nov. 24, 2024, 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.
Nov. 16, 2024, 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.