CHENEY, Wash. — The Portland State women's basketball struggled in its Big Sky road opener Thursday, falling 78-49 at Eastern Washington's Reese Court.
 
After a season-high 74 points against Sacramento State last Saturday, the Viking offense reverted to the version of itself that finished non-conference play. The Vikings (3-8, 0-2 Big Sky) committed 15 first-half turnovers. They finished with 21 compared to just eight for the Eagles (5-10, 1-2 Big Sky), which Eastern Washington turned into a 26-8 advantage in points off turnovers.
 
Even still, the Vikings started the game hot from the field. When Kyleigh Brown hit an elbow jumper with 3:33 remaining in the second quarter, the Vikings were 11-of-18 (.611) from the field and the score was tied at 26-all. But the Vikings made just one of their next 16 shots as the Eagles went on a 26-2 run over the second and third quarters that put the game out of reach.
 
The Eagles outshot the Vikings .458-to-.377 from the field, including a large discrepancy from three-point range. The Vikings had sported a strong perimeter defense so far this season. Seven of the Vikings' first 10 opponents failed to shoot better than 30 percent from three-point range against them, as the Vikings came into Thursday ranked second in the Big Sky and 29th nationally for three-point field goal percentage defense. But Thursday, the Eagles went 11-of-20 (.550) from three-point range, setting season highs for makes and percentage by a PSU opponent.
 
"We didn't do our jobs well tonight and therefore our flow offensively and defensively was affected," Portland State head coach Chelsey Gregg said after the game.
 
A bright spot for the Vikings late came in the emergence of Cici Ellington. Plagued by injuries the past two years, Ellington was playing in only her second game of the season for the Vikings. She checked in late in the third quarter and promptly scored 11 points in only 12 minutes of game time.
 
Ellington scored seven straight points for the Vikings at one point between the third and fourth quarters while going 4-of-7 from the field and 2-of-3 from three-point range.
 
"Cici is still working out the kinks, but we saw some moments of what she is capable of for sure," Gregg said of Ellington.
 
Ellington tied with Brown for the team lead. Brown scored nine of her 11 points in the first half while finishing 5-of-11 from the field.
 
Another bright spot came as the Vikings matched the Eagles on the glass (35-to-35). Three different players recorded at least five rebounds for the Vikings, including Laynee Torres-Kahapea who led the team with a career-high six rebounds.
 
But the Vikings didn't have the offense or defense to get the job done Thursday. They'll hope for better execution Saturday when they continue on the road at Idaho. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m.
 
Game Notes: The Vikings fell to 36-46 all-time against the Eagles with Thursday's loss…The Eagles' 78 points were a season high for a Viking opponent…The Vikings have failed to score 50 points in four of their last five games.
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