PORTLAND, Ore. — The Portland State offense put together its best showing in over a month, shooting 44.1 percent against Northern Arizona Thursday, but it wasn't enough against the Big Sky Conference's best offense as the Lumberjacks beat the Vikings 83-67 at Findlay Toyota Court.
 
The 44.1 percent (26-of-59) shooting marked the Vikings' best field goal percentage since they shot 44.2 percent (23-of-52) against Idaho on Jan. 11. The Vikings' 67 points also tied their most in regulation this season, matching the team's total in their win over Seattle U on Nov. 16.
 
But Northern Arizona (20-6, 11-2 Big Sky) still led comfortably most of the game. The Lumberjacks didn't shoot as well as the Vikings (4-17, 1-11 Big Sky), converting just 39.5 percent (32-of-81) of the time. But they earned extra possessions behind 21 offensive rebounds – the most by a Viking opponent since the Lumberjacks had 23 the last time they played the Vikings on Jan. 18 – while winning the turnover battle, 16-to-6.
 
"I'm proud of our offensive execution tonight. When you get shots within our offense, be aggressive and share the basketball, we get good looks and we're able to knock them down with confidence," Portland State head coach Chelsey Gregg said after the game. "We've got to clean up the turnovers and offensive boards, though. We got a lot of great looks in the half court, but they scored too many points off turnovers and second chances."
 
Portland State's Alaya Fitzgerald, making her last trip to Arizona – her home state – as a Viking, came to play. She scored 16 of the Vikings' first 32 points in the game while shooting 7-of-9 from the field.
 
"I thought Lay had an extra pep in her step tonight and we need that attack mentality to continue going into Saturday," Gregg said of Fitzgerald.
 
Fitzgerald was so important to the Vikings that her absence late in the first half turned the game. Fitzgerald picked up her second foul with 4:50 remaining before halftime and the Vikings trailing by just three at 35-32. She went to the bench as a result, and the Lumberjacks took advantage, finishing the half on an 11-2 run.
 
The Lumberjacks then picked up where they left off with a 10-2 run to open the second half, stretching their lead to 20 at 56-36. NAU led by at least 15 points the rest of the way.
 
Fitzgerald finished with a game-high 25 points, putting her two points away from the career high she set with 27 points against Sacramento State. Out of Fitzgerald's four 20-point games as a Viking, two have come against Northern Arizona as she also scored 23 points against her home-state team as a freshman.
 
Fitzgerald added a season-high six assists to go with five rebounds and two steals.
 
Two other Vikings went into double figures between Cici Ellington and Lana Wenger. Ellington matched the season high she set the last time the Vikings played Northern Arizona with 13 points to go with five rebounds. Wenger, meanwhile, returned from a back injury to score 12 points on 4-of-7 shooting from the field.
 
Rhema Ogele tied NAU's Sophie Glancey for the game high with 12 rebounds while scoring six points.
 
The offensive showing should give the Vikings confidence going into their game against Northern Colorado Saturday. The Vikings beat the Bears in Portland, 58-52, when they played each other on Jan. 16. They'll look to complete the season sweep, then, when the ball goes up at 1 p.m. PT / 2 p.m. MT in Greeley, Colo.
 
Game Notes: The Vikings still lead the all-time series between them and the Lumberjacks, 32-29, despite Thursday's loss…One game after reaching 1,000-career points, Fitzgerald reached another milestone Thursday with her 100th-career start…The Vikings shot 51.7 percent (15-of-29) from the field in the first half.
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