Complete game notes (PDF)

TIPOFF
Portland State head women's basketball coach Chelsey Gregg said her team needed a sense of urgency after last week's loss at Northern Colorado. It's easy to see why as the Vikings head into their last home stand of the season this week, starting with a game Thursday against Idaho State at 7 p.m.
 
The final home weekend comes ahead of three road games to finish the regular season, which will then lead into the Big Sky tournament in Boise, Idaho, March 8-12.
 
So that's why Gregg wants her team to right the ship now. The Vikings made some progress in that regard last Thursday at Northern Arizona with their best offensive showing in over a month. They shot 44.1 percent against the Lumberjacks for their best mark from the field since shooting 44.2 percent against Idaho on Jan. 11.
 
The Vikings also made progress on the offensive glass in their last two home games. They recorded 16 offensive rebounds against Idaho on Feb. 6, then followed with 17 offensive rebounds against Eastern Washington on Feb. 8. Those are their two highest totals within Big Sky play this season.
 
They'll need that level of attention on the glass Thursday against a strong rebounding team in Idaho State. The Bengals dominated the Vikings on the glass in their 66-52 win over them on Jan. 25 earlier this season. The Bengals out-rebounded the Vikings 46-to-18 in that game, holding the Vikings to a pair of season lows between total rebounds (18) and rebounding margin (-28). The Vikings' 18 total rebounds were their lowest total since game-by-game records were kept starting with the 2006-07 season.
 
The Bengals head into this week leading the Big Sky in offensive rebounds per game (13.0), while they're ranked second in rebounding margin (+4.8) and fourth in total rebounds per game (37.7). Piper Carlson and Kacey Spink lead the Bengals with 7.4 rebounds per game each, ranking them tied for sixth within the Big Sky Conference individually.
 
The Vikings will counter with Rhema Ogele. She ranks eighth in the conference – just behind Carlson and Spink – with 7.32 rebounds per game. That includes back-to-back double figure rebounding games recently as she followed 11 rebounds against Eastern Washington on Feb. 8 with 12 at Northern Arizona last Thursday. Ogele entered the career top 10 at Portland State with her 12 rebounds against NAU. She can pass Kelli Valentine for eighth all-time with seven more Thursday.
 
Both teams will likely need a strong rebounding game Thursday as points and possessions will come at a premium. Idaho State and Portland State rank ninth and 10th in the Big Sky with 60.6 and 55.1 points per game, respectively. They also rank ninth and 10th in three-pointers made per game (4.96 for ISU, 4.50 for PSU).
 
If either team has a player go off offensively – or earn a bunch of extra possessions via the offensive glass – then that'll be a difference maker.
 
For the Vikings, they could use a big game from Alaya Fitzgerald. Playing in her last game in her home state of Arizona last Thursday, Fitzgerald went off for 25 points, six assists (a season high) and five rebounds. Northern Colorado contained her Saturday, however, as she was held to single digits for only the third time within Big Sky play with eight points on 3-of-13 shooting.
 
Cici Ellington scored in double figures in both games last week. She tied her season high with 13 points at Northern Arizona, then followed with 11 points at Northern Colorado Saturday. Rhema Ogele led the Vikings with 14 points against the Bears.
 
Idaho State has scored by committee this season. No player averages more than 10 points per game, but five different players average at least eight points per game. Sophia Covello tops that group with 9.5 points per game, while Tasia Jordan and Carlson follow her at 9.4 and 9.1, respectively. Halle Wright and Maria Dias both average 8.2 points per game behind those three.
 
Four different Bengals went into double figures in their earlier win over the Vikings this season. Carlson and Kacey Spink did so while also recording double-doubles. Carlson finished with 13 points and 11 rebounds (six offensive), while Spink totaled 12 points, 11 rebounds and five assists. Jordan and Covello were the other two in double figures for the Bengals with 12 and 10 points, respectively.
 
The Vikings can take some confidence from having won their last two home games against the Bengals. Last season, the Vikings snapped a 15-game losing streak with a 59-53 victory over the Bengals on Feb. 10, 2024.
 
The Vikings played with a sense of urgency in ending that losing streak. That's what they'll look to do again Thursday.
 
PROMOTIONS
Thursday's game is sponsored by OnPoint Community Credit Union. It will also be the Vikings' Black History Month game.
 
GAME #23: PORTLAND STATE (4-18, 1-12) vs. IDAHO STATE (9-15, 4-9)
GAME DETAILS: Thursday, Feb. 20, 7 p.m. PT, Portland, Ore. (Viking Pavilion)
LIVE STATS | LIVE VIDEO
SCOUTING IDAHO STATE: The Idaho State Bengals had a strong weekend at home last week, beating Montana 66-46 on Thursday before challenging unbeaten Montana State Saturday. The Bengals only trailed the Bobcats by four with 6:56 remaining in the fourth quarter before ultimately falling 74-60. Besides their win over the Lady Griz, the Bengals also sport wins over Northern Colorado, 58-50, on Jan. 4, Portland State, 66-52, on Jan. 25, and Idaho, 52-44, on Feb. 1. Out of their four conference wins, only the victory over Idaho came on the road. Statistically, the Bengals have been strongest in the paint where they dominate defensively and on the glass. Defensively, the Bengals lead the Big Sky with 3.8 blocks per game as a team. Tasia Jordan (0.81 blocks per game) and Halle Wright (0.72) lead the Bengals individually, but five different players average at least 0.5 blocks per game. On the glass, the Bengals lead the conference in offensive rebounds per game (13.0) while ranking second in rebounding margin (+4.8) and fourth in total rebounds per game (37.7). Piper Carlson and Kacey Spink lead the Bengals with 7.4 rebounds per game each, ranking them tied for sixth within the Big Sky Conference individually. Spink has been the do-everything player for the Bengals this season. In addition to her 7.4 rebounds per game, Spink ranks second in the conference in steals per game (2.54), as well as fifth in assists per game (3.6). All while also scoring 6.6 points per game. No Bengal averages more than 10 points per game, though five different players average at least eight points per game. Sophia Covello tops that group with 9.5 points per game, while Jordan and Carlson follow her at 9.4 and 9.1, respectively. Wright and Maria Dias both average 8.2 points per game behind those three. Four different Bengals went into double figures in their earlier win over the Vikings this season. Carlson and Spink did so while also recording double-doubles. Carlson finished with 13 points and 11 rebounds (six offensive), while Spink totaled 12 points, 11 rebounds and five assists. Jordan and Covello were the other two in double figures for the Bengals with 12 and 10 points, respectively.
ALL-TIME SERIES: The Bengals lead the all-time series between them and the Vikings, 45-26. It's been an even series of late with the teams 3-3 in their last six meetings. The Bengals dominated the series before that stretch, winning 22 of 23 from Feb. 10, 2011, to Feb. 26, 2022. The Bengals beat the Vikings 66-52 in Pocatello on Jan. 25 earlier this season. The Vikings have won their last two home games against the Bengals, including a 59-53 win on Feb. 10 last season that snapped a 15-game losing streak for the Vikings at the time.
 
STORYLINES/STREAKS/RECORDS

• The Vikings dropped a road game, 68-50, at Northern Colorado Saturday. It was the Vikings' ninth loss in a row and their 16th out of their last 17 games.
• Northern Colorado had been the one Big Sky team the Vikings had beaten when they won 58-52 on Jan. 16. But the Bears reversed several key statistical categories that the Vikings won last time. They out-rebounded the Vikings Saturday (36-31) after the Vikings won the battle the first time around (35-28). They also outshot the Vikings (.444-to-.365) after the Vikings outshot them the last time (.439-to-.407). The Vikings also had as many turnovers in the second half Saturday (11) as they had over the entire game last time.
• The Vikings shot 44.1 percent (26-of-59) from the field last Thursday against Northern Arizona. That was 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 their 67 points against Seattle U on Nov. 16.
• Alaya Fitzgerald scored 16 of the Vikings' first 32 points against NAU last week while finishing with a game-high 25 points. It was her fourth 20-point game as a Viking, with two of those four games coming against Northern Arizona. She was held to just eight points on 3-of-13 shooting Saturday at Northern Colorado, however.
• After committing 12 or fewer turnovers in five straight games going into last week, the Vikings committed 16 turnovers Thursday at NAU, then 15 Saturday at Northern Colorado. The Vikings remain ranked ninth in the Big Sky with a negative-3.55 turnover margin.
• The Vikings went a combined 6-of-31 (.194) from three-point range across both games last week. That snapped a strong stretch for the Vikings from three-point range. They went 8-of-21 (.381) from three-point range against Eastern Washington on Feb. 8. Between their four home games from Jan. 30 to Feb. 8, the Vikings averaged 6.25 three-pointers made per game. That's a big jump from their season long average of 4.5 makes per game.
• Big Sky opponents have outscored the Vikings 231-171 (4.62 points per game) in the third quarter this season, while they hold a 477-358 (9.16 points per game) advantage in the second half.
• Alaya Fitzgerald has scored in double figures in 10 of the Vikings' 13 Big Sky games this season. She heads into this week averaging 14.2 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game within Big Sky play. Across all games, Fitzgerald ranks ninth in the Big Sky in points (12.5), 15th in three-pointers made (1.43) and third in minutes played (33.2) per game.
• Rhema Ogele entered the career top 10 with 12 rebounds last Thursday at NAU, moving past two players to ninth all-time. Within this season, she ranks eighth in the Big Sky with 7.32 rebounds per game. She also ranks fourth in the conference in offensive rebounds (2.77) and 11th in defensive rebounds (4.55) per game.
• Sixty points has been the magic number for the Vikings this season, more so defensively than offensively. Defensively, the Vikings are 3-1 when holding opponents below 60 points and 1-17 when they don't. Offensively, the Vikings are 3-4 when scoring 60 or more points this season and 1-14 when they don't.
• Defensively, the Vikings ranks third in the Big Sky in three-point field goal percentage defense (.294). They had ranked in the top half of the Big Sky for scoring defense, but their last nine opponents have all scored more than 60 points against them.
• Cici Ellington has started the last seven games for the Vikings, marking a triumphant return from a two-year injury absence. She tied her season high with 13 points to go with five rebounds last Thursday at Northern Arizona, then scored in double figures again with 11 points at Northern Colorado Saturday.
• Kyleigh Brown has scored in double figures in six of the Vikings' 13 Big Sky games. She ranks second to Fitzgerald with 8.7 points per game within conference play.
• Laynee Torres-Kahapea leads the Big Sky while playing 34.9 minutes per game. She also ranks 12th in the Big Sky with 2.50 assists per game.
• Lana Wenger scored in double figures for a sixth time this season with 12 points last Thursday at Northern Arizona. Plagued by injuries at various points this season, Wenger still averages 7.8 points and 4.1 rebounds for the Vikings.
• 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."

 
IMPROVING OFFENSE
The Vikings didn't come away with the win, but last Thursday's game at Northern Arizona still represented the team's best offensive showing in over a month. The Vikings shot 44.1 percent (26-of-59) from the field against the Lumberjacks for their best shooting percentage since they shot 44.2 percent (23-of-52) against Idaho on Jan. 11. The Vikings' 67 points against NAU also tied their most in regulation this season, matching the Vikings' total in their win over Seattle U on Nov. 16. The Vikings were coming off a strong offensive weekend against Idaho and Eastern Washington. The Vikings recorded 16 offensive rebounds against Idaho on Feb. 6, then followed with 17 against Eastern Washington last Saturday. Those are their two highest totals within Big Sky play. Additionally, the Vikings tied their season low with only eight turnovers against Idaho last week. They had recorded 12 or fewer turnovers in four of their previous five games before committing 16 against NAU Thursday and then 15 at Northern Colorado Saturday. Three-point shooting also dipped on the road last week – the Vikings went a combined 6-of-31 (.194) from beyond the arc against NAU and Northern Colorado – but they've had a couple of strong showings recently. The Vikings tied their season high with nine three-pointers on 50.0 percent shooting from deep against Montana on Jan. 30. They nearly matched that with eight three-pointers on 38.1 percent shooting against Eastern Washington on Feb. 8. They averaged 6.25 three-pointers made per game over their last four home games from Jan. 30 to Feb. 8, a significant uptick from their season-long average of 4.50 makes per game.
 
DEFENSIVE STRENGTH
The Vikings held Northern Colorado to 52 points in their lone conference win of the season on Jan. 16. 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-low 52 points in a non-conference win on Nov. 24. The Vikings' last nine opponents have all topped 60 points, including 85 and 83 points for Montana State Northern Arizona on Feb. 1 and Feb. 13, respectively. But defense has still been a strength for the Vikings this season. They showed that early with the Cal State Fullerton game. The Vikings held the Titans to 28.6 percent (18-of-63) from the floor, the lowest mark by a Viking opponent since Idaho shot an identical percentage against the Vikings on Jan. 7, 2023. Coincidentally, the Vikings would also hold Idaho below 30 percent shooting in their first meeting of 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 usually been key for the Vikings in victories. They are 3-1 when holding opponents below 60 points this season and 1-17 when they don't. Statistically, the Vikings rank third in the Big Sky in three-point field goal percentage defense (.294). They had been consistently ranked in the top half of the conference for scoring defense, too, before Montana State's season-high 85 points on Feb. 1.
 
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. That kicked off what's been a strong conference season for the Viking senior. She nearly matched her conference opener last Thursday night against Northern Arizona. Playing in her home state for the final time of her PSU career, Fitzgerald scored a game-high 25 points while dishing out a season-high six assists to go with five rebounds. Fitzgerald heads into this week having scored in double figures in 10 of the team's 13 conference games. That includes the two 20-point games against Sacramento State and Northern Arizona. Fitzgerald reached the 1,000-point career milestone in the first half against Eastern Washington on Feb. 8 while tying for the game high with 17 points. She reached another milestone last Thursday with her 100th-career start, becoming just the 10th player to start 100 games in program history. Within Big Sky play this season, Fitzgerald is averaging 14.2 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.2 steals per game. Across all games, Fitzgerald ranks ninth in the Big Sky in points (12.5), 15th in three-pointers made (1.43) and third in minutes played (33.2) per game.
 
CALL HER SHERWIN-WILLIAMS BECAUSE SHE OWNS THE PAINT
One of two four-year starters on the roster with Alaya Fitzgerald, Rhema Ogele has owned the paint for the Vikings. She's scored in double figures 10 times this season, including four double-doubles. The latest double-double came in the team's last home game against Eastern Washington on Feb. 8 as she finished with 15 points and 11 rebounds (five offensive) to go with three assists. Ogele's previous double-double came in the team's 58-52 win over Northern Colorado on Jan. 16. She scored a game-high 14 points on 7-of-9 shooting from the floor in the win while adding 10 rebounds. 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 10 double-doubles in her Portland State career, ranking her tied for seventh all-time since game-by-game records were kept starting with the 2006-07 season. She hit another career milestone at Weber State on Jan. 23, when she started her 100th career game. She now ranks tied for sixth in career starts at Portland State and will move up to fourth all-time if she starts every remaining game. Additionally, she entered the career top 10 for rebounds with 12 last Thursday against Northern Arizona. She jumped two players in entering the top 10, as she now ranks ninth all-time with 630 career rebounds. Within this season, Ogele leads the Vikings with 7.32 rebounds per game, ranking her eighth in the Big Sky Conference. She also ranks fourth in the conference in offensive rebounds (2.77) and 11th in defense rebounds (4.55) 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. Recently, Brown has found her stroke again, scoring in double figures in four of the team's last seven games. That includes 17 points behind a career-high three made three-pointers against Idaho on Feb. 6. Outside of scoring, Brown recorded nine assists in the team's first conference win over Northern Colorado on Jan. 16. The nine assists tied the single-game freshman record, while it led the Vikings to a season-high 17 as a team.
 
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 – put together a career performance against Idaho on Feb. 6. She scored a career-high 15 points while tying her career high with five assists. All while not committing a single turnover in the game despite playing nearly 35 minutes. Torres-Kahapea has been the Vikings' Iron Woman this season, as she leads the Big Sky while playing 34.9 minutes per game. She also ranks 12th in the Big Sky with 2.50 assists per game.
 
CICI IS PLAYING A+ IN HER RETURN FROM TWO-YEAR INJURY ABSENCE
A former OSAA 6A State Co-Player of the Year, Cici Ellington went through a two-year injury absence before arriving at Portland State. Her first game back in two years came against Air Force on Dec. 20. Her first points in nearly three years came against Eastern Washington on Jan. 9, while her first start since the 2021-22 season came against Idaho State on Jan. 25. All the milestones have been rewards for Ellington's increasingly strong play for the Vikings. She scored a season-high 13 points against Northern Arizona on Jan. 18, then matched that in the Vikings' second game against NAU last Thursday. She went into double figures again Saturday with 11 points against Northern Colorado. Against Montana on Jan. 30, Ellington scored 11 points while grabbing a season-high six rebounds.
 
SHE'S HER FROM HERSBERG
Lana Wenger – from Hersberg, Switzerland – made an immediate impact at the start of Big Sky play as she returned 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 the Vikings' breakthrough win over Northern Colorado on Jan. 16, scoring 13 points on 6-of-11 shooting while also grabbing seven rebounds. She came back from another injury last Thursday to score 12 points against Northern Arizona. Wenger has now scored in double figures in six of her 17 appearances this season. Two of her six double-digit scoring games came 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.
 
SEASON HIGHLIGHTS
Feb. 8, 2025, Eastern Washington 65, Portland State 58: Alaya Fitzgerald became the 22nd player to reach the 1,000-point career milestone at Portland State while finishing with 17 points. Rhema Ogele also recorded her 10th-career double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds.
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.