PORTLAND, Ore. — Back-to-back buckets and a defensive stop gave the Portland State women's basketball the ball back with 19.5 seconds remaining and a chance at a potential game-winner.
 
But an ill-timed turnover gave the ball back to the Lady Griz, who then won the game, 55-53, on a spinning hook shot from Avery Waddington with 1.6 seconds remaining.
 
"I thought we could have done some things differently. But that's why we're here. Hoping it's a character builder because this one really hurts. We're right there. We're going to keep saying it, but we're knocking on the door," Portland State head coach Karlie Burris said afterwards.
 
The Vikings (6-23, 2-15) had given themselves a chance to pull it out with a late comeback earlier in the fourth quarter. Laynee Torres-Kahapea hit a circus shot at the end of the shot clock to make it a one-possession game at 53-51 with 1:07 remaining. She then forced a turnover on the ensuing in-bounds, and the Vikings capitalized with a layup from Cici Ellington that tied the game with 53.6 seconds.
 
But the late-game situations went against the Vikings between the late turnovers and Waddington's winner. It was the second straight game where the Vikings came away unlucky. They were also tied in the final minute against Montana State Thursday, but walked away with a 66-63 loss to the Bobcats.
 
The close defeats are little comfort to Burris, of course. But she hopes they can be lessons for a Viking team still fighting and still learning how to win.
 
"This one, I think it is a character builder, for sure, because this is one we thought we lost. We beat ourselves. So, it's a good feeling when you know you have what it takes and you have people fighting," Burris said.
 
Burris thought the Vikings could have asserted themselves a bit more in the third quarter when they took their first lead on a three-pointer from Ajae Yoakum midway through the quarter. It was Yoakum's first three-pointer of the season – on her Senior Day, no less – and was part of a 9-2 lead that pushed the Vikings into the lead. Torres-Kahapea made the first two baskets in the run with a pair of three-pointers.
 
But the Lady Griz (8-20, 5-12) answered with a three-point play at the end of the shot clock to tie the game immediately. The teams traded baskets from there.
 
Statistically, the Vikings actually outshot the Lady Griz .438-to-.390. The Vikings have now outshot their last three opponents and nine of 17 Big Sky foes, but teams have made up for that by earning extra possessions, which the Lady Griz did Saturday. Montana finished with 11 more field goal attempts than the Vikings Saturday, thanks in part to eight offensive rebounds and 17 PSU turnovers.
 
Burris pointed to the eight offensive rebounds as a key stat after the game. It led to a 10-3 advantage in second-chance points for the Lady Griz, a key swing in what ended up being a two-point game.
 
On the bright side, the Vikings outshot the Lady Griz from three-point range, no small feat considering they came into the game ranked in the top 10 nationally with over nine three-pointers a game. The Vikings went 7-for-17 (.412) from three-point range, one off their conference season high.
 
Taylor Moffat went 3-for-4 from deep while scoring 10 points on her Senior Day. Torres-Kahapea was 2-for-5 from deep, while Yoakum and Hannah Chicken added one each.
 
Torres-Kahapea's three-pointers came as part of a clutch second half for the junior guard. She finished with nine points, six rebounds and five assists while committing only one turnover as she put together one of her most complete performances of the season.
 
"She was big. I thought they were really pesky on us, defensively. Really handsy. But I thought she stepped up, hit some big shots. I thought she was aggressive. That helps. It opens up a lot for us," Burris said of Torres-Kahapea.
 
Ellington recorded a double-double on her Senior Day, finishing with 17 points on 8-for-11 shooting to go with 10 rebounds and three assists.
 
Waddington led the Lady Griz with 29 points on 12-for-20 shooting. It was the second big game for Waddington against the Vikings this season, as she finished with 31 points on 13-for-20 shooting and 10 rebounds in their first game against each other.
 
Saturday's loss locks the Vikings into the 9v10 game at next weekend's Big Sky tournament. Their opponent? Weber State, who they'll close the regular season against Monday at 5 p.m. PT / 6 p.m. MT.
 
"Weber is playing really well. It's tough to play a team three times, especially that close together, but we're going to try to play really well on Monday and have some positivity going into the tournament," Burris said.
 
Game Notes:

• The Vikings fell to 22-60 all-time against the Lady Griz with Saturday's loss.
• The Vikings are 1-2 in one-possession games this season and 2-8 now in games decided by 10 points or less.
• Kyleigh Brown had her 34-game double-digit scoring streak snapped as the Lady Griz held her to a season-low four points.
• Neither team shot a free throw in the fourth quarter, while they combined for only three attempts in the entire second half.
• The Vikings' four made free throws were a new season low for a Portland State team that came in leading the Big Sky in free throws made and attempted per game.
• The Vikings started all five seniors in Ellington, Moffat, Yoakum, Jamia Carter and Alani Encinas.

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