After exceeding expectations throughout the year, the Vikings’ season likely came to a disappointing end Friday, as Montana overpowered Portland State 94-80. The victory advances the host Grizzlies to the Big Sky Tournament championship game, where they will take on Montana State with an NCAA Tournament berth on the line.
After a 14-year drought between Portland State women’s players recording a triple-double, sophomore point guard Claire Faucher registered her second such performance in less than a week. Behind Faucher’s stellar play, the Vikings overpowered Northern Colorado 82-69 in the Big Sky Tournament quarterfinals.
After being defeated by Weber State in all three of their matchups last season, including the conference championship, Northern Arizona exacted a little revenge in the early game of the Big Sky Conference Tournament Tuesday night, defeating the Wildcats 75-70. The victory propels the Lumberjacks to their third consecutive conference championship game, where they will face Portland State with an NCAA tournament bid at stake at the Rose Garden Wednesday night.
When Portland State made history last night by earning their first ever Big Sky Tournament championship and a berth in the NCAA tournament, there already seemed to be a bit of March Madness in the stands at the Rose Garden.
On the heels of completing their finest regular season in 14 years, several members of the Portland State women’s team claimed Big Sky All-Conference Awards.
Despite completing the best regular season in Portland State Division I women’s basketball history, the Vikings head to the Big Sky Tournament as the No. 4 seed, and will need to reel off three victories in three nights to earn a berth in the NCAA Tournament.
“All five of their starters can score well,” said Portland State head coach Sherri Murrell. In his 30 seasons at the helm, Montana head coach Robin Selvig has led the Grizzlies to 21 conference championships and the school has hosted the Big Sky Tournament 18 times.
Following the abrupt resignation of Tim Bennett several weeks ago, the promotion of former assistant Laura Schott to head soccer coach made few ripples amid the immense success of Portland State’s basketball squads. But playing backup is not a new concept for Portland State soccer.
After beginning their season with a flawless 12-0 home record, the Vikings (20-8, 10-5 BSC) quest for perfection ended in a heartbreaking 74-70 loss to Montana State Thursday night. The defeat also ended Portland State’s hopes for a top-two seed in next week’s conference tournament, as the Vikings are now in a third place tie with the Bobcats (15-12, 10-5).
Despite allowing an overmatched Eastern Washington (4-23, 1-13 BSC) squad to stay in the game well into the second half, the Vikings (20-7, 10-4 BSC) pulled away from the Eagles in the final moments, earning a 75-71 victory Saturday night.
In the midst of playing perhaps their best stretch of basketball this season, Portland State has been stuck in the one place they did not necessarily need to be this week: the practice gym.