This season wasn’t the most successful for the Portland State women’s basketball team. After winning the conference and making it to the NCAA tournament last season, the Vikings failed to make it to the Big Sky Conference playoffs this year. The team finished with a 15-14 record (7-9 in the Big Sky Conference).
This season wasn’t the most successful for the Portland State women’s basketball team. After winning the conference and making it to the NCAA tournament last season, the Vikings failed to make it to the Big Sky Conference playoffs this year. The team finished with a 15-14 record (7-9 in the Big Sky Conference).
However, there were some positives from this year’s campaign: the team finished with an overall winning record, and six of its players made the cut for the Big Sky Conference All-Academic teams. To celebrate its accomplishments, the team held its annual banquet last week at the BridgePort BrewPub in Portland, where numerous awards were given out.
Senior Eryn Jones won the team’s Most Valuable Player award. Over the season, Jones averaged 13.3 points and 4.2 assists. Jones led the conference in three-point shots and had a top-10 record in scoring and assists.
Freshman Allison Greene received the Most Improved Player award. She averaged 4.8 points and 2.5 rebounds per game after starting six times this season.
The Best Defensive Player award went to junior Courtney VanBrocklin, who averaged 13.2 points and 3.7 rebounds. She made 45 steals overall and shot just over 90 percent from the free-throw line.
Senior Shauneice Samms won the Team Player award for her unselfish play. She averaged 6 points a game and 3.9 rebounds in 2011–12. She also led the team in shots blocked this season, with 34.
The Viking Power Award went to sophomore transfer Kate Lanz. This award is given to the player who works the hardest during physical conditioning exercises.
Jones, Lanz and Greene also made the Big Sky Conference All-Academic teams along with senior Stephanie Egwuatu, and freshmen Lariel Powell and Mikaela Rivard.
Under current fifth-year head coach Sherri Murrell, the Vikings have finished with a winning record every season. Her overall record is 98-60. The Vikings will miss three outgoing seniors from the current 13-player roster next season, but with new player acquisitions and spring practices, the team should be ready to charge once again next season.
