Not letting up

If the first weekend of conference play is any indication, Portland State will not suffer a letdown against Big Sky foes after surprising many with solid non-conference play.

Following an easy victory against Sacramento State Thursday night, the Vikings (12-3, 2-0 BSC) rallied for another Big Sky Conference win Saturday, beating Northern Arizona (5-10, 1-1) 71-56.

Earning just their second victory in 13 years in Flagstaff, Ariz., Portland State dominated the glass with an impressive 52-28 rebounding edge.

The Vikings’ stellar rebounding led to 16 second-chance points and was a major reason for the victory, but the story of the night was freshman Kelly Marchant. The 5-foot-10 guard came off the bench to score a career-high 23 points to go with three steals in 25 minutes.

“Kelly gave us a big boost off the bench tonight. She played with a lot of energy in a game that we needed it,” said head coach Sherri Murrell.

Marchant went eight for eight from the free-throw stripe and was one of four double-digit scorers for the Vikings.

Another freshman, forward Kelly Valentine, added 12 points and seven rebounds, while sophomore point guard Claire Faucher, who leads the nation with 9.6 assists per game, pitched in 12 points and seven helpers. Recording her fifth double-double of the season, junior forward Kelsey Kahle, had 10 points and 12 rebounds.

After playing away from the South Park Blocks the entire month of December due to the flooding of their home court inside the Stott Center, the Vikings are eager to return home this week.

“All of this travel has been really rough on the team,” Murrell said. “This conference is tough for travel because some of the teams are so far apart.”

Saturday’s victory was the fifth road-win for Portland State this season, which is already better than the Vikings’ 4-11 road record last season.

“In this conference you learn to be happy with a split in your two road games, so coming away with two wins on the road is real big for this team,” Murrell said.

This victory was perhaps an early indicator of the development this young Viking squad has made under Murrell and her staff in only their first year at Portland State.

“We started a little flat but this team seems to always find a way to get their energy level up, and we ended up playing well in the second half,” Murrell said of the Vikings after Saturday’s victory.

When: 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 10

What: Portland State (12-3, 2-0) vs. Weber State (6-7, 0-1)

Where: Stott Center

On the air: AM 910 KTRO (radio)

Probable starters:

Weber State G Tonya Schnibbe G Ahkiah Hunter F Jessica Smith F Sara Tuomi C Tashina Taylor

Portland State

G Claire FaucherG Lexi BishopG Delaney ConwayF Kelsey KahleF Kelli Valentine

Stars: Hunter is averaging 12 points and three assists per contest, while Tuomi leads the Wildcats with 16 points and seven rebounds a game.

Just a taste: The game features two teams seemingly headed in different directions. The Vikings have won three in a row, while Weber State has lost four consecutive games and dropped their Big Sky Conference opener last weekend. Expect the Vikings to be rejuvenated as they appear in their first game at the Stott Center since their Nov. 25 victory over Gonzaga.