On the road

The Portland State women’s basketball team is on the road, taking on the Boise State Broncos tonight in the first away game of the season.

The Vikings are off to a 2-0 start for the third straight season under head coach Sherri Murrell and are looking for their first win in Boise after 14 failed tries. The Broncos lead the overall series 24-11. First tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m. PST.

Up to now:
Both teams have started out the season with victories, posting identical 2-0 records. Boise State’s most notable win this season came against Western Oregon, where they nearly doubled the Wolves in a 76-40 win.

The Vikings began the season on Saturday with a buzzer-beating 67-66 victory over Pac-10 Washington before cruising to an easy win over Western Oregon on Monday.

Scouting the Broncos:
A member of the Western Athletic Conference, Boise State went 16-14 overall last season and 9-7 in the WAC.

Named player of the game against Western Oregon, junior Janie Bos led the team in rebounds, rebound average and field goal percentage last season. The 6-foot-1 forward was one of only two players to start every game in the Broncos’ 2008–09 season.

Returning senior guards Tasha Harris and Jessica Van Hoogen both return from injuries that forced them to sit out much of last season. 

Harris and freshman guard Julia Marshall both posted 11 points in the meeting with Western Oregon.

Scouting the Vikings:
Starters senior guard Claire Faucher, junior guard/forward Kelly Marchant and sophomore forward Katy Wade all sat out the game against Western Oregon due to injuries and illness. All are expected to play tonight, returning the Vikings to full strength.

Even with three of the squad’s key players out, Portland State’s depth paid off against Western Oregon. Some players that took the lead against the Wolves were senior forward Erin Yankus, sophomore guard Eryn Jones and junior guard Lexi Bishop.

Faucher, a constant threat on the court, leads the team in assists with nine in only one game. Senior forward Kelli Valentine has started out strong—posting the game-winning basket against Washington and leading the team with 30 points scored. She also proved herself a strong defender with 14 defensive rebounds.