In both of their games this season the Portland State women’s basketball team (2-0) has fallen behind by double digits early in the second half and, in both contests, responded in courageous fashion. First, the Vikings defeated Binghamton last weekend. This time, the Vikings beat the Utah State Aggies (0-3) 61-59 in the Stott Center Friday night.
While both teams struggled from the field, it was the Vikings who dug in the last few minutes, making several key plays down the stretch to land first-year head coach Sherri Murrell her second victory at Portland State.
Sophomore point guard Claire Faucher regained her shooting touch after struggling in the squad’s first game, making 7 of 12 attempts including a three pointer that tied the game at 59 points with over a minute remaining.
Junior forward Kelsey Kahle had 14 points and collected five rebounds, but it was the Vikings’ lone senior Delaney Conway who sealed the victory, as the guard hit two clutch free-throws with four seconds remaining. A half-court desperation heave by an Aggie player fell short at the buzzer.
Both squads shot under 40 percent from the field for the game, but the Vikings were a respectable 5 of 10 from the three-point arc while holding Utah State to 3 of 14 shooting from downtown.
Portland State heads to the Chiles Center to face the University of Portland on Tuesday night, before returning home to the Stott Center to face Cal State Northridge Friday evening.