Vikings squeeze out a win

In a weekend laden with Portland State defeats, the women’s basketball team provided the lone bright spot, notching a gritty victory against the Binghamton Bearcats in their first regular-season game of the year Saturday night.

Trailing Binghamton by 10 points with just over eight minutes remaining and without junior forward Kelsey Kahle, who was sidelined after a collision with a Binghamton player, the Vikings rallied to erase the deficit, earning a victory for first-year head coach Sherri Murrell in her debut.

“I was really proud of our players tonight, but we obviously have lots of work to do,” Murrell said.

All of Murrell’s concerns about her team’s performance surfaced in the first contest, as the Vikings had a hard time playing consistent defense, staying out of foul trouble, rebounding, and were plagued with turnovers.

Despite multiple setbacks and losing Kahle for much of the second half to a swollen and blackened eye, the team responded to Murrell’s call for a gutsy team, executing well late in order to secure the victory.

“We were able to make some adjustments and the players really responded well tonight against a very good and physical team,” Murrell said.

Sophomore point guard Claire Faucher struggled on the offensive end the entire game, but redeemed herself in the final few moments with an important steal. The steal set up freshman forward Kelli Valentine’s jump shot with 51 seconds left, giving the Vikings their first lead since early in the second half.

Binghamton senior center Laine Kurpniece had an opportunity to tie the game with six seconds left as she stepped to the line for two foul shots. Kurpniece, who had made 12 straight free throws, missed both, and Faucher was able to run out the clock.

“We were probably a little lucky to get the win tonight, but we’ll take it,” Murrell said.

The Vikings return to the Stott Center to take on Utah State at 7:05 p.m. Friday night. Vikings vs. Binghamton Pts, Reb, Ast, Min Kelsey Kahle, F 18, 3, 0, 26Erin Yankus, C 9, 7, 1, 31Delaney Conway, W 9, 8, 1, 38Claire Faucher, PG 7, 6, 5, 33Lexi Bishop, W 5, 2, 1, 21 Kelli Valentine 9, 3, 1, 20Katia Hadj-Hamou 3, 1, 2, 11