The Portland State women’s basketball team takes on the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks tomorrow night in the second consecutive road game of Big Sky Conference action. After last nights loss to Northern Colorado, the Vikings are second in the conference standings with a 3–1 league record.
Tip-off is slated for 5:35 p.m. at the J.L. Walkup Skydome in Flagstaff, Ariz.
Scouting the Lumberjacks
Northern Arizona, currently 3–14 this season and 1–3 in the Big Sky, are placed sixth in the conference. The Lumberjacks broke a two-game losing streak with a victory over Weber State last weekend, but lost to Eastern Washington last night.
Freshman guard Amy Patton, who leads the conference with six double-doubles through 16 games, will likely be spearheading the Lumberjacks’ offense on Saturdays’ night. Patton also leads the conference with an average of
22 points per game in league play and was selected as a Co-Player of the Week on Monday.
Scouting the Vikings
The Vikings are coming into Saturday night’s match-up off a 72–68 loss against Northern Colorado, and are 9–8 overall and 3–1 in Big Sky play. Portland State has been stellar on their home court, winning both conference games played at the Stott Center this season.
Last Friday, the Vikings came back from an unbelievable 20-point deficit to win at home against Montana State. Senior guard Claire Faucher had an impressive late-game resurgence, scoring 25 of her 28 points in the second half. The win was also head coach Sherri Murrell’s 200th career victory.
On Saturday, the Viks won another at the Stott after restricting Montana to just 47 points.
Past matchups:
The Vikings have dominated their recent clashes with the Lumberjacks, winning five of the last six meetings. In the last four games, the margin of victory was in double digits. In their last meeting, back in February 2009, Portland State defeated the Northern Arizona squad, 69–57 in Flagstaff.
What: Portland State (9–8 overall, 3–1 Big Sky)
at Northern Arizona (3–14 overall, 1–3 Big Sky)
When: 5:35 p.m., Saturday
Where: Flagstaff, Ariz.
Coverage: 800 AM, KPDQ or www.goviks.com