When: 7:05 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 21What: Portland State (18-7, 8-4 BSC) vs. Northern Colorado (11-12, 5-5 BSC)Where: Stott CenterOn the air: Goviks.com (audio)
Probable Starters:
Portland State G Claire Faucher G Kelly Marchant F Delaney Conway F Kelsey Kahle C Kelly Valentine
Northern ColoradoG Lizzie CooperG Jamie SchroederF Courtney StoermerF Chelsie LuhringC Danielle Hagen
Stars: Junior guard Jamie Schroeder, who ranks near the top of the Big Sky in scoring and rebounding, leads the Bears, the offensive end and in the paint. She has recorded three double-doubles thus far this season, and scored 17 points when Northern Colorado defeated the Vikings earlier this season. Senior center Danielle Hagen is one of the conference’s premier interior threats, averaging nearly 13 points per game, and nearly nine rebounds.
Just a taste: The Vikings will look to avenge their close loss to the Bears earlier this season while keeping pace in the race for the Big Sky regular-season championship. Northern Colorado is coming off a 12-day layoff, and will likely pressure Portland State with their aggressive defense. In the two teams’ meeting on Jan. 19, the Vikings shot a season-worst 27.7 percent from the field and managed just 56 points, their lowest total of the season.