The Portland State women’s basketball team had one goal last week: win. Friday night at the Peter Stott Center, the Vikings met the Montana Grizzlies, who handed PSU a loss earlier this year in their venue. This time Portland State had the home court advantage.
The Vikings came out and dominated all throughout the first half and held the Grizzlies to just 27.6 percent shooting from the field compared to 51.7 percent for the Vikings. Portland State took the lead early and never relinquished it. PSU ended the first half with a score of 32-21, thanks in part to a late 11-1 run by the Vikings.
The second half wasn’t much different as PSU continued to put a strangle hold on a team that had yet to lose a conference match up. The Grizzlies’ shots started falling, but it was too late to mount any kind of a comeback. Portland State played right down to the last second and took the win 64-50.
Leading the way for the Vikings was Nikki Petticrew, who shot 56.3 percent from the field and nailed one three pointer for a total of 20 points to go along with seven rebounds. Sarah Hedgepeth was close behind with 16 points and six rebounds.
The Vikings pounded the glass, out rebounding Montana by 20. Portland State also outscored the Grizzlies on points off turnovers and second chance points by 10 each.
Julie Deming (12 points) was the only Grizzly to score in double digits. Tyler Hollie had seven rebounds to add to Montana’s grand total of 20 for the game.
After the win, the Vikings had little time to celebrate before hosting the Bobcats of Montana State Saturday night at the Stott Center.
Portland State controlled the tempo and scoring during the entire first half and looked to have the game in their grasp. However, towards the end of the half, Montana State broke away and regained the lead to end the half 38-31.
It was anyone’s game when the second half got underway, with both teams exchanging the lead eight times. Portland State clawed its way back to within two, but was unable to catch the Bobcats, who scored the last ten points of the game to take the win, 76-64.
Three Vikings scored in double digits. Hedgepeth, Heidi Stuart and Petticrew had 18, 15 and 15 points respectively for the Vikings. Hedgepeth also pulled down six boards to help the Vikings in their efforts, but it wasn’t quite enough to put away the Bobcats who have seven wins and just two losses in conference play.
The Bobcats were led by Jessica Blake and Isabel Stubbs, who had 27 and 20 points respectively. Also Rebecca Alvidrez had 10 rebounds to help Montana State pull out the victory.
The Vikings now begin a three-game road trip starting with Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo, Calif. this Wednesday and then Eastern Washington on Saturday.