YOUR GUIDE INSIDE THE NEXT GAME

Portland State 2-15 (0-5 Big Sky)
Sacramento State 5-13 (1-4 Big Sky)

Saturday, 2 p.m. Stott Center

The Vikings should come into their Saturday afternoon match-up against Sacramento State hungry and tired. Sacramento State offers the young Vikings a golden opportunity for a win. Portland State is currently struggling through a miserable season that includes their current eight-game streak of futility and has seen key players drop to injuries at an alarming rate.

Among the injured are posts Marci Garski and Kathryn Taylor. Garski has been sidelined since early January, and Taylor went down just last week. The Vikings could potentially be without Sharon Wahinekapu as well, but she has been practicing and could play if needed. Marla Morin will not be available either, even though she is one of few Vikings still healthy. Morin has a prior commitment and will return to the team following the weekend. JJ Magee is not expected to play as well.

All of these injuries could spell big trouble for the Vikings’ quest to win their first Big Sky conference game, though the team gets a huge boost from the return of Heidi Stuart, who has been cleared to play following a partial tear of her lateral meniscus tendon last week at Montana.

Sacramento State will rely on Tyeisha Brown, a senior guard who leads the Hornets with 10.2 points a game as a sub. Their offense, much like the Vikings’, is team oriented, as is their defense. The Hornets lead the Big Sky in steals, notching over 11 picks per game. The Vikings will most likely play with seven active players.

The math is not encouraging when you consider that NCAA rules state that games are five-on-five. The Vikings will have only two players in reserve and will just have to get after it and hope for the best.