Box Score
Media Book | Final Stats | Photo Gallery
PORTLAND, Ore. – In a back and forth contest that included six tied scores and 10 lead changes, Portland State (8-8, 1-2 BSC) hit 8-of-8 at the line in the final 53 seconds to overcome Idaho State (11-5, 2-1 BSC) 89-79 at the Peter W. Stott Center Monday night. Portland State captured its first conference victory of the season that ended Idaho State's eight-game win streak.
Portland State opened the contest on a hot streak hitting 6-of-6 from the floor in the first 3:49 to hold a 16-8 lead. Idaho State snapped back with an 8-0 run. The contest continued to go back and forth as the teams exchanged three-pointers.
Idaho State nailed 8-of-15 (53.3 percent) from the arc in the first half while Portland State was 7-of-12 (58.3 percent). Sophomore guard Kaela Oakes hit 4-of-5 from the arc in the first half. She knocked down 5-of-7 from three-point range for the game, 10-of-18 from the field and three from the line to record a career-high 28 points.
Oakes wasn't the only player hot from the arc as Portland State's Eryn Jones was unstoppable hitting a school record 6-of-6 from distance. Portland State shot 60 percent (9-of-15) from three point range for the game. ISU's three-point shooting fell to 14.3 percent (1-of-7) in the second half and overall shooting fell to 46.9 percent (15-of-32) from the field.
Portland State would post three players in 20-plus scoring led by Allie Brock with a career-high 22 points, Jones with 21 and Courtney VanBrocklin with 20.
“They did an amazing job shooting the ball,” said Assistant Coach Jordan Green of Portland State after the game on the ISU radio postgame show. “Eryn Jones was unbelievable tonight from the three-point line. We knew at half-time going in that we would have to play better defense to pull it out and they were on fire and got the win.”
Idaho State had four players in double-figure scoring. Senior guard Chelsea Pickering maintained her scoring average for the season attaining 18 points. Freshman guard Lindsey Reed and sophomore forward Ashleigh Vella chipped in 13 and 11 points, respectively. Reed's 13 points were all collected in the first half.
Portland State edged out the Bengals 46-41 at the break. Idaho State held its largest lead of the game with six points which capped a 9-0 run with 14:15 remaining in the second half. However, the Vikings responded with a 13-0 run over 3:47 to hold a seven-point lead. Idaho State's starting line-up that played 30-plus minutes each was worn down and could not recover.
The Viking's overall shooting kept them in the game hitting 50.9 percent (29-of-57) from the field while their free throw shooting 81.5 percent (22-of-27), making 17 shots from the line in the second half alone kept them out of Idaho State's reach in the final minutes.
The Bengals continue its long road stretch with their third of the four road game streak. Idaho State will travel to Montana on Thursday, Jan. 20 to play the Lady Griz at the Dahlberg Arena. Tip-off is at 7 p.m.
--www.isubengals.com--
