Bears’ Persistent Offense Dooms Vikings in Road Loss to Northern Colorado

In a challenging matchup, the Portland State women’s basketball team faced a tough defeat against Northern Colorado, losing 80-60 at Bank of Colorado Arena. This game highlighted the persistent offensive strength of the Bears, who significantly outperformed the Vikings in several critical areas.

Bears’ Offensive Strategies Shine

The Bears (13-5, 4-1) came out strong, leading 23-7 after the first quarter. This early dominance was fueled by their rebounding skills, as they secured 8 offensive boards compared to the Vikings’ none. Northern Colorado capitalized on this advantage, forcing six turnovers from Portland State, resulting in 13 fewer field goal attempts for the Vikings.

Turnover and Rebounding Discrepancies

Northern Colorado’s advantage continued as they connected on five consecutive three-pointers, establishing a commanding lead with a 15-1 run that diminished the game’s competitiveness. The Bears scored 24 of their first 37 points from beyond the arc, showcasing their sharp shooting performance. Portland State struggled to close the gap, never reducing the deficit to fewer than 15 points after the initial quarter.

Vikings’ Second Half Improvement

Despite a rocky start, the Vikings managed to out-rebound the Bears overall, finishing the game with 39 rebounds compared to Northern Colorado’s 35. This turnaround was particularly notable given the Bears’ reputation as strong rebounders in the Big Sky Conference.

• Ajae Yoakum was a standout, recording 10 rebounds, 8 points, and 3 assists.
• Cici Ellington, Taylor Moffat, and Jamia Carter contributed with 4 rebounds each.

The Vikings performed admirably in the second half. Coach Karlie Burris noted the hard work of her team’s second unit, who executed the game plan effectively. Despite only shooting 59.3 percent from the free-throw line (16 out of 27), they attempted nine more free throws than the Bears.

Offensive Shooting Efficiency

The Vikings outshot the Bears 44% to 41.2% in field goals, marking a continued trend where they have outperformed opponents in shooting during the Big Sky Conference play.

• Kyleigh Brown and Hannah Chicken each led the scoring for the Vikings with 10 points.
• Moffat tied her season high with 9 points, shooting 75% from the field.
• Carter added a season-best 9 points by going 7-for-13 from the free-throw line.

Looking Ahead

The Vikings, with a 5-11 overall record and 1-3 in conference play, will try to rebound from this loss in their next game against Northern Arizona. Coach Burris emphasized the need for her team to improve their competitiveness and execution in preparation for this crucial matchup.

In summary, the Vikings are facing challenges, particularly at the start of games. They have been outscored by an average of 8.4 points in first quarters during their road games. Improvements are necessary if they wish to turn their season around and contend effectively in future games.