Buzzer Beater Lifts Bengals Past Vikings 91-90

Portland State drops to 10-17 overall, 6-8 in the WCC.

Salem-News.com SPORTS

POCATELLO, Idaho - Junior guard Andrea Lightfoot’s three-pointer at the buzzer lifted Idaho State to a wild 91-90 win over Portland State in a Big Sky Conference game Saturday afternoon at Reed Gym.

With the win, Idaho State evened its record at 13-13 overall, including 9-5 in the Big Sky.

Portland State dropped to 10-17 overall, 6-8 in the conference.

The Vikings still hold a two-game lead over Eastern Washington for the sixth and final spot to the Big Sky Tournament, despite the Eagles’ 66-63 win at Sacramento State.

Portland State can clinch a tournament spot with a win Thursday evening against Northern Arizona at the Peter W. Stott Center, or with an Eastern Washington loss to Northern Colorado Thursday in Cheney, Wash.

Freshman guard Claire Faucher gave Portland State a 90-88 lead on a jumper with 1.5 seconds remaining.

Bengal junior center Natalie Doma then threw full-court pass to sophomore forward Michelle Grohs at the top of the key, who found Lightfoot open on the right wing for the game-winning trey.

Lighfoot and Doma both finished with a game-high 24 points, and Doma also recorded a game-high 16 rebounds to record a double-double.

Senior guard Jeni Boesel added 19 points and junior guard Kaylynn Fager netted 11 as four Idaho State players scored in double figures.

Faucher was one of five Vikings to score in double digits, scoring a season-high 22 points, including the team’s final six points, and also recorded seven assists.

Freshman center Janie Bos added 16, sophomore forward Kelsey Kahle scored 15, freshman center Erin Yankus had 12, and sophomore guard Jenni Ritter scored 10.

Lightfoot gave the Bengals a 10-point lead at 85-75 with 5:03 remaining on a trey, before Portland State would rally.

The Vikings scored seven straight to pull within 85-82 on a lay-up by Bos with 3:12 to go.

After Boesel made 1-of-2 free throws to make it 86-82, Kahle hit a lay-up and Faucher tied the game at 86-86 on a jumper with 2:21 left.

Doma would answer with a jumper to make it 88-86 with 17 seconds left, before Faucher hit her jumper to tie the game and set-up the dramatic finish.

Portland State shot 46.7 percent from the field, making 35-of-75 attempts, and was 15-of-16 from the free throw line.

The Vikings hit on 52.9 percent in the second half, connecting on 18-of-34 shots.

Idaho State made 46.2 percent of its shot from the floor, going 30-of-65, including 8-of-19 from beyond- the-arc.

The Bengals were 23-of-26 from the free throw line.

Idaho State held a 42-35 advantage on the glass.

The Bengals held a 48-44 lead at halftime.

Tip-off for Thursday’s game against the Lumberjacks is set for 7:05 PM.

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