PSU`s Kahle, Faucher Earn Big Sky Honors

PSU will carry a 12-17 overall record into Thursday’s game with Weber State.

Salem-News.com SPORTS

PORTLAND - Portland State sophomore forward Kelsey Kahle was named first team All-Big Sky Conference and freshman guard Claire Faucher was named the Big Sky’s Outstanding Freshman as the conference announced its postseason awards on Monday.

In addition, Kahle was named the Big Sky’s Co-Player of the Week on Monday.

“We’re extremely happy and proud of both Kelsey and Claire,” said third-year head coach Charity Elliott.

“Kelsey is very deserving of this honor and all of the notoriety she has earned this year. Claire has had a tremendous year, especially when you consider that she missed nine games this year. Once she learned our system, she really stepped it up.”

It is the second straight year Kahle has earned first team All-Big Sky honors, and she is the first Viking to earn back-to-back all-conference honors since Sarah Hedgepeth in 2002-03 and 2003-04.

Entering Thursday’s Chinook Wireless Big Sky Tournament quarterfinal game against Weber State, Kahle is averaging 18.3 points, 6.6 rebounds and a conference-leading 2.93 steals per game.

The 5-feet-10 native of Aurora, Ore., ranks third in the Big Sky in scoring and is tied for sixth in rebounding.

In addition, Kahle ranks fourth in the Big Sky in blocked shots at 1.31 per game and is eighth in free throw percentage at 77.8 percent.

Kahle has scored 532 points this season, recording the 11th 500-point season – and the eight player to do so – in school history.

She also became the 12th player in school history to record 1,000 career points with a 23-point effort last Saturday against Northern Colorado.

Kahle tied a Big Sky single-game record with a 41-point outburst in an 80-72 win over Sacramento State on Jan. 25th.

The 41-point performance is tied for the fifth- highest single-game total in the country this season.

In addition, Kahle is 168-of-216 from the free throw line this season, setting new Portland State season records for both free throws made and attempted.

Faucher, 5-feet-9 from Yakima, Wash., leads Portland State with 114 assists while appearing in 20-of-29 games.

She averaged 6.63 assists per game in 16 Big Sky games.

Faucher has recorded four games with at least 10 assists, including a combined 31 in back-to-back games against Sacramento State on Jan. 25 and Idaho State on Jan. 27th.

She had 16 assists against the Hornets, which is tied for the highest single-game total in the country this season.

Faucher then had 15 against the Bengals, tying for the third-highest single-game total in the country this year.

Faucher is also averaging 7.8 points and 3.4 rebounds per game.

Kahle was named the Big Sky Co-Outstanding Freshman last season, making Portland State the first school to have back-to-back recipients of the award since Eastern Washington with Kari Schwenke in 1991-92 and Kristy Missall in 1992-93.

Also on Monday, Kahle earned Big Sky Player of the Week honors for the fourth time this season, sharing the award with Idaho State junior center Natalie Doma.

In wins last week versus Northern Arizona and Northern Colorado, she averaged 20.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, 4.0 steals, 3.5 assists and 2.5 blocks per game.

Kahle recorded 18 points, nine rebounds, four steals and three blocked shots in the 73-65 win over the Lumberjacks.

In addition to her 23 points against the Bears, Kahle had eight rebounds, a career-high seven assists, four steals, and two blocked shots in the 77-63 win.

Portland State will carry a 12-17 overall record into Thursday’s game with Weber State.

The Vikings are the No. 6 seed in the tournament after finishing 8-8 in conference play.

Tip-off for Thursday’s game is scheduled for 4:30 PM, (PST) at the Dahlberg Arena in Missoula, Mont.

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