PSU`s Season Ends With 77-67 Loss to Weber State in Big Sky Tournament

The Vikings finished their season 12-18.

Salem-News.com SPORTS

MISSOULA, Mont. - Weber State used a 19-2 run over a 6:40 span in the second half to break open a five-point game en route to a 77-67 win over Portland State in the quarterfinals of the 2007 Chinook Wireless Big Sky Women’s Basketball Tournament.

The Wildcats (17-13) will next face Idaho State (15-13) in Friday’s semifinals, while the Vikings finished their season 12-18.

Senior guard Laura Porter ignited the decisive run with a trey to make it 53-45, as Porter and senior guard Chelsey Warburton combined for 11 straight points as the Wildcats built a 61-45 lead with 7:43 to go.

Portland State’s only basket during the 6:40 span was a lay-up by sophomore guard Claire Faucher to make it 61-47 with 6:59 remaining.

Warburton capped the run with a trey to give Weber State its largest lead of the night at 22, 69-47, with 4:55 left.

The Vikings would answer with a 16-2 run to pull within eight at 71-63 with 1:52 to go, but would get no closer than seven points, at 73-66, with 36 seconds remaining.

Warburton would finish with a game-high 30 points, while Porter and junior guard Sara Tuomi both netted 14.

Sophomore forward Kelsey Kahle led Portland State with 24 points. Faucher added 15 and sophomore forward Stephisha Walton had 14.

Weber State shot 40.3 percent from the field, making 25-of-62 shots, including 7-of-19 from three-point range.

Portland State finished at 37.7 percent, hitting 23-of-61 attempts. However, the Vikings went 3-of-14 from beyond-the-arc.

The Wildcats held a 45-39 advantage on the boards, led by freshman forward Jessica Smith’s nine boards.

Kahle and freshman center Erin Yankus each had eight rebounds for Portland State.

Faucher was credited with a game-high eight assists.

Portland State led 16-13 with 9:27 left in the first half after a Walton jumper, before Weber State scored 15 straight to take a 28-16 lead. The Wildcats would carry a 34-25 advantage into halftime.

The Vikings opened the second half on a 12-3 spurt to pull within two at 39-37 with 15:32 remaining, but were never able to tie the game or take the lead.

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