GAME #20, ROAD GAME #10
PORTLAND STATE VIKINGS (15-4, 5-1 BIG SKY) AT MONTANA LADY ‘GRIZ (15-4, 5-1 BIG SKY)

GAMEDAY INFORMATION
Date: Thursday, January 31, 2008
Site: Missoula, MT
Arena: Dahlberg Arena (7,500)
Time: 6:05 p.m. (PST)

COVERAGE
AUDIO: www.goviks.com (Rick Stupak play-by-play).
VIDEO: www.bigskytv.org (fee-based service)
LIVE STATS: www.montanagrizzlies.com

STORYLINES: JR F Kelsey Kahle (Aurora, OR/North Marion HS) was named the Big Sky Conference Player of the Week for the third time this season Monday. It is also the ninth time in her career Kahle has won the Big Sky’s weekly honors ... SO G Claire Faucher (Yakima, WA/Eisenhower HS) leads the nation in assists, averaging 8.7 per contest ... Portland State’s 5-1 Big Sky record entering Thursday’s game at Montana matches the Vikings’ best six-game start since joining the conference prior to the 1996-97 season. With a win, the Vikings can improve to 6-1 for the first time-ever.

SERIES INFO
ALL-TIME SERIES: Montana leads 34-7
AT PORTLAND: Montana leads 15-4
AT MISSOULA: Montana leads 17-1
NEUTRAL SITES: Tied 1-1
UNKNOWN SITES: Tied 1-1
LAST VIKINGS WIN: 67-58 (3-8-2003 @ Portland)
LAST LADY ‘GRIZ WIN: 80-61 (2-15-2007 @ Portland)
CURRENT STREAK: Montana has won eight straight

SERIES NOTES: Thursday’s contest will mark the 42nd meeting all-time between Portland State and Montana ... Montana has won eight straight in the series and 15 of the last 17 ... Portland State’s last win against the Lady’ Griz was 67-58 on March 8, 2003 in Portland ... The Lady’ Griz are 18-4 against the Vikings in Big Sky regular-season games ... Montana has won eight straight against Portland State in Missoula, MT, since an 80-74 overtime win by the Vikings on Jan. 21, 2000 ... First-year Portland State head coach Sherri Murrell has an 0-3 career mark against Montana.

LADY ‘GRIZ SCOUTING REPORT:
Head Coach: Robin Selvig (Montana, 1974)
Record at Montana: 687-196 (.778 winning pct./30th year)
Career Record: 687-196 (.778 winning pct./30th year)
Montana will enter Thursday’s game having won 12 of its last 13, following a 73-69 win over Northern Colorado last Saturday in Missoula, MT ... Montana ranks first in the Big Sky in scoring margin (+11.4), 3-FG pct., (38.4) and rebunding (40.6 pg), and is tied with the Vikings for first in the Big Sky in FG pct., (43.9) ... JR G Mandy Morales, the 2006-07 BSC Player of the Year, has appeared in 13-of-19 games, and is averaging a team-best 16.5 points and 5.5 assists per game ... JR G Sonya Rogers is averaging 13.0 ppg ... As a team, Montana is averaging 74.1 ppg ... Opponents are averaging 62.5 ppg and shooting 36.2 pct., from the field against the Lady’Griz.

NEXT GAME: AT MONTANA STATE
GAMEDAY INFORMATION
Date: Saturday, February 2, 2008
Site: Bozeman, MT
Arena: Worthington Arena (7,250)
Time: 6:00 p.m.

COVERAGE
AUDIO: www.goviks.com (Rick Stupak, play-by-play)
VIDEO: www.bigskytv.org (fee-based service)
LIVE STATS: www.msubobcats.com

SERIES INFO
ALL-TIME SERIES: Montana State leads 23-15
AT PORTLAND: Montana State leads 10-8
AT BOZEMAN: Montana State leads 13-4
UNKNOWN SITES: Portland State leads 3-0
LAST VIKINGS WIN: 55-53 (2-3-2007 @ Portland)
LAST BOBCATS WIN: 72-63 (1-6-2007 @ Bozeman)
CURRENT STREAK: Portland State has won one straight and three of last four

SERIES NOTES: Saturday’s contest will be the 39th meeting all-time between the Vikings and Bobcats ... Portland State has won three of the last four meetings, including recording a series sweep in 2006-07 ... The Vikings’ 88-82 win in Bozeman during the 2006-07 season snapped a four-game losing streak to Montana State at the Worthington Arena ... The teams split last year’s series, each winning on its own home floor ... The Bobcats posted a 72-63 win in Bozeman last year on the conference’s opening weekend of play ... The Vikings salvaged a split of the season series with a 55-53 victory inside the Peter W. Stott Center on Feb. 3, 2007 ... First-year Portland State head coach Sherri Murrell is 0-2 all-time against the Bobcats.

BOBCATS SCOUTING REPORT:
Head Coach: Tricia Binford (Boise State, 1995)
Record at Montana State: 23-48 (.324 winning pct./Third year)
Career Record: 23-48 (.324 winning pct./Third year)
Montana State will enter Thursday’s game versus Eastern Washington having dropped two straight ... The Bobcats fell 75-65 to Northern Colorado last Thursday in Bozeman, MT ... Montana State is averaging 70.4 ppg and shooting 42.4 percent from the field ... SR G Rebecca Mercer is one of three Bobcats averaging in double figures in scoring, averaging a team-high 16.9 ppg ... SR F Krislyn Wallace is averaging 12.6 ppg and FR F Sarah Strand is adding 10.9 ppg ... Opponents are averaging 70.8 ppg and shooting 42.6 percent from the field against the Bobcats.

VIKINGS’ 19-GAME TOTALS: The Vikings are 9-0 at home, 5-4 on the road and 1-0 at neutral sites. The 9-0 home start is Portland State’s first since completing a perfect 13-0 home record during the 1995-96 season, while at the NCAA Division II level ... Portland State’s longest win streak this season is five games, twice, from Nov. 10-25 to open the season, and from Dec. 31-Jan. 12 ... The Vikings have lost back-to-back games once this season, at USC (12/21), 75-68, and at Utah Valley (12/29), 104-99 ... Portland State is 14-1 when leading at halftime and 1-3 when trailing at the break ... The Vikings have had 13 double-double performances, the last by SO G Claire Faucher (Yakima, WA/Eisenhower HS) with 12 points and 10 assists last Saturday versus Eastern Washington ... The Vikings are 12-1 when scoring at least 70 points in a game ... Portland State’s average margin of victory is 13.1 points, and its average margin of defeat is 8.8 points.

AFTER 19 GAMES LAST YEAR: The following charts show Portland State’s statistical comparison through 19 games this season compared to last year, and the Vikings’ 19-game records over the last five years:

VIKINGS’ RECORD AFTER 19 GAMES LAST FIVE YEARS

VIKING NOTEBOOOK: Portland State is 27-8 (.765 winning pct.) in home games, including 2-0 at Concordia University, since the 2005-06 season ... Portland State has made at least one 3-FG in 83 consecutive games, the third-longest current streak in the Big Sky behind Northern Colorado (196) and Idaho State (176). The last time the Vikings did not make a trey was at Eastern Washington Feb. 12, 2005 ... The Vikings’ five road wins entering Thursday’s game at Montana is the most by Portland State since going 8-6 on the road in 1998-99 ... Entering Thursday’s game, Portland State has limited the opposition to 59.9 ppg and 38.2 FG pct., over the last seven games ... The Vikings are averaging 11.1 steals per game over the last seven games, including recording a season-high 18 last Saturday against Eastern Washington ... Portland State currently leads the Big Sky in steals, averaging 9.42 per game ... The Vikings also rank first in the Big Sky in assists (17.1 pg), turnover margin (+2.26), and is tied with Montana for first in FG pct., (43.9).

VIKINGS LOOK TO CONTINUE BEST START ON DIVISION I LEVEL: Portland State’s 15-4 record entering Thursday’s game at Montana marks the Vikings’ best record through 19 games on the NCAA Division I level, and ranks among the best in school history. The program’s previous best 18-game record on the Division I level was 14-5 set by the 1990-91 squad that played as an Independent. Since joining the Big Sky Conference and returning to Division I prior to the 1996-97 season, the Vikings’ best 19-game record was 12-7 in 1998-99. Overall, the 15-4 record is Portland State’s best 19-game record since the 1995-96 team was 15-4. The following chart shows the top 19-game starts in program history:

FAUCHER LEADS NATION IN ASSISTS: SO G Claire Faucher (Yakima, WA/Eisenhower HS) ranked first in the nation in assists, through Jan. 27, averaging 8.7 per game. Faucher has been credited with 165 assists in 19 games. San Diego SR G Amanda Rego ranks second in the nation in assists at 8.1 per game. The following chart shows the nation’s top five assist leaders through games played Jan. 27:

FIRST-HALF INDICATOR: Entering Thursday’s game at Montana, Portland State has won 28 of its last 29 games when leading at halftime. The Vikings’ only setback in that stretch, was a 104-99 loss at Utah Valley (12/29), after leading 52-44 at halftime. Conversely, the Vikings are 7-34 (.171 winning pct.) when trailing at halftime dating back to the 2005-06 season, including 1-3 this season. Portland State’s lone win when trailing at the break this year, was on Nov. 25 against Gonzaga at the Stott Center, when the Vikings rallied from a 37-28 halftime-deficit to post a 75-72 win.

VIKINGS SETTING NEW OFFENSIVE STANDARDS: Portland State’s average of 74.8 ppg ranks second in the Big Sky Conference and 21st nationally. The 74.8 ppg is also the Vikings’ highest since joining the Big Sky Conference, in 1996-97, and their highest since averaging 79.0 ppg in their final NCAA Division II season in 1995-96. Portland State’s 43.9 percent FG pct., is also currently the program’s best since entering the Big Sky, and the highest since shooting 46.3 percent in 1995-96. The Vikings enter Thursday’s game tied with Montana for first in the Big Sky in FG percentage.

20/20 VISION: Portland State has had a 20-point scorer in 12 games this season, and has had 13 20-point performances overall. The Vikings are 11-1 (.917 winning pct.) when having a 20-point scorer. JR F Kelsey Kahle (Aurora, OR/North Marion HS) was the last to record a 20-point game, netting 29 in last Saturday’s 77-56 win over Eastern Washington. It was Kahle’s eighth 20-point game of the season. Three other Vikings have also scored 20 points in a game: SR F Delaney Conway (Seattle, WA/Garfield HS), twice, SO G Claire Faucher (Yakima, WA/Eisenhower HS), two times, and FR G Kelly Marchant (Oregon City, OR/Oregon City HS), once.

BIG SKY NOTES: Portland State’s 5-1 Big Sky record matches its best five-game conference start, set by the 1998-99 squad en route to finishing with the Vikings’ best Big Sky record at 12-4 ... The Vikings enter Thursday’s contest at Montana looking for their first-ever 6-1 start in Big Sky play ... Portland State’s average margin of victory in its four Big Sky wins is 20.6 points, with the Vikings’ smallest margin of victory being 12, 81-69 at Sacramento State (1/3) in the Big Sky opener ... Portland State is 72-100 (.419 winning pct.) all-time in Big Sky games ... The Vikings are 46-40 (.535 winning pct.) all-time in Big Sky home games and 26-60 (.302 winning pct.) all-time in conference road games.

KAHLE NEARING 1,400-CAREER POINT MARK: JR F Kelsey Kahle (Aurora, OR/North Marion HS) will enter Thursday’s game at Montana 20 points shy of reaching the 1,400-point mark for her career. Kahle currently has 1,380 career points to rank fifth on the Portland State career scoring list. Kahle is 47 point shy of tying Sheri VanLoo (1980-84) for fourth place with 1,427 career points.

KAHLE NEARING SCHOOL CAREER FT MARK; RANKS ON BIG SKY CHARTS: JR F Kelsey Kahle (Aurora, OR/North Marion HS) is 20 FTs made shy of tying the Portland State career record of 439, held by Laurie Northrop (1988-92) (see the Updated Record Book on pages 30-31). Kahle was 7x9 at the FT line last Saturday at Eastern Washington to surpass Melanie Knott (1988-91), of Weber State, for fourth place on the Big Sky Conference’s career list. The conference record is 477 set by Montana State’s Cass Bauer (1990-94). Current Idaho State SR Natalie Doma is second on the Big Sky career chart with 455. For her career, Kahle is 419x528 (79.4 pct.) from the FT line. The following chart shows the Big Sky career FT leaders:

MARCHANT EMERGING: FR G Kelly Marchant (Oregon City, OR/Oregon City HS) has emerged as another scoring option for the Vikings over the last four games. Entering Thursday, Marchant is averaging 11.6 points in 25.6 minutes per game over the last five contests. She scored a season-high 23 points in the 71-56 win at Northern Arizona (1/5) to begin the stretch. Marchant made her first career start versus Idaho State (1/12), scoring 10 points in 23 minutes. For the season, Marchant is averaging 7.3 ppg. In Big Sky games, she is third on the team in scoring at 10.8 ppg. The following chart shows Marchant’s production in the last five games:

CREMER THRIVING IN CAMEO ROLE: FR C Courtney Cremer (Stayton, OR/Stayton HS) is averaging only 13.0 minutes per game, however, she has been productive in her time on the court. Cremer has season average of 3.1 points and 2.9 rebounds per game. However, her averages per 40 minutes nearly equals a double-double at 9.6 points and 9.1 rebounds per 40 minutes. Cremer’s most productive stretch this season came from Jan. 5-12, when she recorded a combined 14 points and 18 rebounds in 53 minutes against Northern Arizona (1/5), Weber State (1/10) and Idaho State (1/12). She had two points, five rebounds and a season-high four steals in 19 minutes last Saturday versus Eastern Washington.