PORTLAND, Ore. – The Portland State women’s basketball team didn’t let up on Wednesday, dominating Seattle U 85-62 at Viking Pavilion. The vikings outscored the Redhawks 27-11 in the final period, securing their largest margin of victory against a Division I opponent since November 12, 2021.
“I was impressed with our total team effort. It took us a while to get going in the first half. But in the second half, we got stops, which just ignited us in transition,” Portland State head coach Karlie Burris said. “That’s a skill. To have a lead and to keep a lead and to extend a lead really. I was proud that the group responded when that was our messaging to them. I think it took everyone. It’s hard to put 85 points on the board, so I’m happy that we did it as a team.”
After an 8-0 start to the fourth quarter,Seattle U briefly threatened,cutting the lead to nine points with 4:45 remaining. A missed three-point play by Seattle U’s Ella Brubaker proved pivotal, as Laynee Torres-Kahapea responded with a three-pointer, followed by a steal and assist from Taylor Moffat to Cici Ellington, and another Ellington three, extending the lead back to 17. The Vikings then closed the game on a 17-3 run.
Three-point shooting was key to Portland State’s success, improving from 4-for-17 in the first half to 8-for-12 in the second. The Vikings finished with 12 made three-pointers, their highest total since November 14, 2023.
“I kind of said that we were settling for some [at halftime]. But I thought the ones we took in the second half,we moved the ball better,played inside-out,and I thought we had some better-looking shots,” Burris said.
Five different Vikings contributed to the three-point shooting, with Torres-Kahapea and Moffat each hitting three, and Ellington, Kyleigh Brown, and Sophie Buzzard each making two. This balanced scoring continued throughout the team, with Ellington (18 points), Brown (16 points), Torres-Kahapea (14 points), Buzzard (12 points), and Moffat (10 points) all scoring in double figures.
Portland state Vikings Dominate Seattle U Redhawks in Second-Half Surge
Portland, OR – December 13, 2023 – The Portland State Vikings (7-5) secured their fifth consecutive victory against the Seattle U Redhawks (4-8) Wednesday night with a commanding 78-58 win.A sluggish start to the third quarter was quickly overcome by a dominant second-half performance, fueled by strong individual efforts and a tenacious team defense.
The Redhawks came out strong after halftime, opening with a 7-1 run and holding the Vikings scoreless from the field for the first 2:45 of the third quarter. A three-pointer by esme Moffat halted the Redhawks’ momentum, igniting a 48-18 run for Portland State over the remainder of the game.
“We haven’t started out third quarters very well, so I told them, ‘we’re not playing hard enough,'” said Vikings Head Coach Chelsey Burris. “And then I felt like they kind of flipped the switch. Our players started playing hard and [Seattle U] started to miss shots, and we were able to score in transition.”
Leading the charge was forward Cici Ellington, who overcame a slow first half to deliver a stellar performance. After scoring just two points in the first 20 minutes, Ellington exploded for 16 points on 6-for-8 shooting, adding 11 rebounds in the second half alone.She finished the game with a team-high 18 points and 14 rebounds, achieving her first double-double since January 8, 2022, while playing for Grambling State.
“I think I was just most impressed with her mental toughness to overcome [a slow start]. Because she was frustrated early.We sat her down early.But just her response was great,” Burris commented on Ellington’s performance. “We all know how talented Cici is. So hopefully,she can get into a little groove and be super consistent. But really proud of her effort tonight and it translated into the box score.”
Ellington was supported by teammate Jada Yoakum, who also recorded a double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds.This marks Yoakum’s second double-double in the last three games, following an 11-point, 14-rebound performance against Kansas City on December 6th. Yoakum contributed significantly in the first half, scoring 10 points and grabbing seven rebounds, alongside teammate Mia Chicken, who also had 10 first-half points.
The Vikings showcased a well-rounded team effort, with different players stepping up at crucial moments. Portland State’s defense was especially impactful, setting a season-high with 13 steals, lead by Chicken’s career-best six steals. They also dominated the boards,out-rebounding Seattle U 45-34,marking their third consecutive rebounding victory and sixth of the season.
Portland State shot efficiently from the field, connecting on 46.5 percent (33-for-71) of their shots, their second-best field goal percentage of the season.
Game Notes:
* Portland State now leads the all-time series against Seattle U 10-9.
* Mia Chicken recorded a career-high six steals.
* The Vikings have won five straight games against the Redhawks.
* Portland State out-rebounded Seattle U 45-34.
* The Vikings shot 46.5 percent from the field.
The Vikings will conclude their non-conference schedule on Sunday, December 17th, with a cross-town rivalry game against the University of Portland at 2 p.m.
Date of Publication: December 14, 2023 (Updated to reflect accurate date of game)
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