KAHLE OUT RUNS WOMEN’S HOOPS, LEADING PORTLAND STATE TO 76-65 VICTORY

2/23/2007

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - In a fast-paced affair between two teams determined to push the tempo, Portland State’s Kelsey Kahle scored a game-high 28 points leading the Vikings to a 76-65 victory over Sacramento State on Thursday night at the Nest.

Portland State improves to 10-16 on the year and 6-7 in the Big Sky standings, moving into a two-way tie with Montana State for fifth place.

With the loss, the Hornets (3-24, 1-12 Big Sky) are now officially eliminated from postseason contention, and have three games remaining on the schedule. Their final home game is set for a 2:05 p.m. tip against Eastern Washington (8-18, 3-10 Big Sky) on Saturday. Sacramento State then closes out the season at Montana (Mar. 1) and at Idaho State (Mar. 3).

Just a sophomore, Kahle came into the game as the third leading scorer in the Big Sky, averaging 17.9 points per game. Her 28 points came on a 12-of-21 performance, and were mostly converted underneath the basket and on fast break opportunities.  

Sacramento State led by as many 10 points in the first half, but Portland State ended the final five minutes of play on a 15-5 run, and took a 36-34 lead into the locker room after Stephisha Walton’s layup with 53 seconds remaining.

In the second half, the Hornet offense sputtered early on, missing two jumpers and committing four turnovers in the opening five minutes. Sacramento State finally got going with free throws from Stephanie Cherry, and buckets from Ashley Storms and Kim Sheehy.

Sophomore forward Becca Reams led Sacramento State with 18 points, just two shy of her career high. The 2004 graduate of Placer High School was 6-of-11 from the floor and nearly perfect from the free-throw line (6-of-7), while adding six rebounds. She is now averaging 8.6 points per game against Big Sky competition.

After a layup from Cherry with 12:14 to go, Sacramento State trailed only 49-46, but it was the closest the Hornets would come the rest of the way. Kahle scored 20 of her 28 in the second half, while Claire Faucher posted a double-double with 13 points and 12 assists.

Also scoring in double figures for Sacramento State was Cherry, who contributed 14 points and a team-leading four assists without leaving the floor for the entire 40 minutes. Her 839 career points are now tied for 10th in program history.

Storms added 11 points and six rebounds, while Sheehy was 5-of-12 from the floor for 11 points.

Sacramento State plays its final game of the 2006-07 season at the Hornets Nest on Saturday, hosting Eastern Washington at 2:05 p.m. Prior to the game, seniors Stephanie Cherry, Kim Sheehy and Ashley Storms will be honored for their contributions to the program.