PORTLAND – Overcoming double-digit deficits on multiple occasions in its first true road game of the year, Fresno State battled but ultimately fell 62-60 at Portland State on Thursday. A career night from Amiee Book kept the contest tight as the fifth-year senior dropped 31 points, shooting 8-of 14 from the 3-point line.
How It Happened
Portland opened on an 8-0 run but Fresno State answered with a pair of 3-pointers from Amiee Book. The Vikings responded with the next seven forcing three turnovers and led 15-6 after the quarter.
Trailing 17-6, Yanina Todorova got to the line, hit both, took the ball off the inbound and it turned it into Book's third 3-pointer of the game. A long rebound and run out led to a layup for Franka Wittenberg to complete a 7-0 run in 58 seconds to quickly cut the deficit to four. Book added eight more points in the final three minutes of the period to help the 'Dogs cut into what was an 11-point advantage for PSU. They trailed 30-24 at the half.
Like the end of the half, Esmeralda Morales opened the third with a 3. The Vikings extended their lead to 10 but with 7:03 on the clock, Fresno State inserted Keely Brown into the game. Her second time checking into the contest, the redshirt sophomore who hadn't stepped into a game since March 20, 2021 due to recovering from an injury that occurred nearly 14 months ago, didn't check back out the remainder of the period. While not connecting from the field, Brown's impact was felt through her defense as the 'Dogs closed the third on a 12-4 run to pull within two at 40-38.
Fresno State clawed back and grabbed their first lead of the night with 7:51 remaining in the game following a pair at the line from Amaya West, two of her season-high 15 points. The Vikings though had another answer. Rather that Morales, it was Jada Lewis sinking back-to-back 3's. A Bulldog turnover and layup forced Fresno State to take a timeout at the six-minute mark with Portland State on an 8-0 run and a seven-point lead.
Like they had all game long, the Bulldogs refused to go away quietly. Trailing by seven with just over two minutes remaining, Todorova hit a 3 from top and a steal at midcourt turned into a layup for the senior to pull the 'Dogs within two. That was as close as Fresno State would though as Lew and Book traded 3-pointers before PSU went 4-of-4 from the free throw line in the in the final 30 seconds.
Notes
Fresno State has allowed 60 points in back-to-back games after not allowing a team to score 60 in its first five games.
The Bulldogs are 0-2 this season when allowing a team to score more than 20 points in a quarter.
Fresno State is 0-3 in games decided by one possession.
Amiee Book scored a career-high 31 points on 11-of-17 from the field.
Book made a career-best eight 3-pointers (8-of-14), one shy of the Fresno State single-game record.
Amaya West scored a season-high 15 points, going 4-of-5 in the second half after starting 1-of-6.
Next Up
Fresno State will remain on the road, traveling down to Sacramento State on Sunday. Tipoff at The Nest is set for noon PT. The game will stream on ESPN+.
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