The Sacramento State women’s basketball team fell just short against the Portland State Vikings 74-65 Saturday afternoon.

After a humongous 74-67 win over Eastern Washington Thursday night, Head Coach Dan Muscatell’s squad hoped to extend its winning streak to three games.

Both teams started the game quickly as Ashley Garcia made a lay-up to give Sac State the early lead. Kelly Marchant answered right back with an open 3-pointer to give the Vikings the lead.

After almost four minutes of trading baskets, the Portland State offense started to click led by forward Kelli Valentine.

Valentine began the game 3-3 from the field. The Hornets finally stopped the Vikings’ run with a pair of free throws from center Karri Gallagher.

A jumper and a made free throw by Kate Depaepe gave Portland State its largest lead of the game at nine with 10:15 remaining in the first half.

The shots that they could not make for anything began to fall for the Hornets. With 5:20 left to go in the first half Sacramento State went on a streak of its own and tied the game at 27.

Marchant and Valentine both made baskets to give the Vikings the lead again. Sac State went to its bench for a burst of energy.

They found it in freshman guard Nneka Payne. Payne made two 3-pointers near the end of the half to cut the Sac State. deficit to one.

Portland State came out in the second half on fire. Three free throws and a lay up from Kelsey Kahle helped the Vikings to a 12-0 run and a 48-35 lead.

“The game is a game of runs and we just let them get a long run at the end and we couldn’t come back,” forward Erika Edwards said.

Sac State finally settled down as Atty Boyer and Emily Christensen got involved with the action.

When Portland State got the ball back they threw it in low to Valentine, but a charging call gave the ball and the momentum back to the Hornets.

After another 3-pointer by Payne, who finished with 11 points off the bench, a lay up from Charday Hunt trimmed the Viking lead to four.

A 3-pointer by Edwards cut the lead to 52-51, but unfortunately for the Hornets that would be the closest to victory they would get.

Portland State made its free throws when it counted to close out the game.

Sac State beat the Vikings in nearly every statistical category except for the final score.

“It’s frustrating because you always want the (win), it’s what counts. All the other stats don’t really matter,” Boyer said.

Boyer had a great game with 11 points and nine rebounds for the Hornets. Edwards finished with to points, seven rebounds and three assists.

“The first thing that we’ll do Monday is watch the film,” Muscatell said, “and we’ll go through each possession. We’ll talk about what we were doing, what we should have been doing,” Muscatell said.

Sacramento State (4-6, 6-17) will travel to Montana (8-1, 19-4) Thursday to take on the Grizzles.

“We just took the No.1 team in the (Big Sky Conference) down to a one possession game at the last minute of the half and didn’t play a great game offensively,” Muscatell said, “I’m looking forward to next week.”

Andrew Hazard can be reached at [email protected]