PORTLAND, Ore. – Portland State shot 55% for the game and turned a two point halftime lead into a 73-59 win on Saturday afternoon in Portland. NAU junior Amy Patton scored a game-high 24 points to go with six assists and sophomore Amanda Frost totaled 14 points on 6-of-6 shooting as NAU dropped to 2-9 in the Big Sky and 7-16 overall. Portland State improved to 5-5 in conference and 13-9 for the season.

The Lumberjacks jumped to a 6-0 lead to open the game before Portland State responded with an 11-0 run, holding NAU scoreless for more than five minutes. Down 21-12 with 8:43 to play, NAU used a 7-0 run, capped by a three-point strike from Frost, to get within two points at 21-19. A Patton jumper moved NAU back even at 23-23 with 4:57 remaining, but Portland State responded to take a 31-24 lead. NAU ended the half with a Patton jumper and a three-pointer by Tyler Stephens Jenkins to get within two points heading to the intermission.

NAU could not continue its momentum to open the second period, as the Vikings began the half on an 8-0 spurt to take a 39-29 lead. A jumper by Patton ended the run, but NAU could get no closer than nine points down for the remainder of the contest. A Patton three-pointer brought the Lumberjacks within 57-45 with 9:22 to play, but a 12-4 Portland State run would give the Vikings a game-high 20 point lead at 69-49 with 4:54 remaining. NAU outscored PSU 10-4 to end the game as the final settled at 73-59.

Patton was 10-of-19 from the field and added six assists and four rebounds, making a pair of three-pointers. Frost had four boards and two steals to go with her perfect shooting day, and sophomore Khyra Conerly contributed eight points, a team-high five rebounds, and two steals. The Lumberjacks played without senior Caty Huntington and sophomore Shay May after both suffered injuries on Thursday.

NAU shot 44% and made five three pointers, but was 4-of-9 from the free throw line. The Vikings held a 33-26 rebounding edge and shot 59% to take over the game in the second half. Both teams committed 18 turnovers, and four Vikings finished with double-digit scoring totals.

The Lumberjacks play their final Big Sky road games of the year next week, playing at Idaho State on Thursday and Weber State on Saturday.