PORTLAND, Ore. – The Bushnell University women's basketball team put up an impressive showing at NCAA Division I Portland State University on Tuesday evening, led by a 22-point performance by
Aspen Slifka in the 69-60 exhibition loss at the Viking Pavilion.
The Beacons (6-3) worked their way back from a 15-point deficit midway through the third quarter, ending the period on an 11-0 run to cut the disadvantage to four. Slifka ended the third with six points in under 90 seconds to bring the score to 51-47.
Bushnell kept the game within single digits until a three-pointer by PSU's Esmeralda Morales brought the score to 69-59 with 01:17 to go in the contest. The Vikings outscored the Beacons, 18-13, in the frame to hold off the comeback.
Morales led all scorers with 26 points, hitting 6-for-9 from beyond the arc. Rhema Ogele finished with 13 points and eight rebounds, while Lana Wenger added 12 points for the Vikings.
Bushnell shot 44.2% (23-52) from the field compared to 41.4% (24-58) for Portland State, but the Vikings hit 10 three-pointers, six from Morales, to come out on top. PSU finished with a 36-28 advantage in rebounds but were held to just six second-chance points despite an 11-6 margin in offensive boards.
Slifka recorded 22 points, six rebounds and three steals for the Beacons, shooting 9-for-19 from the floor.
Ayden Krupke finished with 16 points, hitting three early 3-pointers.
Libby Mathis posted another double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds.
Up next, Bushnell hits the road to take on Walla Walla (Dec. 15) and No. 8 Lewis-Clark State (Dec. 16).
