Women’s basketball roundup: Gina Marxen’s late free throws lift Idaho over Portland State

Gina Marxen scored 14 points, including the winning free throws with 3 seconds remaining, and Idaho held off Portland State 80-78 Saturday in Moscow, Idaho.

Mikayla Ferenz notched a team-high 16 points to go with seven rebounds and five assists for the Vandals (9-8, 6-2 Big Sky Conference).

Taylor Pierce added 15 points for Idaho. Natalie Klinkler scored 14 and Lizzy Klinkler had 12 points and eight boards.

Lizzy Klinkler drew a charge in the final seconds. Marxen was fouled on the subsequent inbounds pass, setting up the winning free throws.

Sidney Rielly led all scorers with 19 points for the Vikings (14-3, 6-2), whose six-game winning streak was snapped.

Idaho visits Northern Arizona on Thursday.

Sacramento State 73, Eastern Washington 70: Kennedy Nicholas and Hannah Friend scored 17 points apiece as the Hornets (7-9, 3-5 Big Sky) outlasted the Eagles (4-12, 3-5) in Cheney.

Sacramento State led 60-44 at the start of the fourth quarter. The Eagles closed within 71-70 before Nicholas closed the game with two free throws with 9 seconds left.

The win snapped Eastern’s four-game win streak over the Hornets.

Violet Kapri Morrow led Eastern with 27 points and seven rebounds. Morrow moved into 14th place on Eastern’s all-time scoring list with 1,085 points.

Uriah Howard added a season-high 16 points for Eastern, which plays at Southern Utah on Thursday.

Willamette 80, Whitworth 74: Brittany Kochenderfer totaled 27 points, 10 rebounds and five steals, and the Bearcats (8-11, 3-7 Northwest Conference) beat the Pirates (10-9, 5-5) in Salem, Oregon.

Kassin Hopkins added 17 points for Willamette, which used an 11-2 run in the fourth quarter to break open the game after Whitworth had tied it at 67. Elizabeth Lodgsdon and Amanda Carpenter scored 12 points apiece.

Talia Brandner led the Pirates with 17 points. Camy Aguinaldo tallied 16 points and Madison Abbott scored 10. Whitworth travels to play Whitman on Tuesday.

North Idaho 81, Yakima Valley 69: Alex Carlton scored 23 points, including 5-of-9 shooting on 3-pointers, and the Cardinals (16-4, 6-2 NWAC) topped the Yaks (11-9, 2-6) in Coeur d’Alene.

Keara Simpson added 22 points and 17 rebounds for NIC, which picked up its fourth straight win. Alivia Williams tacked on 13 points.

Kamri Von Oelhoffen paced Yakima Valley with 33 points and 10 boards.

North Idaho plays at Treasure Valley on Saturday.