Portland State Magazine Spring 2010

First to impress WOM EN' S BAS KET BA LL experienced a lot offirsts during the past three seasons under head coach Sherri Murrell. There was the school's first-ever 20-win season at the Division I level after Murrell took over in 2007-08. Then came a trip to the women's National Invitation Tournament last season, marking the fuse postseason appearance ofwomen's basketball as a Division I program. And last and definitely not least, Murrell led the team to its first NCM Division I Tournament in March after the Vikings won its first Big Sky ConferenceTournament tide. "Each goal that we set out along the way we have accomplished," says Murrell. "When I set foot on campus I let them know that we were on a championship journey. I told them that we needed to change the culture around the program and d1at everything we do, from lifung weights to practice, is part of that journey and will lead them toward a chan1pionship." At d1e NCAA Tournament, Portland State gave the nation's ninth-ranked Texas A&M all they could handle for 20 minutes and held a 28-27 lead right before halfrinle. Eventually, though, the Aggies wore down the Vikings with their size and speed to move on to the second round. The fact that the Vikings hung with Texas A&M for a half showed that they belonged on the nation's top stage and will be fuel for next season's bid for tournament champion. Football returns to Hillsboro Stadium UNDER NEW HEAD COA CH Nigel Burton, Viking football returns to Hillsboro Stadium for its 2010 Big Sky Conference season as PGE Park undergoes renovation. The stadium was good to the team back in 2000, when the Vikings earned a top 10 ranking in tl1e NCAA Division I Foocball Championship and reached the NCAA playoffs. Hillsboro Stadium is just off Highway 26 at the Cornelius Pass exit. ■ HOME GAMES AT HILLSBORO STADIUM Oct. 2 Idaho State, 6:05 p.m. Oct. 16 Montana, 6:05 p.m. Oct. 30 Eastern Washington, 6:05 p.m. Nov. 13 Northern Colorado, 1:05 p.m. SPRIN G 20 10 PORTLA ND STATE M AGAZINE 19