HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Northern Kentucky women's basketball closes out the nonconference portion of the 2016-17 campaign in Sin City, competing in the Puerto Rico Classic - Las Vegas. The tournament was originally scheduled to be played in San Juan, Puerto Rico, but was moved to Las Vegas early in the academic year due to now-dissipated concerns surrounding the Zika virus. The three-day tournament pits the Norse against Portland State, Arkansas State and Southern Miss on Dec. 19-21. NKU will first play Portland State on Monday, Dec. 19 at 6:45 p.m. PST (9:45 p.m. ET). The Norse then take on Arkansas State on Tuesday with a 2:15 PST (5:15 ET) tipoff, and wrap up the tournament on Wednesday with a 10:00 a.m. PST (1:00 p.m. ET) game against Southern Miss. All games will be streamed through the Holiday Hoops Classic website.
  
LAST TIME OUT: NKU played in-state rival Murray State on Dec. 10 and managed to push the overtime period after trailing for the first 36 minutes of regulation. The Norse ultimately fell, 72-69, to the Racers in five extra minutes of play. Mikayla Terry recorded the first double-double of her career and the second by a Norse this season with 21 points and 17 rebounds. It marked the first time since Rebecca Lyttle pulled down 18 rebounds against Cincinnati on Nov. 18, 2015, that a Norse player had more than 15 rebounds in a game. Terry also led the team in blocks (2) and steals (3), while Shar'Rae Davis tied her career high with five assists and added 13 points to the effort.
 
SCOUTING PORTLAND STATE: Monday will mark the first meeting between Portland State and Northern Kentucky in the history of the two programs. The Vikings have shown improvement from last season, matching the win count from the entire 2015-16 season with four victories so far coupled with four setbacks. Portland State most recently squared off with No. 25/RV Oregon on Saturday night, falling to the Ducks by a 90-46 tally. Though no Viking scored in double digits against Oregon, three are currently averaging at least 10 points per game. Sidney Reilly leads the team with 15.9 points a contest, followed closely by Ashley Bolston with 14.5 ppg. Courtney West rounds out the top scoring trio with 10.1 points a contest, and all three players are currently shooting above a .420 clip.
  
As a team, the Vikings rank well nationally in several statistical categories. Portland State is No. 11 among Division I teams in assists per game, dishing out 19.0 a game in an effort led by Bolston's 6.0 assists per game, good for 24th in the nation. The Vikings are also 33rd in scoring offense with 78.3 ppg and 42nd in field goal percentage at 45.2 percent.
 
SCOUTING ARKANSAS STATE: Tuesday's contest will also be the first meeting of two programs when the Norse face the Red Wolves. Arkansas State enters the tournament sporting a 1-8 record, with its only win coming against Tulsa in an 83-80 decision on Dec. 6. That game was the closest of the season, as the Red Wolves are currently being bested by an average of 17.9 points. Dominique Oliver and Akasha Westbrook lead the team in scoring with 10.4 and 10.1 ppg, respectively.
  
Arkansas State's primary strength lies in its 3-point efficiency, as the Red Wolves rank 58th in the nation in 3-point field goal percentage at 35.9 percent led by Brittany Fowler and Jada Ford. The Red Wolves also have a disruptive defense and force nearly 20 turnovers a game.
 
SCOUTING SOUTHERN MISS: Like the previous two opponents, NKU has never met with Southern Miss on the court in program history. The Golden Eagles enter the tournament week with the strongest record at 7-2, with its only losses coming against Tulane and No. 5/5 Mississippi State. Southern Miss has two clear scoring leaders in Brittanny Dinkins and Jayla King, averaging 18.8 and 12.0 ppg, respectively. Dinkins has also proven to be a tough defender, ranking 12th nationally with 3.56 steals per game.
           
The Golden Eagles' defense forces 23.67 turnovers a contest, good for seventh in the nation, while the team also ranks 13th in steals per game (12.6). Southern Miss ranks in the top-50 nationally in a good number of statistical categories, including 30th in scoring margin (18.4) and 43rd in rebounding margin (7.9).