PORTLAND, Ore. (Interstat) — A surging Northern Colorado team looks to continue its push near the top of the Big Sky Conference standings when it visits struggling Portland State on Saturday. The Bears (18-8, 9-4 Big Sky) have won three of their last four, including a 62-55 road victory at Sacramento State on Thursday. Portland State (6-18, 3-10) is mired in a difficult season but is coming off a hard-fought 88-80 overtime loss to Northern Arizona. Northern Colorado, which sits in third place in the conference, dominated the first meeting this season, an 80-60 home win on Jan. 15. The Bears have relied on a balanced attack and stout defense, holding opponents to 60.2 points per game in conference play. A key player for the Bears is guard Heather Baymon, who is coming off a 20-point performance at Sacramento State. Over her last eight games, Baymon is averaging 13.0 points, including a 24-point outburst in a win over the Hornets last month. The Vikings, anchored near the bottom of the league, will lean on guard Laynee Torres-Kahapea. She logged 43 minutes and scored 18 points in the overtime loss to NAU, showcasing her durability. In Portland State’s last win, a 64-62 victory over Sacramento State on Feb. 7, she dished out seven assists. Portland State’s challenge will be finding consistent scoring beyond Torres-Kahapea and containing a Northern Colorado squad that has proven efficient on both ends of the floor. The Vikings rank last in the Big Sky in scoring defense, allowing 78.2 points per game in conference contests. The game tips off at 3 p.m. PST at the Stott Center. For Northern Colorado, it represents a crucial opportunity to solidify its standing before a key stretch against Northern Arizona and Eastern Washington later this month. For Portland State, it’s a chance to play spoiler and build momentum before a road trip to Idaho and Eastern Washington.