Media Book: Idaho State 68 - Air Force 58
POCATELLO, Idaho – Idaho State made defensive adjustments in the second half to turn a four point deficit to a 10 point lead when the Bengals defeated Air Force 68-58 at Reed Gym. The Bengals continue to dominate at home improving to a six-game home win streak dating back to February of last season. The Bengals improved to 2-1 while Air Force fell to 1-2 for the season.
Community support was strong for Idaho State who played in front of 1,156 fans, the largest non-conference home attendance under Head Coach Seton Sobolewski; third largest of his career. ISU's largest home crowd attendance under Sobolewski was 1,405 for ISU's 69-67 overtime defeat of Sacramento State on March 5, 2010.
Idaho State's senior guards led the way in scoring with Chelsea Pickering and Andrea Blodgett recording a game-high 15 points each. Blodgett's 15 point production was a career-high and her first game-high effort of her career. Pickering hit 7-of-15 from the field in 37 minutes while pulling down four rebounds and two assists.
Blodgett put up 5-of-8 from the field and knocked down 3-of-5 from the field in 31 minutes. Blodgett went 2-of-2 from the line. Sophomore Kaela Oakes chipped in 13 points and was a perfect 2-of-2 from the arc. She also had four assists.
The Bengals took control of play early with a jump shot from sophomore forward Ashleigh Vella on the first possession. Vella went on to post a season-high 12 points. However, it didn't take Air Force long to find its rhythm when they put up a 14-0 run for a 10 point lead, 23-13, with 11:11 remaining in the first period. Air Force's largest lead of the game was 12 points with 9:39 remaining. The Bengals 6-2 run to cap the first half put ISU down by four, 37-33, heading into the break.
ISU's defense was tight around the perimeter allowing the Falcons to sneak through to earn 20 points in the paint in the first half. Idaho State adjusted its defensive position in the second half to starve off any penetration holding Air Force to six points in the paint in the second half while the Bengals scored 12 in the key themselves.
“We made a defensive adjustment where we switched every screen and we were able to stay in front of the penetration,” said Head Coach Sobolewski of ISU's adjustment going into the second half. “I think we misjudged how much they would drive to the basket compared to how much they would take the outside shot.”
“We tried to play tighter around the perimeter but that opened up the four for them and allowed them to get to the basket and take closer shots. In the second half we contained more and switched a lot of screens. We forced them to take a shot between us and the basket,” said Sobolewski.
Idaho State's tactic worked with the Bengals posting three-point field goals on back-to-back possessions to tie the contest. An 11-0 streak by the Bengals, including a three and a half minute defensive scoring stop, pushed Idaho State to a 12 point lead 59-47 with 6:57 remaining in the second period. With 5:23 left ISU took its largest lead of the contest with 14 points off a jumper from freshman guard Lindsey Reed with 5:23 remaining.
The Bengals outscored Air Force by 14 points in the second half, 35-21, holding the Falcons to 30.8 percent from the field. Air Force hit 59.3 percent from the field in the first half knocking down 16-of-27.
“Any time you can be put in an adverse situation and find your way out of it is great. It's a great lesson to learn,” said Sobolewski of the Bengals pulling themselves out of a deficit. “I think it's a lot of what you will see from a young team; a lack of consistency or a slow start. I think we made some quick adjustments at the half and we did much better. The difference maker was us staying positive in the second half as a team and playing much better defense.”
The Bengals will wave good-bye to Reed Gym as they embark on a five game road trip over eight days. ISU opens its road play at Texas Tech on Sunday, Nov. 21 at 3:05 p.m.
Note: Idaho State was perfect from the line in the first half hitting 6-of-6 … freshman forward Cydney Horton led the Bengals in blocked shots for its third straight contest, she posted two.
