Nov. 25, 2002
Box Score
Pocatello, ID---Ashley Toner scored 18 points in just 23 minutes of play, while a swarming Idaho State defense forced 28 turnovers and limited Idaho to just 26.4% shooting from the field as the Bengals defeated the Vandals, 72-49 in women's basketball action Monday night at Reed Gymnasium.
Toner, a senior from Burley, hit on 9-of-15 shots from the field and pulled down four rebounds for the Bengals. With a lead that extended to 30 points in the second half, Toner played early and then sat for the rest of the game.
Toner was far from the only Bengal to have a good night, however. Hallie Hickman had a perfect night from the field, hitting on 6-of-6 shots, just one off the school record for shots made without a miss in a single game. Meg Salness made all seven of her shots against Colorado State on Jan. 5, 1996.
10 players had at least 10 minutes of play in the game for the Bengals. Laraine Skow played the most minutes of any player with 29. She scored eight points and pulled down eight rebounds, a team high. Tiffany Williams came off the bench and had eight assists and four rebounds in just 20 minutes.
The Bengals showed off new Head Coach Jon Newlee's aggressive defense, forcing 28 turnovers and limiting UI to just 26.4 percent (14-53) from the field. UI was also 0-11 from three-point range. In contrast ISU shot 42.9 percent from the field and had just 15 turnovers, while dishing out 25 assists.
The strong defense was evident from the start as ISU held the Vandals under 10 points until the 7:08 mark. During that time ISU built up a lead that stretched to as much as 17 points, before the Bengals settled for a 14-point edge at the half (34-20). ISU didn't sit on its laurels in the second half. ISU started the second period with a 12-2 run to start the second half, giving them a 24-point edge. The lead was extended to as much as 30 before the Bengals settled for a 23-point final margin.
"The kids really executed the game plan nearly to perfection," said Newlee, in his first Division I game as a head coach. "We really took it to them defensively. It was nice being able to get everyone in the game. I think we've proven that we have a deep team. It's good that everyone can pick up the slack."
The Vandals fell to 0-2 on the season. The Bengals (1-0) will return to action on Sunday, December 1, when they travel to Corvallis, OR, to take on Pac-10 school Oregon State at 2:05 p.m.
