Feb. 13, 2003
Box Score
Pocatello, ID---Yolonda Banks scored a career high 14 points off the bench, but an early 23-5 run provided a lead that Montana State would not relinquish as the Bobcats defeated Idaho State, 95-74 in Big Sky women's basketball action Thursday night at Reed Gymnasium.
Banks, a senior from Las Vegas, NV, came off the bench early and hit on 5-of-10 shots from the field to score her career high. She also pulled down five rebounds in 24 minutes of action.
Eight turnovers in the first nine minutes of the game put the Bengals in an 18-point hole against the Big Sky leading Bobcats. But, as they have so many times this season, the Bengals made a run. Banks hit a pair of layups to key an 8-0 run, cutting the lead to 23-13. But the Bobcats ended the half with a 16-3 run with Brandi Lewis hitting two of four three pointers over that stretch to give MSU a 57-33 lead at the break.
With the game seemingly out of reach ISU turned the pressure on the Bobcats to start the second half. ISU switched to a man-to-man defense, which sparked a 25-13 run, cutting the MSU lead to just 70-60 with 6:57 left in the game. But just when the Bengals had made a game of it, the Bobcats put the game away, making 12 of 13 free throws down the stretch.
Cristal Fernandez came off the bench to lead the Bengals with 15 points. She also hit a team-high three three-pointers in the game. Ashley Toner had 14 points and six rebounds in 34 minutes of play. Merrilee Udy had 10 assists, just one off her career high.
Five Bobcats scored in double figures, led by Lewis, who came off the bench to hit a career high seven three-pointers in the game, good for 21 points. Kati Burrows had 13 points, while Isabel Stubbs, Belinda Stubbs and Candis Hutchison had 12 points apiece for the Bobcats.
Idaho State dropped its fifth straight game with the loss and is now 5-15 overall and 1-7 in Big Sky Conference play this season. Montana State is 17-4 overall and 8-0 in Big Sky play. The Bengals will take on Montana on Saturday night at Reed Gymnasium at 7:05 p.m. The Grizzlies lost to Weber State Thursday night 74-65 in overtime.
