Feb. 15, 2003
Box Score
Pocatello, ID---Idaho State shot just 25 percent in the second half and saw Montana overcome a halftime deficit as the Bengals fell to the Grizzlies, 66-55, in Big Sky Conference women's basketball action Saturday night at Reed Gymnasium.
The Bengals and Grizzlies traded shots in the first half with neither team taking more than a six point lead. ISU got hot right before the half, using five points by Annie Anderson to key a 14-6 run to end the half, turning a 23-17 deficit into a 31-29 lead at the break. ISU shot 42.4 percent in the first half (14-33), while holding Montana to just 35.1 percent (13-37).
But the Grizzlies came out of the locker room and took control of the game early. The shots which had been falling for the Bengals in the first half rimmed out early in the second frame as UM went on a 10-2 run to start the second half. ISU's first field goal of the second half came on a jumper by Halli Hickman from the right baseline with 13:14 left.
The Bengals scored on three of their next four possessions, but Montana scored on all four of their possessions during the same period, extending their lead to eight points. In all, after Hickman's jumper UM , keyed by eight straight points from Crystal Baird, outscored ISU 17-7 over a seven minute period to effectively put the game away.
Laraine Skow and Crystal Fernandez buried three pointers in the waning minutes, but it wasn't enough as ISU was only able to cut the lead to eight points. UM hit on six straight free throws in the final 1:17 to hold off the ISU rally. For the game the Grizzlies made 11-of-12 free throws. ISU made just 6-of-13.
Ashley Toner led a balanced ISU scoring attack with nine points. Laraine Skow had eight points, while Halli Hickman and Annie Anderson had seven apiece. Hollie Tyler led UM in scoring and rebounding with 17 and 11.
"That was probably our best defensive effort since the Boise State game, especially going up against a team like Montana," ISU coach Jon Newlee said. "We might have been a little tentative at the start of the second half. The kids just played so hard tonight, especially on defense, making switches and double-teaming."
With the loss, ISU's sixth straight, the Bengals fell to 5-16 overall and 1-8 in Big Sky Conference play. Montana improved to 15-7 and 5-5. ISU will return to action on Thursday, February 20 at Northern Arizona.
