Feb. 7, 2004
Box Score
Pocatello, ID--Idaho State put together its best defensive effort of the season, defeating Weber State 57-48 in a fight to rights for second place in the Big Sky Conference.
With the win, Idaho State improves to 14-5 overall, 6-1 in Big Sky play. The Wildcats fall to 11-9 overall, 5-2 in league play.
Despite shooting just 31 percent from the field, Idaho State put together its best defensive effort of the season, collecting nine steals. The Bengals scored 17 points off 18 Wildcat turnovers. ISU also held last year's Big Sky MVP Julie Gjertsen to 16 points on 5-of-15 shooting. She was 6-of-7 from the line.
"It was such a great feeling to see our team go out and play their best defensive game of the season," said head coach Jon Newlee. "It was a total team defensive effort tonight. We knew going into this game that it would be a defensive battle, and we won it tonight."
Laraine Barron scored a team-high 16 points with seven rebounds on 5-of-8 shooting before fouling out of the contest with 3:25 to play. She was a perfect 2-of-2 from beyond the arc and 4-of-6 from the free throw line. Freshman Molly Hays put in 15 points, connecting on 13-of-15 free throw line. She also added six steals in the effort.
"We knew that free throws would be huge tonight," Newlee said. "Weber battles hard, and we were able make just enough free throws to get it done tonight."
Gjersten led the Wildcats with 16 points and Sheila Robertson added 13 on 5-of-11 shots from the field. WSU shot 32 percent from the floor and 20 percent from beyond the arc.
The Bengals take a six-game win streak on the road next week. ISU travels to Montana to take on Montana State on Thursday and first place Montana Saturday. Both games are scheduled to begin at 7:05 p.m.
"This is a huge road trip for us," Newlee said. "We are going to have to play our best basketball of the season next week. I think we will be ready for the challenge. I expect us to come back home with some wins."
