Dec. 10, 2005
Box Score
Pocatello, ID--Idaho State used a Jeni Boesel game-tying three-point field goal to send the game to overtime and a school record 38 point performance from Andrea Lightfoot to defeat in-state rival Idaho 99-89 Saturday afternoon at Reed Gym.
With the win, Idaho State evens its record at 4-4, while Idaho falls to 3-5.
"We never quit," said ISU head coach Jon Newlee. "We never once got down on ourselves. There was just no quit in our team today."
Trailing by seven points with 39 seconds remaining in regulation, Idaho State went on a 10-3 run to send the game into overtime. It was Boesel's desperation 3-point field goal with just 0.1 on the clock that tied the game and sent it into overtime. The Bengals then outscored Idaho 16-6 in overtime on 5-of-6 shooting to secure the win.
"I just threw it up," Boesel said of the game-tying thee-pointer. "It was kind of an ugly shot, but luckily it went in. We just never gave up. We kept playing, and it paid off for us."
Idaho opened the second half on an 11-1 run to take its largest lead of the game, 44-27. The Bengals then clawed their way back, cutting that 17-point lead to three points, 55-52, at the 9:57 mark. ISU never was able to catch up and tie the game until the final seconds of the second half.
Lightfoot's 38 points breaks the Idaho State single-game individual point record. The previous record was set by Mandi Carver, who put in 37 points against Wyoming on Nov. 20, 1999.
Lightfoot connected on 12-of-20 shots, including 7-of-9 from beyond the arc. The sophomore guard also hit 7-of-8 shots from the charity stripe. Lightfoot also collected eight rebounds and six assists.
"It was just an incredible performance," Newlee said of Lightfoot. "It was great to see and fun to watch. I've known for a long time that she was capable of a game like this. She really did it tonight. She was in a great flow."
Joanna Hixon netted a career-high 21 points, which included 13 rebounds for her first double-double of the season. Boesel recorded a career-high 20 points, while Natalie Doma helped with 10.
Chelsey Chambers added eight points with 10 rebounds--her third game of the season with at least 10 boards.
As a team, Idaho State shot 47.9 percent from the floor on 35-of-73 shots. The Bengals notched 13 three-point field goals, including eight in the second half. Idaho shot 47.2 percent from the floor.
ISU out-rebounded the Vandals 57-27, including a 20-7 advantage on the offensive glass.
ISU, which has now won four of its last five games, continues play at home on Dec. 15 when the team host Pac-10 foe Oregon. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
