Dec. 29, 2005
Box Score
Laramie, WY--Trailing by as many as 15 points in the first half, Idaho State battled its way back to take a 51-49 second half lead, but then scored just nine more points through the final nine minutes as Wyoming took a 78-60 win over the Bengals Thursday night at the Arena Auditorium.
The loss drops Idaho State to 5-6 overall, while the Cowgirls improve to 10-1. Wyoming has now won eight straight.
"We played their (Wyoming) tempo through the first 10 minutes of the game and that ended up being the difference in the score," said ISU head coach Jon Newlee. "We knew that it would be a physical game and we didn't match Wyoming's intensity. We played their game and we allowed them to take us out of our game."
Despite Wyoming's 21-6 first half lead, Idaho State clawed its way back, using a 12-3 run to take a 51-49 lead halfway through the second period. Natalie Doma sparked the run, scoring five of ISU's 12 points during the stretch. Doma, who scored 18 of her team-high 22 points in the second half, connected on 10-of-15 shots from the floor. The sophomore center also collected five rebounds and two blocks in the effort.
"We started forcing Wyoming to turn the ball over," Newlee said of his team's second half comeback. "We were communicating better on the floor. We got out on the break and played our tempo of basketball."
The Bengals, who rank near the top of the nation in three-point field goals per game (9.0), connected on a season-low 2-of-14 shots from beyond the arc. ISU shot 39 percent from the field in the game compared to Wyoming's 40 percent. UW won the battle of the boards 42-33.
Chelsey Chambers got into double digits with 11 points and Andrea Lightfoot added 10. Joanna Hixon recorded nine points with eight rebounds, while Jeni Boesel rounded out the scoring for the Bengals with eight points.
Megan McGuffey came off the bench to score a career-high 27 points for the Cowgirls. McGuffey's previous career high was 12 points. The freshman guard also pulled down 10 rebounds to get the double-double.
Idaho State looks to regroup for a Monday matchup with South Dakota State (7-5). The Bengals host the Jack Rabbits Monday, Jan. 2 at Holt Arena in Pocatello. Tip-off is set for 7:05 p.m.
"We've got to decide to play tougher and get more physical," Newlee said of the team's upcoming game. "We have to finish at the rim. We have missed way too many easy baskets. We have to play tough instead of playing scared."
