Feb. 10, 2005
Box Score
Flagstaff, AZ--Despite eight combined threes from Christa Brossman and India Soo, Idaho State fell 75-64 to Northern Arizona Thursday evening at Walkup Skydome in Flagstaff, Ariz. The loss puts the Bengals at 3-5 in Big Sky play and in a tie for fifth place with Sacramento State in the league standings.
With the loss, ISU falls to 8-13 overall, 3-5 in Big Sky Conference play. NAU improves to 14-7 overall, 5-3 in league play.
India Soo and Christa Brossman led the Bengals with 15 points each. Soo's 15 points is a career high for the freshman guard. Soo connected on 5-of-11 shots from the field, including a career-high five three-point field goals. Brossman netted her 15 on 6-of-12 shots from the field, 3-of-7 from beyond the arc.
"If India (Soo) and Christa (Brossman) don't hit their threes, this game wouldn't have even been close," Newlee said. "I thought India had her best all around effort of the season. She did some good things, both offensively and defensively."
After trailing 36-25 just two minutes into the second half, ISU rallied to cut the lead to just two points, 38-36 with 15:57 remaining. The Bengals then got as close as one, 50-59 with 6:30 left, but NAU went on a 8-0 run to take its lead back to nine and held off the Bengals in the final minutes to take the victory.
The Bengals shot 34.9 percent from the field to NAU's 52.8 percent. The Bengals connected on 9-of-30 shots from beyond the arc. The Bengals outrebounded the Lumberjacks 36-31 and forced NAU into 12 turnovers with six steals. The Bengals committed 14 turnovers.
"We did not execute on defense or offense tonight," said ISU head coach Jon Newlee. "We made too many mistakes. We made some poor decisions and didn't shoot the ball well."
Natalie Doma helped the Bengals with 13 points on 6-of-10 shots from the field, and Monika Marekova added 10. Marekova also recorded a team-high six points on the night. ISU leading scorer Molly Hays was held to just six points in 38 minutes of play.
Sophomore Alyssa Wahl led NAU with a game-high 25 points and five rebounds. Kim WInkfield tallied a double-double with 19 points and 11 assists.
The Bengals continue road play Feb. 12 at Sacramento State. The Hornets fell 74-40 at home Thursday night to Weber State. ISU and Sacramento State are now tied for fifth place in the Big Sky standings with identical 3-5 records.
