Feb. 19, 2005
Box Score
Pocatello, ID--Molly Hays broke a Big Sky Conference single game record with 18 made free thows, leading Idaho State with a career-high 27 points in an 80-69 win over Eastern Washington Saturday afternoon at Reed Gym. The win pushes ISU's win-streak to a season-high three games.
With the victory, Idaho State improves to 11-13 overall, 6-5 in Big Sky play. Eastern Washington falls to 14-9 overall, 6-4 in league play.
Hays scored her 27 points on 4-of-8 shots from the field, 18-of-20 from the charity stripe. The 18 made free throws breaks Melanie Knott's (Weber State) record of 17 set against Southern Utah in 1989. It also breaks Idaho State's previous record of 15 set by former Bengal Mandi Carver against Wyoming in 1999. The 20 attempts breaks former Bengal Jennifer Cannon's 17 set against Idaho in 1993.
Hays also tallied six rebounds, three assists, three steals, and one block in the win.
"What more can I say about her than I already have," ISU head coach Jon Newlee said of Hays' performance. "Just when I don't think she can give us any more than she already has, she does. I wasn't sure if she would even play today because of the ankle, and then she goes out and has this kind of effort. She played with all the heart, desire, and toughness that you can ask for in a player today."
Trailing by just six points, 64-58, with 5:07 remaining in the contest, Idaho State went on a 12-3 run to up their lead to 15 points with just two minutes left, helping to secure the victory.
Christa Brossman helped the Bengals with a season-high 24 points on 9-of-14 shots from the field, including 5-of-7 from beyond the arc. Chelsey Chambers also reached double figures with a career-high 16 points on 7-of-8 shots from the field.
As a team, Idaho State shot 46.2 percent from the field, 45 percent from beyond the arc, and 79.3 percent from the charity stripe. The team sunk 23 of its 29 free throws. Eastern Washington shot 37 percent from the field. The Eagles connected on just 4-of-24 shots from beyond the arc.
Julie Page led the Eagles with a team-high 16 points and six rebounds. Stephanie Ulmer helped with 13 and Raelynn Chaffee added 10.
"I'm happy with how we played today," Newlee said. "I'm so happy for our seniors--to get a win like this in their final home is great for them. This is big for us. We know we can still get that third seed at the Big Sky Tournament and we're going after it."
Idaho State heads out on the road for three straight to finish regular season play. The Bengals will play just one game next week on Feb. 24 at Weber State before wrapping up the season at Montana and Montana State the following week. The Big Sky Tournament will take place March 10-12 at a location to still be decided.
