Jan. 7, 2006
Box Score
Pocatello, ID--Andrea Lightfoot scored 25 points and Jeni Boesel added 20 more as Idaho State defeated North Dakota State 81-69 Saturday afternoon at Reed Gym, snapping a three-game losing streak in a final tune-up before heading into Big Sky play next week.
"We wanted to play well for a complete 40 minutes today, and we did that," said ISU head coach Jon Newlee. "It was important for us to come in and play hard before heading into conference play next week. This game gives us a lot of confidence heading into Big Sky play."
The Bengals improve to 6-8 with the win, while North Dakota State falls to 6-8.
Tied 59-59 with seven minutes remaining in the game, Idaho State went on a 9-0 run over a 1:30 stretch to take the 68-59 lead. NDSU then cut the lead to three points, 70-67, with 3:08 remaining, but ISU scored nine unanswered points over the next three minutes to secure the win.
Lightfoot recorded her fifth 20-plus point game of the season with 25, connecting on 8-of-16 shots from the field, including a 9-of-12 clip from the free throw line. Boesel tallied her 20 points on 6-of-12 shots from the field and 3-of-6 from beyond the arc.
Joanna Hixon was just two points and two assists shy of a triple double. The junior forward notched eight points, eight assists and 15 rebounds. Hixon has now recorded 15 or more rebounds in three games this season.
Natalie Doma helped with eight points, while Chelsey Chambers and Danica Boyce each added seven. Michelle Grohs came off the bench to add six.
"Everyone played well today," Newlee said. "It was a complete effort by everybody. We played well on defense, which allowed for us to get into our offense early. That translated into a lot of open good looks for us on the offensive end. The defense was the key to the win today."
Idaho State connected on 39.7 percent of its shots from the field, including a 35 percent clip from long range. The Bengals continue to impress at the charity stripe, connecting on 20-of-23 shot from the line.
The Bengals now head into Big Sky Conference play. ISU will travel to take on Sacramento State on Jan. 12 before heading to Flagstaff, Ariz., to take on Northern Arizona on Jan. 14.
