Feb. 23, 2006
Box Score
Pocatello, ID--Andrea Lightfoot scored a game-high 29 points and Jeni Boesel added 19 as Idaho State defeated Weber State 84-66 Thursday night at Reed Gym. With the win, ISU (15-11, 9-3) moves a half game ahead of Northern Arizona (18-8, 8-3) for first place in the Big Sky Conference standings.
The Bengals improve to 15-11 overall, 9-3 in Big Sky play, while Weber State falls to 12-13 overall, 6-6 in league play. The win is the fifth straight for the Bengals.
Tied 56-56 with 7:46 to play, Lightfoot connected on a shot from beyond the arc, sparking a 20-6 Bengal run. The run gave ISU a 76-62 lead with under two minutes to play. Lightfoot and Boesel combined for five three-point field goals and 17 points during the stretch.
"We really got the ball moving and started playing a more up-tempo game," said Lightfoot. "Weber had us in a half court set up to that point, and when we started pushing the ball and getting open shots, it's hard to stop us."
Lightfoot collected her 29 points on 10-of-18 shooting from the field, including a 4-of-9 clip from beyond the arc. She was also a perfect 5-of-5 from the free throw line. The sophomore guard also collected four rebounds and three assists in 40 minutes of play.
Boesel connected on 5-of-10 shots from the field for her 19 points, just one point shy of her career-high. She also notched three shots from long range, and was a perfect 6-of-6 from the charity stripe.
"It was a good game," said Boesel. "Towards the end of the game we were hitting our shots and the crowd got in the game, which really got us going."
Natalie Doma netted a quiet 18 points on 6-of-14 shooting from the field. She also connected on a perfect 5-of-5 shots at the free throw line. The sophomore guard, who was double and triple teamed for most of the game, was just one rebound shy of a double-double with nine. Doma also notched four steals and two blocks on the night.
Joanna Hixon scored 12 points and was just one rebound shy of a double-double. Hixon collected four assists, two blocks, and two steals. Danica Boyce rounded out the scoring for ISU with six points.
Idaho State shot nearly 47 percent from the field, including a 34.6 percent clip from long range (9-of-26). The Wildcats shot 39 percent from the field and connected on 35.7 percent of their threes (5-of-14).
Laura Porter led Weber State with a team-high 17 points. Chelsey Warburton was the only other Wildcat in double figures with 13 points.
The Bengals continue play at home when the team hosts Montana on March 2. Tip-off is set for 7:05 p.m. ISU will conclude regular season play against Montana State on March 4. The Bengals are still in the hunt for the rights to host the Big Sky Tournament, but need to win their last two games and hope for a Northern Arizona loss.
