Dec. 1, 2007
Final Stats
Reno, NV --- The Idaho State women's basketball program has a new leader in career wins after Jon Newlee's Bengals shocked the Bruins of UCLA 76-64 in Reno, Nevada in the first game of the John Ascuga's Nugget Classic. With career win number 78, Newlee passed Ardie McInelly and Ted Anderson to become the winningest coach in Bengals history. After the game Newlee described it as, "the best non-conference win of my career." Idaho State improved to 5-2 on the season. UCLA dropped to 3-3.
Idaho State scored first courtesy of a Bianca Cheever three. The Bengals dominated from behind the arc going 12-30 while UCLA struggled, hitting only two three point shots in 15 attempts. Midway through the first half with the Bengals up by five, Idaho State went on an 8-0 run to push the lead to 22-9. Six of those eight points came by the hand of Devin Diehl. Idaho State led by as many as 22 points and never trailed in the game.
The Bruins made a charge in the second half, cutting the Bengals lead to five with :57 remaining in the game. But Idaho State polished them off by doing what they do best: shooting free throws. ISU shot 7-8 from the line in the final minute and went 18-20 for the game. ISU committed only 11 turnovers compared to UCLA's 22 turnovers.
UCLA's lone senior Lindsey Pluimer recorded a double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds. Regina Rogers led them in scoring with 12 points.
Natalie Doma and Andrea Lightfoot both scored 19 points with Doma coming up with 20 rebounds, just one short of her career high. Diehl added 11 points off the bench and was solid defensively for the Bengals. Kaylynn Fager went 3-3 from long range for her nine points and Jenna Brown scored 7 points while dishing out 8 assists.
The Bengals will now play in the championship game of the Nugget Classic against tournament host Nevada on Sunday. The game is scheduled to begin at 5:15 pm.
Notes: This is the third time ISU has beaten a Pac 10 team. The last time they did was a 73-69 overtime win against Washington State in 1984... Bengals will face another Pac 10 team on December 10th at Oregon State... The Bengals improved to 3-0 this season on a neutral floor... ISU is 5-0 this season when they allow fewer than 69 points.
