Feb. 16, 2007
Box Score |
Post Game Video Interview
Bozeman, MT--Andrea Lightfoot scored a game-high 22 points and Jeni Boesel and Natalie Doma each added 20 as Idaho State won its fourth straight, defeating Montana State 96-74 Friday night at Worthington Arena.
Idaho State improves to 11-12 overall, 7-4 in Big Sky play. Montana State falls to 11-14 overall and 6-7 in league play.
"I'm really happy with our players," said ISU head coach Jon Newlee. "We moved the ball well offensively and gave the Bobcats a little payback from our loss earlier in the season. Everyone got involved and it was a complete team effort."
Leading by six points, 16-10, with 13:03 to play, Idaho State went on an 18-6 run to extend its lead to a 34-16 advantage with 7:16 remaining in the first half. The Bengals then took a 51-32 lead into the half.
The Bengals then extended its lead to 25 points with 8:21 to play, securing its fourth straight win in Bozeman.
Idaho State drained 13 three-point field goals in the game on a 44.8 percent clip. The Bengals committed only seven turnovers in the game compared to the 18 ISU collected in an earlier loss this season to MSU.
"MSU scored 27 points off our turnovers the last time we played and we knew we couldn't do that again," Newlee said. "The team did the things that we've been working on in practice."
Lightfoot led all scores with 22 points, hitting 9-of-20 shots from the field. The junior guard also knocked down a pair of threes, pulled down eight rebounds and dished out three assists.
Boesel scored her 20 points on 6-of-9 shooting, including a perfect 4-of-4 clip from long range. Boesel recorded five rebounds and seven assists without a turnover in 33 minutes of play. Over the last two games, Boesel is a perfect 6-of-6 from three and 8-of-8 from the charity stripe.
"Boesel continues to light it up out there," Newlee said. "She's playing fantastic basketball right now. She's playing like the senior leader we expected her to be. She has really stepped up her game in conference play this season."
Doma reached the 20-point plateau on 7-of-18 shooting, including a 5-of-5 mark from the free throw line. Doma just missed out on her 15th-straight double-double with eight rebounds. The junior center played just seven minutes in the first half due to a pair of early fouls.
Michelle Grohs also reached double digit scoring with 11 points with nine rebounds and four blocks. She also dished out five assists.
Kaylynn Fager came off the bench to score six points, while Aralee Smith and Devin Diehl each added four.
"I thought our bench did a great job tonight," Newlee said. "They gave us solid minutes and they came in and did what they had to do."
Idaho State outrebounded the Bobcats 44-41, including a 21-13 advantage on the offensive glass. The Bengals shot 41.5 percent from the field and 44.8 percent from beyond the arc.
Whitney Connolly scored a team-high 19 points for Montana State and Krislyn Wallace helped with 17.
Idaho State continues its Montana road swing on Sunday at Montana. Tip-off in Missoula is set for 2:05 p.m.
