Dec. 30, 2008
Final Stats
Complete Colorado Box Score 
Boulder, CO--In Idaho State's final non-conference game of the season the Bengals cut Colorado's lead to four early in the second period at 49-45 off a three pointer from freshman Sheila Adams. However, Idaho State (3-10) could not overcome as Colorado (6-4) posted a 16-8 run late in the game to seal the deal handing the Bengals a 73-57 defeat at the Coors Events Center Tuesday night.
Adams led the Bengals with a career-high 15 points hitting 6-of-14 from the field and 3-of-10 from the arc. Her scoring came from a hot streak from the end of the first period to the three-pointer that put ISU within four which lasted 18:27. Adams was 5-for-7 from the field during the streak recording all 15 of her points.
Senior Michelle Grohs was a consistent player on the floor contributing throughout the game. Grohs was the only Bengals to post a double-double, her third of the season, as she recorded 13 points and ten rebounds, four on offense. She also recorded three assists and a blocked shot. The senior was 4-for-13 from the field and 1-of-6 from the arc. She saw the charity line five times and converted four shots.
Idaho State tied it up 2-2 of a jumper by senior Michelle Grohs and would come no closer. The Bengals played man-to-man defense, but could not contain Colorado's Kara Richards who set the tone by scoring 10 points in the first seven minutes of play. Richards helped the Buffs to a 19-8 lead hitting every shot from no more than two feet from the basket and everything off the glass. Sophomore Cara Lambert and Jenna Brown both posted layups before the media timeout reducing the lead to seven.
Freshman Adams' quick moves gave the Colorado defense trouble as she hit a jumper from the right wing and followed it up by a three to hold the Buffs at a six point lead at 27-21 in the first half. Adams three came off a fast break where she beat Colorado's Brittany Spears down the left side. As Spears pushed in front to cut off Adams, the Bengal pulled back and hit an uncontested three.
Colorado was able to keep the Bengals contained outside the perimeter during the game accounting for 48 percent of ISU's shot selection as Idaho State posted 27 shots from the arc from 57 total attempts. Normally the arc is a benefit and not a hindrance for the Bengals, however a rushed first and late second half that turned into a cool shooting night for the Bengals only widened the scoring gap. Idaho State was 2-of-9 from the arc in the first period and 3-of-18 for an overall 18.5 percent accuracy, one of their lowest percentages of the season.
Colorado's Bianca Smith was a force from the outside as she hit three three-pointers and ended the first half with 12 points; Idaho State contained her in the second half capping her off for the night. Colorado held a 13 point lead going into the half ahead 39-26.
The Bengals lit up in the start of the second, attacking off the momentum of a quick layup from junior Oana Iacovita to post an 8-0 run. Idaho State was helped as Colorado's Kara Richards recorded two fouls in the first 1:23 after returning from the break and so returned to the bench with four for the game.
Idaho State slowed the tempo of the game to their advantage by taking care of the ball and reducing turnovers, eventually tying Colorado at 14 a piece, and patiently waiting for a cleaner shot.
"Patience will get us further than taking shots in a hurry. Controlling the tempo of games and not letting it get away from us in terms of o-board and turnovers," said Sobolewski about what was learned during non-conference play.
Idaho State started off strong, but was buried when Colorado capitalized on second chance points and free throws. Colorado would continue to widen the gap and would record a 16-8 run late in the second to close the deal. The Buffs were sustained by a well balanced offensive effort as five players scored in double digits, two of which recorded double-doubles.
"We've got to get a little tougher," said head coach Seton Sobolewski. "I think we did a good job defending the initial shot, but we didn't collect rebounds."
Though Idaho State kept Colorado at 32 percent from the field, 8-of-25, in the second half, and at 42.1 percent overall, it was offensive rebounds and fouls that caused the Bengals trouble. Colorado out rebounded the Bengals 48-to-30, with 29 of CU's rebounds coming on the offense. If Colorado didn't score off of second chances which they did for 17 points while ISU had seven, just two in the first half, then the Bengals were hurt by fouls. The Buffs saw the free throw line 28 times converting 17 of their shots at the charity line in the second. Colorado was 3-for-3 from the line in the first half.
Sophomore Chelsea Pickering returned to the starting lineup as she has continued to heal from a sprained ankle. Pickering held Colorado's leading scorer Brittany Spears to a quiet five points and three rebounds in the first half, as Spears averages 20 points a game. However the rock star would not be silenced as she nearly posted a double-double in the second half alone recording nine points and 10 rebounds.
Idaho State will continue to stay in Colorado as they prepare for its first conference game of the season against Northern Colorado, also the Bengals first game of the New Year. ISU will take on UNC Friday, January 2 at 7:05 p.m. in the Butler-Hancock Sports Pavilion.
Notes: Iacovita fouled out with 2:30 remaining in the second half ... Colorado held its largest lead of 19 at the 2:04 mark ... Once again the Bengals nearly ended the contest finishing with 55 points, which ISU has posted four times this season, but a quick layup by Adams in the final 11 seconds pushed the final score to 57 points ... Freshman Julie Seabrook scored a career-high 12 points and her first double-double with 13 rebounds.
