March 14, 2008
Final Stats
Missoula, MT --- Idaho State shot a dismal .250 in the first half, finishing the half by making just two of their last 22 shots as Montana State raced to a big halftime lead and held on for an 83-72 lead, putting MSU into the Big Sky Championship game for the first time since 2003, when the Bobcats lost the second of back-to-back championship games. For the Bengals, their season now becomes a waiting game, as they will hope for a berth in the WNIT, either as an at-large or with the Big Sky Conference's automatic berth.
The Bengals lost despite the herculean effort of senior Natalie Doma, who scored 34 points, the fifth-most in tournament history, and 19 rebounds, the second-most. Things looked good early for the Bengals, bolted to a 12-7 lead barely three minutes into the game, hitting five of their first six shots, but apparently someone put cellophane on the basket at the west end, because the Bengals didn't hit a field goal for almost 12 minutes.
Over that time frame, MSU went on a crushing 21-1, and they ended the half overscoring ISU 32-9. However, Idaho State was not done. The Bengals equaled their first half scoring output of 21 points just 5:36 into the second half as part of a 13-0 run that cut the lead to six at 52-46 with 12:50 to go. However, ISU would never get closer, although they had their chances.
The Bengals cut the lead to six on five different occasions, and on the first three, the Bobcats had an answer. Finally with 3:58 to go ISU cut it to 71-65 after Natalie Doma hit a pair of free throws, and MSU turned the ball over giving ISU a chance, but Jenna Brown, who had a solid game, stepped on the baseline on a drive. ISU then got a couple of hands on passes, and the ball bounced right to Jenny Herringer, who drilled a three for her only basket of the game, and ISU could never recover.
For the Bobcats, they had five in double-figures, and shot .515 for the game. Rebecca Mercer and Krislyn Wallace each had 17, Erica Perry had 15, Nubia Garcia had 12, and Anne Phippard, who had just 17 field goals the entire season and entered the game shooting under 30% was 5-of-6 for 11 points. For the Bengals, Doma had 34 and 19, Michelle Grohs had 12, and Jenna Brown added 10 with seven assists.
For the Bengals, Natalie Doma is hoping for one more game in her career, coming in the WNIT. "It would mean a lot. I don't want the season to be over. I'm a senior, and I think having a chance to redeem ourselves in the WNIT would be huge."
Another big key for ISU was the disappearance of Andrea Lightfoot, who was held scoreless on just two shots. Said Andrea, "Perry was guarding me, which was different, but that's about it. She was face-guarding, so obviously yeah (was having problems getting looks)" MSU head coach Tricia Binford, who saw her first Bobcat squad go just 3-23 three seasons ago, felt that Perry was a key. "We put Erica on Lightfoot and limited the touches she got. She did a great job defending her."
If the Bengals can qualify for the WNIT, it would mark the third straight postseason trip for ISU, and the fourth in the last five years.
NOTES: Doma's 19 rebounds marked the fourth time in her tournament career, spanning six games, that she had at least 16 rebounds ... Lightfoot also went scoreless against Portland State earlier this year ... Doma now has scored 729 points this season and 354 rebounds.
