Jan. 17, 2009
Final Stats
Complete Montana State Box Score 
Bozeman, MT-Five back-to-back three pointers followed by offensive rebounds in the second half sealed Montana State's 71-52 victory over Idaho State at Worthington Arena Saturday night. Idaho State would hold its own in the first half even with the loss of Sophomore Chelsea Pickering in the first six minutes due to a knee injury. The Bobcats would improve from a 25 percent accuracy in the first half to 45.5 percent in the second hitting 5-of-11 from behind the arc. Idaho State falls to 2-3 in conference play (5-13 overall) while Montana State improves to 2-3 (8-9 overall).
Even with Idaho State posting four players in double-digits with senior Michelle Grohs posting the team-high 12 points, they could not overcome as Montana State saw three players in double-digits with Sarah Strand and Katie Bussey tying the game high with 18 points each. Senior Jenna Brown would record 11 points, followed by 10 points each for Oana Iacovita and Chelsea Pickering, Iacovita would also pull down seven rebounds. Bobcat Nubia Garcia would be the only player to post double-digits in rebounds with an incredible 16, 10 on defense alone.
The Bengals began with a small lead as they controlled the tempo of the game, but Montana State's Katie Bussey would be the key to tie the score at 12-12 as Bussey would score nine of MSU's 12 points. Montana State's Nubia Garcia would break the tie as she penetrated the inside for a layup. Sophomore Chelsea Pickering would pull the Bengals ahead with a 23-18 lead as she recorded four points and assisted on two baskets. However, Montana State would go on a 6-0 run to take a 24-23 lead.
Soon after the MSU run, Chelsea Pickering would leave the floor due to a right knee injury at the 5:59 mark. She led the Bengals into the break with 10 points hitting 3-of-5 from the field a perfect 2-for-2 from the arc. Though the Bengals would hold a one-point lead for several minutes, Montana State's quick transition game would spark another run, this time to capture seven unanswered points. Montana State would lead by six at the break ahead 35-29.
At the half Montana State scored six points off fast breaks helping them to record 22 points from the paint. Though the Bengals shot 39.1 percent in the first half from the field hitting 3-of-9, they also were hitting 42.9 percent of its treys making 3-of-7. ISU had 12 opportunities at the charity stripe and converted three while MSU had four chances with three points from the line. ISU crashed the boards well in the first half matching the Bobcats with 13 defensive rebounds and trailing by one offensively 5-to-4.
Bengals would slow down the play and work the MSU lead to two at 38-36 after junior Oana Iacovita would break toward the basket from the top of the key, pass a defender and weave through two players setting up a block to hit the layup, followed by a three-pointer by freshman Sheila Adams and a layup by senior Jenna Brown. From that point every shot the Bengals scored Montana State would answer back.
Senior Michelle Grohs would hit a three from the wing to close the lead to two points before Montana State's Sarah Strand would hit four back-to-back treys to give the Bobcats a 14-point lead at 59-45. MSU's Bussey would get in on the action as she would follow Strand with a three pointer to give Montana State a total of five back-to-back three pointers to post a 17 point lead.
Offensive rebounds for MSU would hurt the Bengals in the second half as they recorded 22 total rebounds to ISU's 16, with the Bobcats leading the offensive boards 11-to-6. Montana State would record 40 rebounds over the game to ISU's 33.
Idaho State will return home for a four game stretch over the course of three weeks. The Bengals first game of the stretch will occur on Thursday, January 22 against Northern Arizona at Reed Gym. Tip off begins at 7:05 p.m.
