Nov. 15, 2009
Final Stats
#18 California Box Score 
Berkeley, CA--Idaho State was no match for #18 California when the Bengals tied for the third largest margin defeat in school history falling 100-43 (-57) at the Haas Pavilion Sunday night. Cal's season opener was Idaho State's first ranked opponent this year as the Bengals fall to 0-2 for the season. Idaho State regrouped in the second half by shooting 7.5 percent better and reducing Cal's productivity by 11 points.
Senior Oana Iacovita led the Bengals with 15 points hitting 5-of-14 from the field and hitting all four of her free throw attempts. The 6-1 guard also knocked down a three-pointer for the Bengals from her two attempts. ISU freshman Kaela Oakes and Ashleigh Vella each produced seven points, Oakes coming off a career-high 17 point game against Saint Mary's. Idaho State started the freshman high scorers Oakes and Vella, and senior Devin Diehl returned to her starting position she owned last season.
Idaho State struggled from the start against the high-caliber Cal who had five players in double-figure points led by forward freshman DeNesha Stallworth's 17 point performance. Stallworth, who was a 2009 McDonalds All-American and 2009 WBCA All-American, hit 6-of-8 from the field, 1-of-1 from the trey and 4-of-4 from the line.
Senior guard Natasha Vital and redshirt senior Alexis Gray-Lawson each posted 16 points, both players helped Cal reach the sweet 16 of the NCAA National Championship Tournament last season. Gray-Lawson recorded a game-high three treys from five attempts.
"We've got to look at it as a learning experience; Cal is ranked 13th and 18th in the nation based off of two different polls for a reason. They are really good," said Sobolewski.
Iacovita scored Idaho State's first four points which Cal held ISU to for the first 9:13 for a 29-4 run to start the game. Freshman Vella ended the Golden Bear streak at the line sinking both shots. Cal's 1-3-1 half-court trap caught the Bengals off guard but ISU was able to adapt. Idaho State was able to hold Cal scoreless for 3:15, in that time doubling ISU's score.
A young and inexperienced team compared to Cal the Bengals would commit 21 turnovers in the first half which the Golden Bears would capitalize on earning 30 points off the errors. The Bengals would settle themselves and play with the Golden Bears for the final five minutes of the first half scoring six points and holding Cal to seven. Cal headed into the break up 56-22 at the Haas Pavilion.
Idaho State played its best basketball in the second half holding the Golden Bears to 44 points by switching from a man-to-man defense to a zone defense. The Bengals held Cal to just four offensive rebounds in the second half with ISU snatching six. California would out-rebound Idaho State 47-30 for the game. Idaho State tied Cal in fast break points with two each in the second half. Cal would record 16 points off of fast breaks for the game and would post 19 steals.
"Moving forward from this point it is important that we stay positive. This is not the last tough game, or the last game we will play this caliber of team," said Sobolewski. "We still have Nebraska, Minnesota and Arizona State who are all very good teams. We need to step up and learn from this, get better and prepare for them."
The road won't get any easier as Idaho State's next game is at Nebraska, a team that advanced to the second round of the WNIT. The contest begins at 6:05 p.m. on Thursday, November 19 in the Devaney Center.
Notes: The last time Idaho State gave up 100 points was a 105-55 loss to Montana in 2006 ... Idaho State struggled with turnovers committing 34 while Cal posted 19 ... Idaho State shot 27.5 percent from the field, Cal shot 50 percent ... ISU hit 5-of-16 treys for a 31 three-point percentage ... Freshman Oakes fouled out with 46 seconds left ... The game was the first time the Bengals allowed 100 points under head coach Sobolewski ... ISU played in front of its largest crowd of the season with 1,890 people in attendance ... Redshirt Junior Kari Green and sophomore transfer Rayneiqua Edwards made their first appearances of the season each playing the final minute of the game.
