Nov. 19, 2009
Final Stats
Nebraska Box Score 
Lincoln, NE-- Senior Oana Iacovita led the Bengals for her second consecutive game with 14 points against Nebraska in Idaho State's 88-41 loss at the Devaney Center on Thursday night. Idaho State played with the Corn Huskers for the first ten minutes trailing by three, but Nebraska's experience and talent would shine as the team improved to 3-0 while Idaho State fell to 0-3 for the season.
Senior standout Iacovita was two rebounds shy of her first double-double of the season, posting six on defense. Her eight rebounds led the Bengals. She recorded her 14 points hitting 7-of-19 from the field. The 6-1 forward ended her two consecutive games with a made three pointer as she had zero attempts in the match up.
"Oana did well tonight," said Head Coach Seton Sobolewski. I think she got a little tired in the second half. She didn't back off anybody throughout the game."
Senior Andrea Videbeck and freshman Ashleigh Vella, who competed with a face mask covering her broken nose sustained during a practice on Tuesday, each posted seven points for the Bengals. Vella hit all three of her shots from the line and posted 2-of-7 from the field. Videbeck posted her first points of the season against Nebraska hitting 3-of-5 from the field and 1-of-2 from the line.
"The first 12 minutes of the game were big," said Sobolewski of holding Nebraska to a single digit lead for a majority of the first half. "We worked hard in our preparation for this game, we covered the low post and we doubled. With them a Big 12 team that is very experienced they took it to another level, they stepped up. They stepped up their pressure, their rotating and they made adjustments. We're not at that point yet to make counter adjustment quickly very well."
Idaho State matched its largest lead of the season when it led Nebraska by three at 11-8, 5:38 into the first half off a jumper by freshman Vella. The Bengals held on tight to the Huskers allowing just a three-point lead after ten minutes of play in the first half. However, Nebraska would step up its game to end the half on a 14-0 run that extended into the second for an 18-0 run lasting just over eight minutes.
Nebraska would continue to excel creating a 38-4 run bridging through the first and second halves that sparked the Huskers solid lead of which ISU could not recover. The Huskers would go on to post its largest lead of 52 in the second with 4:15 left.
The Husker's strong pressure throughout the game was difficult for the Bengals. ISU handled itself in the first half, but struggled in the second as fresh Nebraska bodies, 14 total, were able to hit the floor while eight Bengals played a majority of the game with tired bodies from the game and from travel.
Idaho State matched the Huskers in turnovers in the first half with each team recording nine. However, as Nebraska's pressure increased throughout the game so did ISU's turnovers as they went on to post 13 in the second while forcing Nebraska to post nine. Nebraska capitalized on ISU's turnovers recording 25 points from the errors.
Corn Husker Cory Montgomery led Nebraska with 15 points and 10 rebounds for her first double-double of the season. Five Huskers posted double-figures in scoring as the team hit 49.3 percent from the field hitting 34-of-69 including a 37 percent performance from the arc knocking down ten treys during the game.
Two of Nebraska's players were perfect from the field. All-America candidate Kelsey Griffin posted her 14 points hitting 5-of-5 from the field and 1-of-1 from the arc while Jessica Periago was 4-of-4 from the field and an outstanding 3-of-3 from the arc for her 11 points.
With Nebraska's pressure Idaho State was reduced to 31.6 percent from the field and 1-of-8 from the arc for 12.5 percent accuracy. Idaho State had its best performance at the line this season hitting 80 percent of its shots, but the Bengals saw the line just five times.
"Nebraska is a good team and they are overwhelmingly so much better," said Sobolewski. "Sometimes it is difficult to judge how well we can do because of those matchups, but we are gaining valuable experience from this. We've just got to stay positive and keep things in perspective."
As a team the Bengals struggled with rebounds, especially offensively as Nebraska towered over Idaho State out-rebounding ISU 49-26 and capturing 17 offensive boards to ISU's seven, three in the second half alone. Nebraska held Idaho State to its lowest offensive board game total this season. Nebraska's size would also come in handy in the paint as the Huskers outscored Idaho State 40-26 in the area.
Idaho State looks to gain some rest on a bus and several layover flights as the Bengals will get up early to return to Pocatello in time to get in a light practice on Friday before playing its home opener against Boise State on Saturday, November 21 at Reed Gym. Boise State will actually be traveling less miles and time to face off against the Bengals on ISU's home court as the Bronco's drive is a mere three and a half hours.
Notes: Idaho State's 88-41 (-47) loss is the eighth largest margin of defeat which follows its tie for third largest margin of defeat 100-43 (-57) to #18 California two days prior ... Videbeck posted a game-high five assists a Bengal season-high.
