Dec. 12, 2009
Final Stats
Utah State Box Score 
Pocatello, ID-- Idaho State defeated the Aggies in the second match-up of the season 63-58 at Reed Gym on Saturday afternoon. Senior Devin Diehl's steal with three seconds remaining took away USU's three-point opportunity to tie the game forcing the Aggies to foul senior Andrea Videbeck who would take it away at the line. All three of Idaho State's seniors posted double-figure point performances. Utah State fell to 3-4 while the Bengals improved to 3-8 for the season.
"Those games against Utah State are never easy. Our last three games against them have always been ugly. It has always come down to the wire," said Head Coach Seton Sobolewski. "I'm proud of the girls for sticking it out and play hard to make the difference with their effort. With close games that is what makes the difference."
Senior forward Oana Iacovita led the Bengals with 16 points followed closely by Diehl who recorded 15 points, a season-high. She also recorded a season-high eight rebounds, four on offense and four on defense. Diehl posted a game-high three steals. She hit 4-of-6 from the arc, three in the second half to help the Bengals neutralize a double-figure lead by the Aggies. Videbeck, a guard, recorded a career-high 11 points and posted a game-high five assists.
"Getting the steal, the jump ball, tying things up, she's phenomenal. That's almost just as important as her scoring 15 points. At the right times in the game hustle plays can make all the difference," said Sobolewski of Diehl's performance.
Utah State was hot to start with a 10-1 run as they intended to gain redemption when they fell to ISU 56-53, exactly one week earlier at the Arizona State Tournament in Tempe, Ariz. The Aggies did not miss a field goal until the 10:18 mark in the first half, just after ISU was able to work the contest to a two point lead in its favor.
Freshman Kaela Oakes hit a three-pointer to draw the Bengals within a point of the Aggies, down 30-29 heading into the break. Utah State would go on a 16-6 run to an 11-point lead, its largest of the game at the 10:31 mark in the second half. Idaho State's senior Diehl hit 3-of-3 from arc to help pull the Bengals out of USU's double-figure point lead. She hit all three of ISU's treys in the second half.
Iacovita came on strong in the second half scoring 11 of her 16 points. Iacovita and Videbeck would team up to give the Bengals its first lead in the second half when Iacovita hit a jumper off the in-bounds play. Videbeck led the Bengals at the line hitting 7-of-8 from the line. ISU would see the line 14 times in the second half putting away 11 of those attempts.
The Bengals would stand strong at the line putting away 9-of-10 of its pressure free throws in the final five minutes. Junior Chelsea Pickering would hit her two attempts from the line to give ISU a three-point lead. With Utah State looking for a trey to tie it up, Diehl picked the pocked of Utah State's Alice Coddington to give ISU possession.
Utah State was forced to foul sending Videbeck to the line where she hit both attempts to give the Bengals a five point lead to end the contest. Videbeck hit all four of her pressure free throws late in the game. The Bengals hit 80 percent of their free throws (16-of-20) for the game.
Idaho State tied its series record with the Aggies at 14-14 and improved ISU's home record to 2-1 for the season. Head Coach Sobolewski continues his perfect streak to 3-0 against Utah State.
The Bengals will have a little over a week before its next contest when ISU hosts Southern Utah on Monday, December 21 at 7:05 p.m. at Reed Gym. The extra time will be used to focus on their academics.
"The girls will focus on their academics now as finals week is approaching. They are going to have some time because we won't practice as much," said Sobolewski. "They will have quite a few days off to study and prepare for finals."
Notes: Idaho State reduced its turnover count to 15, a season-low, while causing Utah State to turnover the ball 22 times ... The Bengals outscored USU 21-to-14 off turnovers.
