Feb. 14, 2009
Final Stats
Complete Eastern Washington Box Score 
Cheney, WA-Idaho State dominated play in 69-59 victory over Eastern Washington in Cheney on Valentine's Day as the Bengals posted double-figure leads for most of the contest. Idaho State had four players in double-digits, the second time this season, with senior Jenna Brown leading ISU with a career-high tying 24 points. With the win Idaho State could take back its third place standing if 10-1 Montana defeats 5-6 Northern Arizona at Missoula.
The Bengals started strong getting some early open shots positing a 12 point lead by the 11:23 mark. Brown earned her first points :37 seconds into play at the free throw line sinking both. The charity stripe would be a gold mine for the Bengal as she would hit 14-of-17 for the game beginning with seven straight through the half.
"She handled the ball well," said head coach Seton Sobolewski of Brown's ability to handle Eastern Washington's pressure. "Point guards have a tough job and have to remain under control and stay composed and she does that. She handled the pressure well and took it to the basket without forcing it."
Idaho State would hit 12 consecutive free throws as a team in the first half, 13 for the game. Eastern Washington would hit 100 percent from the charity stripe (12-of-12) however, Eastern Washington would see the line 12 times for the entire contest while ISU visited the line 31 times concerting 80.6 percent of their shots.
Brown, the 5-3 guard, was 5-for-9 from the field hitting 56.6 percent of her shots. She also played tough defensively adding five rebounds and five steals. Senior Michelle Grohs posted 14 points knocking down two threes and a layup. Grohs was 6-for-8 from the line. Oana Iacovita, a junior, led the Bengals in rebounds with nine, pulling down three on offense. Iacovita was 4-of-9 from the field and a perfect 4-4 from the line.
Junior Devin Diehl came through for the Bengals at key moments and pulled out 11 points for ISU, her third double-figure performance of the year. Diehl helped the Bengals post a 47.5 percent accuracy for the game as she was 4-of-5 from the field (80 percent) and 3-of-4 from the arc (75 percent).
The Bengals started off strong hit 50 percent of their shots from the field and held the Eagles to 32.1 percent. Idaho State would posts its largest lead of 18 at the 7:13 mark in the first half, the Eagles would reduce the Bengals lead but only to 12 by the Break as ISU led 39-27 into the second half.
Eastern Washington would come out of the break with fire as they turned up the inside game for a 9-2 run. However, ISU would respond back pushing the lead back up to 16 with a Iacovita jumper. Forward Iacovita would come on strong in the second half posting eight of her 12 points. She would hit 3-of-8 from the field and 2-of-2 from the line in the second half alone.
Idaho State continues to struggle with turnovers as they tied their season-high of 23 for the fourth time this season. However, Eastern Washington also struggled with turnovers posting 24 giving ISU 26 easy points.
Idaho State will return home to host Montana State on Thursday, February 19 at Reed Gym at 7:05 p.m.
