Feb. 19, 2009
Final Stats
Complete Montana State Box Score 
Pocatello, ID-Idaho State struggled containing the Montana State penetration giving the Bobcats significant room to run resulting in a 14-point lead in the first half. Though the Bengals would cut the lead to three, twice in the second half, they could not overcome falling 81-72 at Reed Gym Thursday night. The Bengal loss to Montana State posts a four way third place tie in the standings between Idaho State, Montana State, Eastern Washington and Northern Arizona at 5-7 in Big Sky play.
The Bengals tied it up at 13-13 on a Sheila Adams layup at the 12:20 mark but ISU would struggle from there as the Bobcats posted a 25-11 run where Montana State posted its largest lead of the game with 14 at the 1:23 mark. Idaho State scored six of their 11 points during the Bobcat run from the free throw line.
The Bengals struggled with rebounds in the first half as Montana State recorded 21 to ISU's nine. Idaho State would hit three from the line, from freshman Jeni Guertin and two treys, from senior Jenna Brown, to close the gap to seven for a 40-33 scoreboard at the break.
Brown recorded the team-high 19 points, game-high tying, as she was 7-of-16 from the field, 2-of-4 from the arc and a perfect 3-of-3 from the stripe. Montana State's Erica Perry also recorded 19 points for the game as she was 4-for-6 from the field, 1-of-2 from the arc and 10-of-16 from the line.
Montana State shot 55.6 percent from the field for the first half and 40 percent from the arc, while ISU struggled hitting just 37.5 percent from the field and 33 percent from the arc. However ISU capitalized at the line to salvage the first half by hitting 12-of-14 for 85.7 percent accuracy.
Idaho State looked to capitalize on their momentum heading out of the break cutting the lead to four within two minutes from a three pointer by senior Michelle Grohs. However, Montana State would not back down and continued to employ a dribble drive spreading their offense giving an answer to every Bengal shot.
"They pushed the ball hard, they are aggressive. They didn't give us much chance to rest or get set," said head coach Seton Sobolewski. "You have to work just as hard as they do just to keep up and stay in front of them and it wears on you."
Even with strong second half performances from Grohs and junior Oana as they recorded 13 points each in the second half alone, ISU was only able to cut the lead Bobcat lead to three two times by the seven minute mark.
ISU's field goal percentage improved to 47.1 percent in the second half and though the Bengals cut the Bobcats to 38.5 percent from the field, the line hurt ISU as Montana State racked up 18 points while ISU only recorded four from the stripe during the second. Montana State saw the line 34 times during the competition converting for 24 points while ISU saw the line 19 times earning 16 points at the stripe.
Idaho State struggled on the defensive end as the fast paced Montana State penetrated the Bengal defenses quickly and did not allow the Bengals to recover.
"Our rotations just weren't there. We weren't scrappy. We weren't ourselves," said senior Brown about Idaho State's defensive effort. "When we played Eastern that was something that won the game, not just our offense. It was our defense and our offense comes secondary. I think we scored nearly forty points in the second half too, but when you can't get stops on the other end that affects us."
Idaho State trailed by two in the second half as Montana State scored 41 points to ISU's 39. The Bengals increased their shot percentage and rebounding effort, but could not lay the Bobcats to rest as MSU's Perry and Nubia Garcia teamed up to score 13 of the Bobcats 18 points at their last three point lead. Perry earned seven points from the free throw line alone as the Bengals attempted to slow down the clock with fouls.
Big Sky Conference rebound leader Garcia posted the only double-double for the contest recording 14 points and 12 rebounds. She was 6-of-8 from the field and 2-of-4 from the line. Montana State had four players in double-figures with Sarah Strand chipping in 12 followed by freshman Katie Bussey with 11 points. Idaho State had three players in double-figures with Brown leading at 19, followed by Iacovita with 18. Senior Grohs added 16 points.
ISU did hit the boards harder in the second half in part due to their increased shot percentage which drove down the Bobcats ability to come up with a rebound. ISU trailed by just two rebounds in the second, 19-17. However, the first half dug the Bengals into a hole as ISU was out rebounded 21-9 allowing MSU to outrebound Idaho State by 14 for the game, 40-26.
The Bengals look to defend their home court against number two Montana for senior night where Grohs and Brown will be honored in their final home games of their careers on Saturday at 2:05 p.m. in Reed Gym. Idaho State will also be sponsoring a WBCA Pink Zone game to raise breast cancer awareness. Fans are encouraged to wear pink to the game as the Bengals will be wearing pink warm-up shirts and pink shoe laces to show their support.
Notes: Idaho State allowed 81 points, the most in conference play ... Idaho State was outrebounded 40-26 over the game ... Senior Grohs led the Bengals with eight rebounds ... Both Grohs and Verity Peets posted two blocks ... Devin Diehl, Guertin and Peets each recorded five points ... Three Bengals were perfect at the line ... Idaho State posted their third most points for the season in a game with 72, their highest an 83-60 victory over Montana Western.
