Feb. 7, 2009
Final Stats
Complete Northern Colorado Box Score 
Pocatello, ID-Idaho State would post two large leads one in each half and though Northern Colorado would reduce the lead to just five with their backcourt press in the second half, the Bengals would overcome 63-58 at Reed Gym Saturday afternoon. Senior Michelle Grohs led the Bengals as she recorded a career-high 27 points in her double-double effort paired with her 10 rebounds. Idaho State improves to 4-5 in conference play as well as a third place standing while Northern Colorado falls to 4-6. The Bengals continue to stay undefeated against Northern Colorado improving to an 8-0 overall record.
Three Bengals would post double-figures in scoring with junior Oana Iacovita scoring 14 points and Jenna Brown chipping in 11 points. Grohs was 10-of-18 from the field, 3-of-8 from the arc and 4-of-5 from the line for her 27 points. Both Iacovita and Brown were one rebound shy of a double-double as each posted nine rebounds helping Idaho State outrebound Northern Colorado 41-32. ISU had 35 total defensive rebounds.
Idaho State, 7-15 for the season, started the contest off strong taking an early lead and continued to build as they would post a 13 point lead at 25-12 with 6:07 left. However, Northern Colorado's Lara Merrit would spark a 9-3 run to end the break with a five point margin in ISU's favor at 28-23. ISU's only points in the remaining 6:07 came off a three-pointer from senior Grohs who ended the half with 14 points.
The Bengals returned at the half and quickly made up ground by posting their largest lead of the game points at the 10:46 mark. However, shots stopped falling for the Bengals after Groh's three pointer, the only one of the second half for ISU at the 5:31 mark. ISU was 1-of-6 from the arc in the second. Northern Colorado, 10-13 for the season, would post a 15-2 run as the Bears implemented a backcourt press that caused eight of ISU's 21 turnovers.
"I thought overall we handled it well, but there is no denying it, we had a meltdown there. We lost our composure," said head coach Seton Sobolewski. "Northern Colorado is not usually a pressing team but they were in a situation where they had nothing to lose. They start pressing and it's something that catches us off guard."
The press proved impressive as it reduced ISU's lead to just two points. The run was also shaped from the charity stripe as UNC saw the line 18 times in the second half hitting 14 of their attempts. Both teams were 4-for-4 in the first half at the line.
Idaho State's Jenna Brown stepped up and at the free throw line hitting four to increase the lead to eight. Then Northern Colorado found the sweet spot on the arc hitting two threes one from Kaisha Brown with 34 seconds left and the other from Kate Kevorken with 17 seconds left to again reduce the Bengal lead to two points. ISU created distance again at the line as freshman Sheila Adams hit 1-of-2 and Brown closed out the game with a second remaining hitting both shots from the charity stripe to close out the 63-58 victory.
Freshman Adams had a solid performance on the court posting career-highs in three separate columns with seven rebounds, four steals, and the game-high eight assists. Idaho State shot 81.8 percent hitting 18-of-22 at the line. Northern Colorado dominated the paint outscoring the Bengals 26-16. UNC's Whitley Cox was quick around the Bengal defense having several easy layups. She led the Bears with 18 points. Courtney Stoermer chipped in 13 points and posted the only UNC double-double with 11 rebounds.
The Bengals hit the road next week starting at Portland State on Thursday, February 12 at 8:05 p.m. MT at the Peter W. Stott Center in Portland, Oregon.
Notes: Iacovita fouled out with 2:01 remaining. She was 5-of-11 from the field and was a perfect 4-for-4 at the line ... Idaho State improves to third place in Big Sky standings.
