Feb. 13, 2010
Final Stats
Box Score: Idaho State 71 - Northern Arizona 64 
Flagstaff, AZ - Idaho State (11-14, 6-6 BSC) shot the lights out from three-point range hitting 10-of-17 from the arc, 58.8 percent, to defeat Northern Arizona (6-19, 3-8 BSC) 71-64 for the road and series sweep at the Walkup Skydome Saturday night. Idaho State was led by Oana Iacovita who posted her fourth double-double of the season, second straight, with 22 points and 12 rebounds. Idaho State remains tied with Montana State for fifth place seeding in the Big Sky rankings.
Idaho State ended its final road game of the regular conference season with a season-high three-point field goal accuracy hitting with 58.8 percent (10-of-17 ) overcoming ISU's 7-of-13, 53.8 percent, effort against Southern Utah at home.
"Three-point shooting was definitely a factor. We ended up making fewer shots overall, but the difference was the three pointers and shooting at a high percentage. I also think NAU struggling at the free throw line helped," said Head Coach Seton Sobolewski.
Northern Arizona hit just 3-of-9 from the line in the second half, 5-of-15 for the game. The Bengals would hit all of its free throws in the second half 17-of-24 for a 70.8 percent accuracy from the line.
Senior Iacovita hit 7-of-13 from the field, knocked down all three of three point attempts and was 5-of-6 from the line. Idaho State held a 14-point lead over the Lumberjacks in the first half when Iacovita, a forward, hit a career-high three treys to give the Bengals a 14-point lead, 29-15, with 5:26 remaining in the first half. Idaho State's 14 point lead is the largest first half lead of the season overcoming its 13-point lead season high first half effort over Montana Western at home.
"She showed up this trip," said Head Coach Sobolewski of Iacovita. "You could see it at shoot around and in practices. She was very focused. She really worked hard to make sure her teammates were focused. Her first half was tremendous. Hitting the three threes and was a consistent low post threat for us."
"Down the stretch she is becoming even more vocal," stated Sobolewski of Iacovita's leadership. "She's seen the light at the end of the tunnel here. She wants to make sure she finishes her senior year in a positive way."
Northern Arizona would post a 13-3 run including an NBA three-pointer from Caty Huntington, who led the `Jacks with 20 points, in the final seconds to reduce ISU's lead to four into the break with 32-28 on the scoreboard.
The Lumberjacks edged out the Bengals from the field hitting 11-of-23 from the field, 47.8 percent, while the Bengals hit 13-of-34, 38.2 percent. It was ISU's three point shooting that held them above the `Jacks shooting 6-of-11 while NAU hit 4-of-10 from the arc.
Freshman Morgan Wohltman and junior Chelsea Pickering both chipped in 13 points with Wohltman knocking down 3-of-4 and Pickering 2-of-4 from the arc to boost ISU's percentage from range. Idaho State hit 4-of-6 from three-point range for 66.7 percent accuracy in the second half.
Northern Arizona would start the second half with 6-0 run to post its second two-point lead, save the 2-0 start to the contest, but freshman Wohltman would prove pivotal knocking down the trey to give ISU a lead that Northern Arizona could not overcome. Wohltman was a perfect 2-of-2 in the second half from range.
Idaho State would hold a lead, as much as eight points four times causing the `Jacks to foul to play catch up. Senior Videbeck would hit 9-of-11 from the line in the second half, 5-of-6 in the final 23 seconds to give the Bengals a nine point lead before Amy Patton posted a layup in the final second of play. Patton posted 17 points hitting 8-of-22 from the field. Forward Tiffany Amos chipped in 10 points for the `Jacks.
Patton was held to five points in the first half as Pickering and redshirt junior Andrea Blodgett defended the Lumberjack.
"Chelsea and Andi Blodgett did a great job defending Amy Patton. They really slowed her down. She shot for 17 (points), but really had to work for it," said Sobolewski.
The Bengals out-rebounded Northern Arizona 43-to-31 pulling down four more offensive boards to earn 11 points off second chance opportunities. ISU rebound effort was its seventh time out-rebounding an opponent this season.
Idaho State will play the remainder of its schedule, the next four games, at home in Reed Gym. ISU's next game will be its Pink Zone contest against Weber State on Thursday, February 18 at 7:05 p.m. Fans should wear white to the game in tradition of "White Out Weber" while the Bengal players will be wearing pink warm-up jerseys and pink shoelaces to help support breast cancer awareness.
Notes: Pickering making her second game appearance since a concussion had her benched for six games ... Idaho State's bench scored 33 points ... Idaho State is on a two-game win streak.
