Feb. 6, 2010
Final Stats
Box Score: Montana 67 - Idaho State 53 
Pocatello, ID - The Bengal defense was strong, but Montana's second half shooting was stronger, 60.9 percent from the field, as Idaho State fell 67-53 to the Griz on Saturday night at Reed Gym. Idaho State (9-14, 4-6 BSC) was out-matched physically with Montana's tall athletic players executing a solid zone defense that left the Bengals shooting just 33.3 percent for the night, seven points below their Big Sky average. Senior Oana Iacovita posted a game-high 19 points, her third straight contest leading the Bengals.
Montana improved to 12-10 for the season and 7-3 in league action to maintain second place in the rankings while Idaho State fell to 4-6 in Big Sky play to fall to sixth place and 9-14 for the season.
"We just seem to struggle against that zone. Our players, I don't know if it is a mental thing, they get passive. They second guess things, they turn it over. There is a lot of hoping going on. Making a pass and hoping it gets there," said Head Coach Seton Sobolewski. "People weren't open. Montana does a great job of anticipating. They get in the passing lanes and they move in the direction of the ball. They do a nice job."
Idaho State struggled with turnovers recording 25 for the game which the Griz turned into 24 easy points. Even though ISU posted 15 turnovers in the first half alone they only trailed the Griz by one point into the break with 22-21 reflected on the scoreboard. Idaho State held Montana to one of its fifth lowest scoring first half performances of the season.
In fact, both teams opened with solid defensive efforts as Bengal fans' legs began to get tired with the contest remaining scoreless for the first 4:31 seconds as ISU tradition has fans remain standing until the Bengals' first basket. Iacovita ended the 0-0 tie and the fan fatigue at the 15:29 mark.
Iacovita's 19 points for the game came from hitting 8-of-13 from the field as well as putting away her only trey and both of her attempts at the line. The forward also pulled down five rebounds, a blocked shot and a steal. Freshman Morgan Wohltman posted her first double-figure point game since her return with 14 knocking down four shots from the arc and one from the field. Senior guard Andrea Videbeck chipped in 12 points.
"She's very consistent. She gave two more points than her average. Everyone else kind of struggled getting open shots and she needs help," said Sobolewski of Oana leading the Bengals during its back-to-back contests. "She is surfacing to be one of the best forwards, best post players, in the conference this year."
A tight contest in the first half, ISU never led but twice by two at the start of the contest. Montana opened the second half with an 8-2 run giving the Griz a seven point lead, but the Bengals would work it back to within a two point game. Montana would post another run, this time a 15-5 effort that gave the Griz a double-figure lead, 49-37, from which the Bengals could not overcome.
Idaho State managed to reduce the Montana lead to six points with 45 seconds remaining off a Wohltman trey, but with time winding down the Bengals were forced to foul to keep its chances alive, thus Montana ended with it largest lead of the night at 14 points, ahead 67-53, when the Griz put up a layup and went a perfect 6-of-6 from the line capped off by Lauren Beck who hit both her shots in the final 16 seconds.
Beck led Montana with 16 points hitting 5-of-8 from the field, 2-of-2 from the arc and 4-of-5 from the line as well as posting a game-high seven rebounds. Montana's Jessa Linford chipped in 14 points while Sarah Ena and Kenzie De Boer recorded 13 points each.
Idaho State out-rebounded Montana 38-to-33, posting its sixth game in overcoming an opponent in that statistic to top its total from last season. Senior Devin Diehl and freshman Vella both led the Bengals with six rebounds apiece; however Diehl grabbed four of her on offense.
The Bengals look to snap its six-game losing streak when they play their final road swing of the season at Northern Colorado and Northern Arizona; the toughest road swing as far as travel is concerned. Idaho State will play the Bears first on Thursday, February 11 at 7:05 p.m. Then ISU will head to Flagstaff, Arizona to face off against Head Coach Sobolewski's alma mater Northern Arizona on Saturday, February 13 at 6:35 p.m.
Notes:Idaho State played in front of 1,223 fans, the most in Reed Gym under Head Coach Sobolewski.
