Box Score FINAL BOOK | FINAL STATS
LAS CRUCES, N.M. – Idaho State defeated New Mexico State (1-1) 59-42 Monday night improving its season record to 1-1. Sophomore
Lindsey Reed led the Bengals with 23 points, six rebounds and one block in 30 minutes of play. Reed shot 8-14 from the floor and hit 2-5 from three-point range. She was also a perfect 5-for-5 from the free throw line.
“Lindsey really picked up the slack tonight,” ISU Head Coach
Seton Sobolewski said. “She shot with confidence and played really good defense. She just had a great all-around game.”
Idaho State's bench made a major impact in tonight's game as junior forward
Jessa Jeppesen came into the game and scored 10 points and pulled down six rebounds. Sophomore guard
Sheryl Bitter subbed into the game and grabbed six rebounds and scored eight points, including two key three-pointers in the second half. Bitters hit a three at the 8:16 mark to put ISU up 43-29 and then hit another at the 7:21 mark to extend ISU's lead to 46-31.
“One of our goals for this game was to be the best bench,” Sobolewski said. “We worked on having a lot of enthusiasm on the bench and playing hard in the game. We had 20 points in bench production tonight and they did a great job.”
Junior forward
Ashleigh Vella notched eight points, two blocks and three rebounds for ISU while sophomore forward
Cydney Horton scored four points and pulled down a team-high 10 rebounds.
For the contest, ISU shot 36.5 percent from the field and went 4-19 from beyond the arc. Idaho State shot 60 percent from the free throw line. Despite a shaky offensive showing, ISU pulled out a 17 point lead over New Mexico State at the 1:09 mark off a layup by Reed. The Bengals' defense made their offense as ISU held the Aggies to 25.5 percent from the floor and just nine percent from the three-point range.
“We definitely won this game because of hustle and defense,” Sobolewski said. “We pressured the ball well and Kaela [Oakes] and Lindsey [Reed] made some great plays. On offense we struggled, especially in the second half and had trouble knocking down open shots. Jessa [Jeppesen] came in and helped us down on the low block. We definitely need to work on shooting and I think going back home will help us with that.”
New Mexico State's Tabytha Wampler was the main threat to Idaho State as the senior forward recorded a double-double in the game with a game-high 16 rebounds and 16 points. Wampler was the only Aggie to score in double digits as the next highest scorer, forward Chrissy Fletcher, tabbed seven on the night.
Idaho State returns to action Thursday, Nov. 17 in the first official home game of the season. ISU takes on in-state rival Boise State in Reed Gym. Tipoff is set for 7:05 p.m.
"We Are Your Bengals"
