Bengals Honor Three Seniors at Final Home Contest

Idaho State vs. Northern Colorado
Date: Saturday, March 5
Site: ICCU Court at Reed Gym
Tip-off: 2:05 p.m.

TV:  Big Sky TV
Live Stats: Live Stats
Radio: The Bengal Radio Network, KISU 91.1 FM, Pocatello. (Play by play: Mark Liptak, Color Commentary: Brad Bugger).  Carried throughout Southern Idaho and on the Internet at www.isubengals.com.

Game Notes: Northern Colorado

BENGALS IN ACTION THIS WEEK
Idaho State (17-11, 8-7 BSC) recognizes its three seniors Andrea Blodgett, Aralee Smith and Kari Green on Senior Day, the final home contest of the season, against Big Sky leader Northern Colorado (17-11, 12-3 BSC) on Saturday, March 5 at 2:05 p.m. at the ICCU Court at Reed Gym.  The Bengals own an 11-1 home record and play the Bears in ISU's final contest of the season before heading to the Big Sky Conference Tournament.

MULTIMEDIA INFORMATION
ISU's contest will be broadcast by KISU 91.1 FM and online at www.isubengals.com.  The action will be brought to you by play-by-play announcer Mark Liptak with color commentary from Cody Van Fleet.  Fans can follow along through video streaming online at www.bigskytv.com as well as through live stats at www.isubengals.com.  Fans can purchase tickets at www.isubengals.com or by calling 208-282-FANS.  Individual game tickets can also be purchased one hour before tip-off.

BIG SKY CHAMPIONSHIP INFORMATION
The 2011  Big Sky Conference Women's Basketball Championship will be played March 10-12 at the site of the regular-season champion. The top six teams from the regular-season standings qualify for the tournament, with the top two seeds earning byes to the semifinals. The championship game will be televised on Altitude Sports & Entertainment.

THE ROAD TO THE TOURNAMENT
Idaho State makes its eighth straight Big Sky Conference tournament appearance this season, a school record, and third straight under the current coaching staff on March 10.  NAU's 62-56 loss to Northern Colorado clinched ISU's postseason berth.  The Bengals' farthest advancement under Sobolewski in the Big Sky tournament was the semifinals during the 2008-09 season, his first year coaching at ISU.

FIGURING OUT THE BIG SKY SEEDING FOR THE TOURNAMENT
Northern Colorado has clinched at least a share of the league title, and is 12-3 in the Big Sky heading into its final game of the season at Idaho State. The Bears need a win to clinch the title and host status for the tournament, but if they lose, the Bears would lose the tiebreaker to the winner of the MSU-PSU game.  A win Saturday over Portland State and an UNC loss would give MSU the title by virtue of a higher Ratings Percentage Index (RPI) than UNC. PSU is alive for the title as well.  If the Vikings beat MSU and UNC loses, the Vikings win the title by virtue of a season sweep over MSU.  The Bengals would capture a fifth place seed if EWU beats the Griz due to the ISU season sweep over the Eagles regardless of how ISU does in its final contest.  In case of a three-way tie -- with MSU beating PSU -- would give Montana fourth, ISU fifth and EWU sixth.  In a three-way tie with PSU beating MSU, ISU would finish fourth, EWU fifth and Montana sixth.

BENGALS WHO HAVE PLAYED IN THE BIG SKY TOURNAMENT
Though Idaho State has a very young squad the Bengals have a collected eight years of playing time in the Big Sky Conference Tournament.  Athletes who have competed include Kaela Oakes, Aralee Smith, Kari Green, Chelsea Pickering, and Ashleigh Vella.

SENIOR DAY
Idaho State honors three seniors on Senior Day, Saturday, March 5 at 2:05 p.m. against Northern Colorado: Aralee Smith, Andrea Blodgett and Kari Green (Chelsea Pickering will return next season as a fifth year senior).  

ARALEE SMITH
Smith competed for ISU from 2006-08 and returned to compete during the 2010-11 season.  Smith has played in 31 contests for the Bengals averaging 45.5 percent from the field and 31.6 percent from the arc.  She is 71.9 percent from the line and averages 1.3 assists per game.

ANDREA BLODGETT
Blodgett has played in 46 games starting in 23 over her two seasons with the Bengals.  She has averaged 33 percent from the field and 29.9 percent from the arc.  She is 64 percent from the line and has pulled down 120 rebounds over her career.  Blodgett has also recorded 56 assists, 46 steals and four blocked shots.  

KARI GREEN
Green joined the Bengals as a walk-on and earned her way into a scholarship.  She has played in 32 games for the Bengals.  Green has averaged 33.3 percent from the field and 50 percent from the line.  She averages roughly one rebound a game and one assist per game.  The 5-3 wonder has also posted four steals and two blocked shots.

BENGALS OUT DUE THEMSELVES AT THE LINE
Idaho State had four contests where Bengals have hit 6-of-6 from the line with Oakes owning three of those records.  Ashleigh Vella one-uped Oakes by hitting 7-of-7 from the line at Northern Colorado.  Oakes reclaimed the single game Bengal season record with 8-of-8 at the line against Weber State at Reed Gym.

THREE BENGALS IN DOUBLE FIGURES
Idaho State had three Bengals in double figure scoring against Weber State led by Oakes with 18 points followed by Pickering and Reed with 17 points each.  Idaho State is 6-5 when three Bengals are in double figure scoring and 22-19 under Sobolewski.

HOME GAME STATS
• With ISU's win over Weber State the Bengals improved to 17-11 for the season.  The 17 wins ties for the third most wins in a single season under a head coach.  Jon Newlee had two 17-win seasons during the 2005-06 season and 2006-07 season.  Ardie McInelly holds the top ranking at 25 and Newlee holds the second best record at 20.  

FAST BREAKS ON IDAHO STATE...
• The Northern Colorado women's basketball team clinched at least a share of the Big Sky regular season title when they overcame the Bengals 73-49 on Monday.  The Bears shot a school Division I record 58.7 percent from the floor while holding Idaho State to its lowest field goal percentage of the season at 27.8.

• In Oakes' last six contests she has hit 32-of-36 from the line (88.9 percent).  Oakes is on a 10 made field goal streak going 2-of-2 at Northern Colorado and 8-of-8 against Weber State at home.

• Idaho State forced 23 turnovers and held itself to a season-low six in ISU's 71-51 victory over Weber State at Reed Gym to improve to 11-1 at home.  Pickering had a game-high five steals followed by Reed with four.

• Idaho State leads the Big Sky for all games in free throw percentage at 77.1 percent (9th best in the nation).  Northern Colorado is seventh at 69.7 percent.  Northern Colorado leads the Big Sky in field goal percentage (42.1) and field goal percentage defense (36.2), however ISU is nipping at their tails at 41.1 percent shooting from the field (3rd) and 38 percent field goal defense (2nd).

• Over his three years at Idaho State Sobolewski has captured 43 wins, the fifth best win total for a head coach in school history.

• Lindsey Reed recorded her second double-figure rebound contest exactly one month apart.  Reed recorded 10 rebounds at Montana State on Jan. 24 and 10 rebounds at Weber State on Feb. 24.  Reed recorded her first career double-double at Weber State when she scored 13 points.  Reed also posted a season-high two blocks at Weber State.  

BENGALS IN THE RECORD BOOKS
Pickering owns the 10th best single season points record at 451, the 10th best single season steals record at 60, the 7th best career three-point field goals made record at 92 and tied for the 11th best three-point field goal percentage at 34.7 percent.

Oakes ties the 10th best single season free throw percentage at 82.2, the 10th best single season three-point field goal percentage at 41, the 7th best career free throw percentage at 80.5, the third best career three-point field goal percentage at 39.8 and the fourth best career assist-to-turnover ratio at 1.29.

IDAHO STATE STARTERS
The Bengals have a strong set of young starters that includes two sophomores and two freshmen in conference contests.  Among them the starters averaged 41.4 percent from the field, 31.9 percent from the arc and 76.7 from the line.  Of the starters the standouts are the sophomores as guard Oakes averages 13.9 ppg while forward Vella averages 12.1 ppg.  Pickering, a senior guard, leads the pack averaging 14.3 ppg.  

SECOND BEST HOME ATTENDANCE RECORD AGAINST MONTANA
Idaho State set the second highest home attendance record since 2003 at Reed Gym with 1,818 fans.  Unfortunately, Montana handed Idaho State its first loss at home for the season, in a back and forth battle 63-60, dropping ISU's home record to 10-1 and ending the second longest home win streak in school history at 14.  Idaho State has averaged 1080 fans per game at Reed Gym this season.  Under Sobolewski Idaho State has posted a 24-11 (.686) record at Reed Gym.  The longest home win streak was 17 games from the end of the 1999-00 season to the start of the 2001-02 season.

PICKERING AND OAKES EARN FIRST ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICA
Senior guard Chelsea Pickering and sophomore guard Kaela Oakes  are the first women's basketball players at Idaho State to earn Academic All-America awards for their outstanding achievements on the floor and in the classroom. Pickering and Oakes were both named to Capital One Academic All-America All-District VIII Second Team.  Pickering holds a 3.66 GPA while double majoring in Health Care Administration and MBA.  Oakes holds a 3.85 GPA while majoring in nursing.

BENGALS WITH DOUBLE-DOUBLES
Idaho State has had three players post double-doubles: Ashleigh Vella (31 points, 11 rebounds at Utah and 20 points and 11 rebounds against Sacramento State), Blodgett (12 points, 10 rebounds against Eastern Washington) and Reed (13 points, 10 rebounds at Weber State).  

ABOUT NORTHERN COLORADO
Northern Colorado is playing back-to-back contests against Idaho State.  UNC overcame the Bengals 73-49 at the Butler-Hancock Sports Pavilion for the Bears first victory over Idaho State .  The series is led by Idaho State 10-1.  Northern Colorado is led in scoring by Lauren Oosdyke averaging 15.5 points per game in league play followed by D'shara Strange with 12.5 ppg.