GAME NOTES | LIVE STATS | TICKETS | AUDIO | VIDEO
BENGALS IN ACTION THIS WEEK
Idaho State (12-5, 4-0 BSC) takes on Sacramento State (7-10, 2-3 BSC) and Portland State (11-5, 3-1 BSC) this week. The Bengals face Sacramento State Saturday, Jan. 14 at 2 p.m and Portland State on Monday, Jan. 16 at 7 p.m. Both contests will be held in Reed Gym. Fans can listen in to both games by tuning into 91.1 FM KISU or clicking on the audio streaming link at www.isubengals.com. Live stats are availabe at www.isubengals.com. Video is available at www.b2livetv.com.
LAST WEEK IN BENGAL BASKETBALL
Idaho State (12-5, 4-0 BSC) swept Montana State and Montana on the road last week. This is the first time ISU has swept the Montana schools on the road since the 2000-01 season and just the second time in program history. Idaho State overcame a 16-point deficit against MSU to defeat the Bobcats 59-58. Junior guard
Kaela Oakes led ISU with 18 points, knocking down four shots from beyond the arc and going 6-15 from the field. Oakes also posted two rebounds, four assists and three steals. The Bengals then broke a nine-game losing streak to Montana, downing the Grizzlies 58-51 in Missoula. Oakes led the Bengals again with 18 points as well as recording two rebounds, four assists and one steal.
PICKERING HITS 1,000 CAREER POINT MARK
With 10:33 remaining in the first half against Montana, Pickering hit a jumper to break the 1,000-point barrier in her career. Pickering finished the contest with 12 points for a current career total of 1,007 points. Pickering has scored 130 points in 11 games this season, averaging 11.8 points per game. Over her career, Pickering has appeared in 83 total contests and averages 12.3 points per game. During the 2010-11 season, Pickering scored a career-high 487 points during the season, the seventh most points scored in a single season in program history.
OAKES EARNS CO-BIG SKY PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Junior
Kaela Oakes was named co-Big Sky Player of the Week for her performances against Montana State and Montana. Against Montana State, Oakes led ISU with 18 points. Oakes knocked down four shots from beyond the arc and went 6-15 from the field. Oakes also posted two rebound, four assists and threee steals. Oakes also hit a pair of pressure free throws late in the second half to help secure ISU's 59-58 victory. Against Montana, Oakes showed consistency in her play as she once again led the Bengals with 18 points. She also recorded two rebounds, four assists and one steal.
Oakes was also named Bengal Athlete of the Week for her performances against the Bobcats and the Griz. So far this season, Oakes has also been named to the Air Force Classic All-Tournament Team and named College Sports Madness Big Sky Player of the Week. Oakes was also named Bengal Athlete of the Week on Dec. 12.
BENGAL HONORS
Junior forward
Jessa Jeppesen has been named Bengal Athlete of the Week twice (Nov. 8 and Nov. 22) as well as College Sports Madness Big Sky Player of the Week (Nov. 21). Junior forward
Ashleigh Vella was named Air Force Classic tournament MVP (Dec. 3) and was named Bengal Athlete of the Week on Dec. 6.
BENGALS RANKED IN BIG SKY
As a team, Idaho State leads the conference in rebound margin (+4.3), field goal percentage defense (.346) and defensive rebound percentage (.687). The team is ranked second in the conference in scoring defense (56.8), scoring margin (+6.2), free throw percentage (.729), three-point field goal percentage defense (.270), rebounding offense (41.4), rebounding defense (37.1) and defensive rebounds (28.1). Individually, sophomore forward
Cydney Horton is fourth in the conference in blocked shots, averaging 1.4 per game. Junior forward
Ashleigh Vella is ninth in free throw percentage (.750). Junior guard
Kaela Oakes is sixth in free throw percentage (.806), tied for ninth in three-point field goal percentage (.333), tied for 10th in three-point field goals made (1.4) and ninth in assists (2.8). Sophomore guard
Lindsey Reed is tied for 10th in three-point field goals made (1.4) and eighth in minutes played (32.2).
OFF ON THE RIGHT FOOT
The Bengals are starting the 2011-12 conference season at 4-0 after defeating Northern Colorado, Montana State, Montana and Sacramento State. The is the first time Idaho State has started conference at 4-0 since the 2000-01 season. That same season Idaho State went 25-5 overall and 16-0 in Big Sky play. The Bengals defeated Montana 68-59 in the final round of the conference tournament for the Big Sky Championship.
ON A STREAK...
The Bengals are on a five-game winning streak, the longest winning streak so far this season. This the longest streak for ISU since November of the 2010-11 season when the Bengals went on an eight-game winning streak beginning with a 62-55 victory over High Point on November 27 and going through a 76-51 win over Sacramento State on January 15. Portland State broke the streak by defeating the Bengals 89-79 in Portland. The longest winning streak in program history is 21 games set in the 2000-01 season.
SOBOLEWSKI HITS CAREER MILESTONE
With the win against Montana, ISU Head Coach
Seton Sobolewski has now defeated every team in the Big Sky Conference over the course of his four-season career at ISU. Against ISU's upcoming competitors, Sacramento State and Portland State, Sobolewski is a combined 9-6. Against the Hornets, Sobolewski is 7-1 while he is 2-5 against Portland State. Sobolewski's career record at ISU is now 56-52 while he is 30-22 in Big Sky action.
PICKERING NAMED LOWE'S SENIOR CLASS AWARD CANDIDATE
Senior
Chelsea Pickering has been selected as a candidate for the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award. An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School®, the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities.
To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence – community, classroom, character and competition.
The field of 60 (30 men and 30 women) will be narrowed to 10 men and 10 women candidates midway through the season. The award winner will be announced during the NCAA Final Four April 1-3.
ABOUT SACRAMENTO STATE
Sacramento State boasts a 7-11 overall record and is 2-3 in Big Sky play. Sacramento State leads the conference in scoring offense (74.2), rebounding offense (45.1), assists (19.1), offensive rebounds (17.3), defensive rebounds (27.8) and three-point field goals made (7.4). The team is second in the conference in blocked shots (5.4) and steals (12.4). Kylie Kuhns leads the conference in rebounds (12.3), offensive rebounds (4.9) and defensive rebounds (7.4). She is also fifth in the conference in scoring (14.8) and seventh in the conference in field goal percentage (.476). Fantasia Hilliard is third in the conference in assists (4.0) and seventh in free throw percentage (.767). Alle Moreno is fourth in the conference in steals (2.4). Emily Christensen is second in the conference in three-point field goals made (2.6) and Megan Kritscher is second in the conference in blocks (1.8). Sacramento State lost to Northern Colorado (68-58) on Jan. 7. The team defeated Northern Arizona in double overtime (91-85) on Dec. 29 and Weber State (78-60) on Dec. 31. The Hornets are on a one-game losing streak.
LAST MEETING AND SERIES HISTORY WITH THE HORNETS
Idaho State leads the series between the two schools 30-1. The Bengals are 15-0 at home against the Hornets. In the last meeting between the two schools, Idaho State defeated Sacramento State 65-63 off a game-winning basket from
Ashleigh Vella off an offensive rebound with 14 seconds remaining in the contest. The win marked ISU's 11th straight home game win. Vella led the Bengals with 20 points and 11 rebounds, recording her second double-double effort of the season. The Bengals shot 43.8 percent from the field and outrebounded the Hornets 39-35. The ISU defense forced 18 SAC turnovers.
ABOUT PORTLAND STATE
Portland State boasts an 11-5 overall record and is 3-1 in Big Sky play. Portland State leads the conference in free throw percentage (.809), three-point field goal percentage (.360) and three-point field goal percentage defense (.243). The team is second in the conference in scoring offense (72.2), rebounding defense (37.1) and assist to turnover ratio (0.9). Kate Lanz is second in the conference in free throw percentage (.867) and is third in both rebounding (8.6) and defensive rebounds (6.4). Eryn Jones leads the Big Sky in three-point field goals made, averaging 2.8 per game. Jones is also second in the conference in three-point field goal percentage (.398), third in assists (4.0) and assist to turnover ratio (1.5). Courtney Vanbrocklin leads the conference in free throw percentage (.928) and is fourth in scoring (14.7). PSU is on a two-game winning streak. The Vikings have defeated Northern Colorado (62-61), Weber State (66-56) and Northern Arizona (84-74) and dropped a 95-83 decision to Montana State on Dec. 31.
LAST MEETING AND SERIES HISTORY WITH THE VIKINGS
Idaho State leads the series between the two schools 22-20. The Bengals are 14-6 when facing PSU at home. The two teams last met in Reed Gym on Feb. 10, 2011. The Bengals defeated the Vikings 63-58, improving to 15-7 and 6-3 in Big Sky play. The win marked ISU 13th straight win at home.
Chelsea Pickering led the Bengals with a game-high 19 points and grabbed a team-best seven rebounds. Pickering scored 15 of her 19 points in the first half alone.
Kaela Oakes posted 15 points in the game with 13 coming in the second half. The Bengals shot 41 percent from the floor and held the Vikings to 31.8 percent and 28.6 percent in the second half. The ISU defense forced 19 PSU turnovers.
