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BENGALS IN ACTION THIS WEEK
Idaho State (13-5, 5-0 BSC) travels to Flagstaff, Ariz., this week to take on Northern Arizona (5-13, 0-6) as the Bengals kick off a three-game road trip. Conference-leading ISU faces NAU Saturday at 3:05 p.m. at the Rolle Activity Center. Fans can listen in to the game by tuning into 91.1 FM KISU or clicking on the audio streaming link at
www.isubengals.com. Live stats are availabe at
www.nauathletics.com. Video is available at
www.b2livetv.com.
LAST WEEK IN BENGAL BASKETBALL
Idaho State (13-5, 5-0 BSC) remained unbeaten in Big Sky action as the team defeated Sacramento State and Portland State in Reed Gym last week. The Bengals won their fifth straight game against Sacramento State, defeating the Hornets 78-57. Sophomore guard
Lindsey Reed and junior forward
Ashleigh Vella led Idaho State with 14 points while sophomore forward
Cydney Horton led the rebound effort with six. Idaho State then defeated the preseason favorite Portland State 78-63 on Monday, Jan. 16. Three Bengals scored in double digits against the Vikings led by senior guard
Chelsea Pickering who scored 21. Horton recorded her first career double-double in the contest notching 16 points and 11 rebounds.
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 total of 1,007 points. Pickering has scored 151 points in 12 games this season, averaging 12.6 points per game. Over her career, Pickering has appeared in 84 total contests and averages 12.4 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. With a current total of 1,039 points, Pickering is just 13 points away from moving onto the all-time top 10 scoring list.
SOLID OAKES
Junior
Kaela Oakes is ranked sixth in the conference in scoring in conference games as she averages 15.0 points per game. Oakes has had six straight games of double-digit scoring. In conference play, Oakes is second in free throw percentage, shooting an outstanding .905 from the line and is also second in three-point field goal percentage as she has hit 10-of-21 in the last five games for a .476 shooting percentage. Oakes is also tied for seventh in conference play in three-point field goals made. Not only is Oakes scoring well herself, she is also helping her teammates to produce numbers as she is tied for fifth in conference play in assists, averaging 3.2 per game and is third in assist to turnover ratio (2.0).
BENGALS RANKED IN BIG SKY
As a team, Idaho State leads the conference in field goal percentage defense (.348), rebounding margin (+4.6) and defensive rebound percentage (.691). The team is ranked second in the conference in scoring defense (57.1), scoring margin (+6.7), free throw percentage (.726), three-point field goal percentage defense (.277), rebounding offense (41.2), rebounding defense (36.6) 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 (.757) and tied for ninth in assists (2.8). Junior guard
Kaela Oakes is sixth in free throw percentage (.806), tied for ninth in assists (2.8) and 10th in three-point field percentage (.338). Sophomore guard
Lindsey Reed is tied for 10th in defensive rebounds (4.7).
In conference play, the Bengals lead the Big Sky in field goal percentage defense (.332), scoring margin (+9.8), three-point field goal percentage (.407) and defensive rebound percentage (.724).
OFF ON THE RIGHT FOOT
The Bengals are starting the 2011-12 conference season at 5-0 after defeating Northern Colorado, Montana State, Montana, Sacramento State and Portland State. This is the first time Idaho State has started conference at 5-0 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 six-game winning streak, the longest winning streak so far this season. This is 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 competitor, Northern Arizona, Sobolewski is 4-2 snd 2-1 at the Rolle Activity Center. Sobolewski's career record at ISU is now 57-52 while he is 31-22 in Big Sky action.
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.
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 NORTHERN ARIZONA
The Lumberjacks boast a 5-13 overall record and is 0-6 in Big Sky play. Northern Arizona is second in the conference in offensive rebounds (15.5), defensive rebound percentage (.679) and offensive rebound percentage (.364). Aubrey Davis is first in the conference in field goal percentage (.555), third in offensive rebounds (3.2) and seventh in blocked shots (1.1). Amy Patton is fifth in defensive rebounds (5.8), sixth in rebounding (7.2), ninth in steals (1.9) and 10th in scoring (13.3). Amanda Frost is sixth in three point field goal percentage (.348) and tied for eighth in three point field goals made (1.7). Northern Arizona is still looking for its first conference win as the 'Jacks host Weber State on Thursday before facing the Bengals on Saturday. NAU is on a nine-game losing streak and is 5-3 at home this season.
LAST MEETING AND SERIES HISTORY WITH THE LUMBERJACKS
Idaho State leads the series between the two schools 29-26. The Bengals are 11-16 on the road against NAU. In the last meeting between the two schools, Northern Arizona defeated Idaho State 59-55 at the Rolle Activity Center off a late eight point spark by Tyler Stephens-Jenkins, snapping an ISU four-game win streak. Three Benglas scored in triple digits in the contest, led by
Chelsea Pickering with 16. The Bengals shot 37.5 percent from the field while NAU shot 38.6. Amy Patton led the Lumberjacks with 14 points. NAU outrebounded the Bengals 37-34.
We Are Your Bengals
