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BENGALS IN ACTION THIS WEEK
Idaho State (9-5, 1-0 BSC) takes on Montana (8-6, 1-0) and Montana State (9-5, 1-1) this week. The Bengals face Montana State Thursday, Jan. 5 in Washington Arena at 7 p.m. ISU then travels to Missoula, Mont. to take on Montana Saturday, Jan. 7 at 2 p.m. in Dahlberg Arena. 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
http://www.msubobcats.com and
www.gogriz.com. Video is available at
www.b2livetv.com.
LAST WEEK IN BENGAL BASKETBALL
Idaho State (9-5, 1-0 BSC) defeated Great Falls and opened up conference play with a win against Northern Colorado last week. The Bengals defeated Great Falls 86-42 and were led by junior guard
Kaela Oakes who posted 19 points, four rebounds, five assists and two steals. Against Northern Colorado, junior forward
Ashleigh Vella led Idaho State with 17 points. Vella also posted eight rebounds and one block.
PICKERING CLOSING IN ON 1,000-POINT MARK
Senior
Chelsea Pickering has now accumulated 981 career points making her just 19 points shy of 1,000 career points. Pickering has scored 93 points in eight games this season, averaging 11.6 points per game. Over her career, Pickering has appeared in 80 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.
BENGAL HONORS
As ISU begins conference play, the ISU women's basketball team is already racking up several 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 guard
Kaela Oakes was named to the Air Force Classic All-Tournament Team (Dec. 3) and has been named College Sports Madness Big Sky Player of the Week (Dec. 5). Junior forward
Ashleigh Vella was named Air Force Classic tournament MVP (Dec. 3). Vella was named Bengal Athlete of the Week on Dec. 6 and Oakes was named Bengal Athlete of the Week on Dec. 12. Oakes' Bengal Athlete of the Week recognition marked the fourth honor for women's basketball this season.
BENGALS RANKED IN BIG SKY
As a team, Idaho State leads the conference in rebound margin (+3.7). The team is ranked second in the conference in scoring defense (57.1), scoring margin (+5.4), free throw percentage (.744), field goal percentage defense (.351), rebounding defense (37.2), defensive rebound percentage (.679) and defensive rebounds (27.5). Individually, sophomore forward
Cydney Horton is fourth in the conference in blocked shots, averaging 1.6 per game. Junior forward
Ashleigh Vella is sixth in free throw percentage (.770). Sophomore guard
Lindsey Reed is 10th in defensive rebounds (4.6) and is fifth in minutes played, averaging 32.4 minutes per contest. Junior guard
Kaela Oakes is fifth in free throw percentage (.784).
PICKERING GRANTED FIFTH YEAR
This is Pickering's fifth and final season playing for Idaho State. Pickering was granted a fifth year by the NCAA due to an injury that prevented her from playing most of the 2007-08 season.
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 MONTANA STATE
Montana State boasts a 9-5 overall record and is 1-1 in Big Sky play. Montana State leads the conference in scoring margin (+7.6) and field goal percentage (.438). The team is second in the conference in three-point field goals made (6.5). Katie Bussey leads the Bobcats in scoring, averaging 17.6 points per game. Bussey is also third in the conference in scoring as well as third in the conference in assists (4.1). Rachel Semansky is the leading rebounder for MSU, averaging 8.2 per game. Semansky also leads the conference in field goal percentage (.578) and is third in the conference in rebounding (8.2) and offensive rebounds (2.9). Montana State lost to Eastern Washington 73-79 on Dec. 29 and defeated Portland State 95-83 on Dec. 31. The Bobcats are on a one-game winning streak.
LAST MEETING AND SERIES HISTORY WITH THE BOBCATS
Montana State leads the series between the two schools 40-26. The Bengals are 8-24 at Montana State. In the last meeting between the two schools, Idaho State knocked off the conference-leading Bobcats 74-65.
Kaela Oakes led Idaho State's four players in double figures with 22 points, hitting 6-for-11 from the field. She was a perfect 6-of-6 from the line. Idaho State shot 39.7 percent from the field and held the Bobcats to 32.8 percent shooting, including 25.7 percent (9-of-35) in the second half. Montana State only shot 17 percent (3-of-17) from the arc in the second half.
ABOUT MONTANA
Montana boasts an 8-6 overall record and is 1-0 in Big Sky play. Montana leads the conference in scoring defense (56.3), field goal percentage defense (.351), blocked shots (5.6) and turnover margin (+3.8). Theteam is second in the conference in rebounding margin (+2.4) and offensive rebounding percentage (.369).The team is second in the conference in three-point field goals made (6.5). Katie Baker leads the Griz in scoring, averaging 13.6 points per game. Baker also leads UM in rebounds (6.7). Baker is also leading the conference in blocked shots, averaging 2.1 per game. Montana's Kenzie De Boer is second in the conference in free throw percentage hitting 43-of-50 for a .860 percentage. Montana is on a four-game winning streak including a win over Eastern Washington on Jan. 2. The Griz outscored EWU 53-46 in the contest.
LAST MEETING AND SERIES HISTORY WITH THE GRIZ
Montana leads the series between the two schools 62-6. The Bengals are 2-34 when playing in Missoula. The two teams last met at Portland State University in the quarterfinals of the Big Sky Tournament. The Griz handed ISU a 53-66 loss in the contest. Three Bengals scored in double-figures led by
Chelsea Pickering who tied Montana's Stephanie Stender with a game-high 18 points. Pickering also had six rebounds and a game-high four steals.
Lindsey Reed put 11 points on the scoreboard and a game-high eight rebounds.
Ashleigh Vella chipped in 10 points and a game-high three blocked shots. Montana went on to win the tournament, defeating Portland State 62-58.
We Are Your Bengals
