Box Score
MISSOULA, Mont. – Idaho State (11-5, 3-0 BSC) defeated Montana 58-51 Saturday afternoon in Dahlberg Arena. Montana falls to 8-7 and 1-1 in Big Sky play. This is the first time that Idaho State has swept Montana and Montana State on the road since the 2000-01 season and just the second time in program history. It is also the first time since the 2000-01 season that ISU has started out conference play 3-0. Junior guard
Kaela Oakes led Idaho State with 18 points. Oakes also recorded two rebounds, four assists and one steal.
“Just like with Montana State, Kaela got us off to a good start in the first half,” ISU Head Coach
Seton Sobolewski said. “She hit a couple threes and she just played tough. She isn't a big vocal leader but a great leader by example. I feel like she was a big part in why we won this game. She really stepped up when we needed something to happen and made big plays.”
The Bengals snapped a nine-game losing skid to the Griz with today's victory and ISU Head Coach
Seton Sobolewski has now defeated every team in the Big Sky Conference in just his fourth season with the Bengals.
“I think we finally have an old enough group of players and experienced players to when it starts to get loud in here, the crowd starts to get excited and the momentum starts swing Montana's way, we are mature enough to handle it now,” Sobolewski said. “We are mature enough to stay composed, keep moving the ball, not turn it over and look to get a good shot.”
Senior guard
Chelsea Pickering hit a major milestone for her career today. With 10:33 left in the first half, Pickering hit a jumper to give her 1,000 career points. She is the 11
th Bengal to achieve that mark. Pickering finished the game with 12 points, two rebounds, two assists and three steals.
“I am very happy for Chelsea. She has earned it,” Sobolewski said. “She's had a lot of setbacks with injuries over the years and she's stuck it out. She very easily could have given up and said 'ok I'm done with basketball, I have my degree and I'm going to move on' and she didn't. She wants something special and she wants to see if she can lead this team to a conference championship. Chelsea played exceptionally well tonight and was a real team player.”
Overall, Idaho State shot 35.3 percent from the field and held Montana to just 33.3 percent from the floor. The Bengal defense produced 18 turnovers, six blocks and seven steals. Idaho State pulled down 38 rebounds while Montana nabbed 35.
At the end of the first half, Idaho State went into the locker room with a three-point lead, edging the Griz 29-26. The Bengals shot 34.6 percent and 50 percent from the three-point line. Oakes led the Bengals with 12 points. Oakes made two three-point shots in the half and went a perfect four-of-four from the line.
In the second half, Idaho State opened up a 12-point lead at the 14:00 mark off a jumper from junior Asleigh Vella. Montana answered with a 13-2 run to bring ISU's lead down to one with 7:12 remaining in the contest. ISU rallied in part behind to big steals from Pickering, finishing the game 58-51.
Idaho State will return to the hardwood Saturday, Jan. 14 against Sacramento State at home in Reed Gym. The contest is slated to being at 2 p.m.
We Are Your Bengals
