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BENGALS IN ACTION THIS WEEK
Idaho State (20-7, 12-2 BSC) is on the road this week with two big games that could determine the regular season Big Sky champion. ISU first faces Sacramento State Thursday, Feb. 23 at 6:05 p.m. at Colberg Court. The Bengals then face Eastern Washington in a highly anticipated match-up that could decide the Big Sky regular season champion. The game is slated to begin at 3:05 p.m. at Reese Court. Fans can listen to the 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.hornetsports.com and www.goeags.com. Video is available at www.b2livetv.com.
BIG SKY CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT BERTH
Conference-leading Idaho State has clinched a spot in the 2012 Big Sky Conference Tournament. This is the fourth straight time ISU has qualified for the conference tournament under ISU Head Coach
Seton Sobolewski and the ninth straight year overall, a program record. Second-ranked Eastern Washington (16-11, 10-4 BSC) has also earned a tournament berth. Montana State, Northern Colorado and Montana have also secured a spot.
LAST WEEK IN BENGAL BASKETBALL
Idaho State (20-7, 12-2 BSC) defeated Weber State at home in Reed Gym Saturday, Feb. 18. The Bengals routed the Wildcats 65-53. Senior guard
Chelsea Pickering led ISU with 17 points and was just one of four Bengals to score in double digits. Junior forward
Ashleigh Vella recorded her 500th career rebound in the contest. Sophomore forward
Cydney Horton led the rebound effort with nine. Horton also recorded two assists, one steal and a game-high three blocks.
BENGALS ON THE MID-MAJOR TOP 25
The Bengals are currently No. 19 on the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25 poll. The Bengals earned 181 points in the poll and no other Big Sky school is ranked or receiving votes. ISU was previously ranked No. 23 on Feb. 14 and No. 25 on Jan. 21. The Mid-Major Poll is made up of teams from the following conferences: America East, Atlantic Sun, Big Sky, Big South, Big West, Colonial, Great West, Horizon, Independents, Ivy, Metro Atlantic, Mid-American, Mid-Eastern, Missouri Valley, Northeast, Ohio Valley, Patriot, Southern, Southland, Southwestern, Summit, Sun Belt and West Coast.
VELLA CLOSING IN ON 500TH REBOUND MARK
At the 9:39 mark in the second half of the game against Weber State,
Ashleigh Vella recorded her 500th career rebound. This season, Vella has pulled down 168 total rebounds and averages 6.2 per game. Vella has played in 87 total contests over her career as a Bengal, averaging 5.8 rebounds per game. Vella is currently tied for seventh in conference play for the 2011-12 season in offensive rebounds, averaging 2.4 per game.
BLOCK THAT SHOT
With 62 career blocks, sophomore forward
Cydney Horton has become one of the best shot blockers in ISU history as she moves onto the ISU all-time top 10 blocked shots list, replacing Alison Verona who ended her career with 57. Mandi Carver owns the career record with 180. Horton is currently tied for fourth in blocks in Big Sky action, averaging 1.2 per game.
SOBOLEWSKI CONTINUES COACHING SUCCESS
This season is shaping up to be one of head coach
Seton Sobolewski's best years at Idaho State. With the win over Weber State, Sobolewski and the Bengals notched the 20th overall and 12th conference win of the 2011-12 season, the most overall and league wins in a single season under Sobolewski. With 20 overall wins on the season, Sobolewski and the Bengals have tied for second for the most wins in a single season in program history. The last time ISU had 20 wins in one season was the 2003-04 season under head coach Jon Newlee.
PICKERING HITS 1,000 CAREER POINT MARK
With 10:33 remaining in the first half against Montana on Jan. 7, Pickering hit a jumper to break the 1,000-point barrier in her career. Pickering finished the contest with 12 points. Pickering has scored 256 points in 21 games this season, averaging 12.2 points per game. Over her career, Pickering has appeared in 93 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. With a current total of 1,144 points, Pickering is now tied for the eighth highest scorer in program history.
SOLID OAKES
In Big Sky action, junior
Kaela Oakes is tied for fourth in 3-point field goal percentage, as she is shooting .400 from beyond the arc. Oakes is also 10th in 3-point field goals made (1.7). Oakes is also eighth in free throw percentage, shooting .780 in league play. Not only is Oakes scoring well herself, she is also helping her teammates to produce numbers as she is tied for 12th in conference play in assists, averaging 2.7 per game.
PICKERING PICKING IT UP IN CONFERENCE PLAY
In conference play, Pickering is seventh in 3-point field goals made, averaging 1.9 per game. Pickering is also sixth in assists (3.1) and seventh in assist to turnover ratio (0.8). Pickering is also tied tied for seventh in offensive rebounds, averaging 2.4 per game. With 126 made 3-point field goals in her career, Pickering is fourth on the ISU all-time 3-point field goals made list. Pickering is sixth on the all-time steals list with a career total of 150.
BENGALS RANKED IN BIG SKY
In conference games, ISU leads the Big Sky in rebound margin (+5.6) and defensive rebound percentage (.719). Junior forward
Ashleigh Vella is sixth in free throw percentage (.824) and tied for seventh in offensive rebounds (2.4). Sophomore forward
Cydney Horton is fifth in rebounds, averaging 8.5 per game, fifth in defensive rebounds (6.2) and tied for 10th in offensive rebounds (2.3).
OFF ON THE RIGHT FOOT
The Bengals started the 2011-12 conference season at 8-0 before Montana State broke ISU's nine-game winning streak on Feb. 2 when the Bobcats handed ISU its first conference loss of the season in a 79-67 overtime decision. Since then, ISU won four straight. before losing to the Hornets in Sacrametno, Calif., on Feb. 23. Idaho State has not started conference at 8-0 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.
SOBOLEWSKI HITS CAREER MILESTONE
With the win against Montana on Jan. 7, 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 Eastern Washington, Sobolewski is 11-2. Sobolewski is 2-1 against the against the Hornets at Colberg Court and 2-1 against the Eagles at Reese Court. Sobolewski's career record at ISU is now 64-53 while he is 38-23 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.
ABOUT SACRAMENTO STATE
The Hornets are seventh in the conference with a 10-17 overall record and 5-9 league record. SAC is currently fighting with Portland State for the final tournament spot. Sacramento State is averaging 71.7 points per game and 69.8 points in league action. Kylie Kuhns leads the Hornets in overall scoring and rebounds, averaging 14.1 points and 11.8 rebounds per game. Allie Moreno leads SAC in conference action with 14.9 points per game. Moreno is No. 5 in scoring in the league for conference play while Kuhns is No. 9. Sacramento State leads the conference in steals (13.5), assists (17.0) and 3-point shots made (6.8).
LAST MEETING AND SERIES HISTORY WITH THE HORNETS
Idaho State leads the series between the two programs 31-1. The Bengals are 14-1 on the road against SAC. Idaho State defeated the Hornets 78-57 in the last meeting between the two schools on Jan. 14, 2012. Four Bengals scored in double digits with junior forward
Ashleigh Vella and sophomore guard
Lindsey Reed leading the way; both scored 14. Junior guard
Kaela Oakes chipped in with 12 points while senior guard
Chelsea Pickering posted 11. Sophomore forward
Cydney Horton led ISU with six rebounds. Overall the Bengals shot extremely well from the field, connecting with 29 of 55 for a 52.7 shooting percentage.
ABOUT EASTERN WASHINGTON
Eastern Washington is second in the conference with a 10-4 league record. The Eagles are 16-11 overall. Idaho State currently holds a two-game lead over EWU with two games remaining. EWU averages a conference-high 70.0 points per game in league play and Brianne Ryan leads the Eagles with 20.6 points per game while Carrie Ojeda leads the rebound effort, averaging 8.3 rebounds per game. EWU leads the conference in scoring margin (+8.9), turnover margin (+4.4) and assist to turnover ratio (1.0). Eastern Washington is 0-3 against teams ranked on the Mid-Major Top 25 poll. The Eagles have lost to No. 5 Gonzaga (76-69), No. 7 BYU (77-58) and No. 20 Hofstra (90-69).
LAST MEETING AND SERIES HISTORY WITH THE EAGLES
Eastern Washington leads the series between the two programs 33-31. The Bengals are 11-20 on the road against EWU. The Bengals defeated EWU 76-73 in overtime in the last meeting on Feb. 5, 2011.
Kaela Oakes led ISU with 19 points, followed closely by
Chelsea Pickering with 18. Pickering hit seven of ISU's nine points in overtime and blocked a game-tying 3-pointer to seal the win for ISU.
We Are Your Bengals
