Box Score
POCATELLO, Idaho – The Bengals shook off last Thursday's loss to Montana State and returned to the hardwood with a hunger, defeating Montana 54-48 Monday night in Reed Gym. The Bengals improve to 9-1 in Big Sky Conference play and 17-6 overall. This is only the second time in school history the Bengals have swept the Lady Griz in a season. The last sweep was during the 2000-01 season. Montana is now 6-4 in Big Sky Conference play, 13-10 overall.
“We got back to doing what we do best, playing 40 minutes of good defense,” ISU Head Coach
Seton Sobolewski said.
Junior guard
Kaela Oakes led the Bengals in scoring, tallying 16 points, shooting 5-for-11 from the field. Junior forward
Ashleigh Vella followed with 10 points, shooting 4-for-12. Vella also recorded 11 rebounds for her second double-double this season. Sophomore forward
Cydney Horton had 10 rebounds in the contest, six of them on the offensive side of the ball.
The Bengals outrebounded the Griz 45-36 and tallied 21 offensive rebounds while UM grabbed just 13.
“That's the reason we won this game,” Sobolewski said. “We defended well, contested shots and we got more possessions than them off the offensive glass. Cydney and Vella did a great job on the boards tonight.”
The team shot 35.6 percent for the game, hitting 21-of-59 shots. ISU outscored the Lady Griz in the paint 24 to eight. ISU's defense made a major impact once again as the Bengals notched eight steals and forced 19 turnovers. ISU held Montana to just a .360 shooting percentage for the game.
Idaho State's largest lead of the game was nine points while Montana's largest was five. The game saw six lead changes and was tied four times.
The Bengals next host Northern Arizona (2-9 BSC, 7-16 overall) Thursday, Feb. 9 at 5:05 p.m. (MST) at Reed Gym.
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