Box Score
PORTLAND – Four Bengals scored in double-figures to lead Idaho State to a 76-64 road win over Portland State in their Big Sky Conference opener Thursday night at the Peter W. Stott center in downtown Portland.
Lindsey Reed overcame a slow start to lead all scorers with 20 points while
Jasmine Lemon scored a career high 15 points,
Jessica Tingey added 14 and Becca Schrimpsher had 11.
The win also ties head coach
Seton Sobolewski with former coach Jon Newlee for the most Big Sky wins in Idaho State history.
The game was the first conference game for Idaho State (3-7, 1-0 BSC) but Portland State (3-8, 1-1 BSC) beat conference favorite Eastern Washington on the road Sunday afternoon. It was the tenth straight conference opening win for Idaho State.
The Bengals and Vikings traded baskets to start the game but ISU took an 11-9 lead on a bucket in the paint by Tingey with 14:30 left in the first half and the Bengals never trailed again.
The Bengals took their first double-digit, 24-14 lead on a Jumper by Anna Lee Polichicchio with 8:04 remaining in the half before a 15-3 run cut the deficit to two 29-27 on a jumper by PSU's Kate Lanz with 5:03 left before the break.
The Bengals outscored PSU 14-2 during the final five minutes of the half to take a 43-29 lead into the locker room.
Idaho State shot a stunning 19-31 (61.3 percent) from the field in the first half and Tingey and Reed both had 10 apiece to lead the Bengals at the break.
The Bengals started the second half on a 10-6 run to give the Bengals their largest lead of the game an 18-point, 53-35 advantage with 16:35 to play in the game.
The Vikings would cut the lead to five, 63-58, on two Lanz free throws with 4:54 to play but the Bengals outscored Portland State 13-6 the rest of the way for the 76-64 final.
"We had great effort, we shot the ball very well and we worked the defensive plan very well," Sobolewski said. "We played a complete game. The team had a great attitude and they had a great time tonight. Even though we've struggled we try to have a good attitude and keep working and I think we saw that come through tonight."
Idaho State shot 28-52 (53.8 percent), including 7-13 from 3-point range. The game was their best shooting night of the season and well above their average of 34.9 percent.
The Bengals also outrebounded a big and physical Portland State team 38-35 and forced eight steals.
ISU held Portland State to 21-64 (32.8 percent) but three Vikings scored in double figures. Lanz and Angela Misa led PSU with 19 while Allie Brock scored 15 but just two of those came in the second half.
The Bengals also had a season high 18 assists.
"If you run motion offense the right way and people are finishing shots you will get a lot of assists," Sobolewski said. "The team is figuring it out but if you look at the stats you can see who is experienced with the offense. Kara had seven assists and Lindsey had six they know where people are going to be open."
Another bright spot in the last few games has been Lemon, the transfer point guard. The Portland State game was her fourth double-figure night in five games.
"Jasmine is a smart, experienced player that is picking up pretty quick what we need her to do," Sobolewski said. "She had a great game tonight great defense shot the ball well."
The Bengals next face Eastern Washington Saturday in Cheney, Wash. at Reese Court at 3 p.m. mtn.
The Eagles beat Weber State 78-67 Thursday to move to 5-6 on the season with a 1-1 Big Sky record. The game will be the final of nine consecutive road games for the Bengals who will return home for the first time in nearly two months to face North Dakota next Thursday at Reed Gym at 7 p.m.
We Are Your Bengals
