Box Score
POCATELLO, Idaho – The Idaho State Bengals held Sacramento State, the second ranked scoring team in the country, to their lowest point total of the season en route to a 62-53 win on Thursday night.
The Hornets came into the game averaging 90.5 points per game but the Bengals controlled the tempo with their usual strong defense and methodical offense to limit Hornet possessions.
The Idaho State strategy worked to perfection.
Lindsey Reed led all scorers with 14 points and a career-high 14 rebounds to pace the Bengals.
ISU jumped out to a 13-2 lead before the Hornets went on a run of their own. The Hornets went on a 13-1 run to take a 16-14 lead with 10:19 to play in the first half.
Sacramento State extended its lead to 21-16 on a 3-pointer by Takara Burse with 6:53 left in the half.
Idaho State was able to tie the game at 24-24 on a layup from
Anna Lee Policicchio with 3:17 on the clock before the Hornets closed the half on a 10-4 run, including a putback layup by Alle Moreno at the buzzer, to take a 34-28 lead at the break.
Idaho State attempted just one 3-pointer in the entire first half but was 11-of-20 (55 percent) from the field with most of those coming on layups. The Bengals gave up open jumpers as part of the game plan to slow the Hornets down.
The Hornets continued their run into the second half and extended their lead to 40-31 with 17:31 to play in the game.
Idaho State then went on a 13-0 run to take a 44-40 lead on a layup from
Alissa Willard with 10:52 to play.
The Hornet women struggled to shoot after the break and the Bengals built on their lead for the remainder of the second half.
Idaho State's biggest lead was 62-47 with 1:02 to play. The Hornets hit a free throw, a layup and a 3-pointer in the final 25 seconds to set the final score at 62-53.
Idaho State held the Hornets to just 5-of-32 (15.6 percent) from the field in the second half, including 3-of-20 (15 percent) from the three-point line.
The Bengals, on the other hand, shot 13-of-22 (59.1 percent) from the field after the break.
The win moves Head Coach
Seton Sobolewski into a tie with Jon Newlee for the most all-time wins in Idaho State women's basketball history with 93.
Kara Jenkins joined Reed in double-figures for the Bengals with 12 points.
Fantasia Hilliard scored 12 points and grabbed five rebounds to lead Sacramento State. Moreno scored 11 for the Hornets.
The Bengals next face Northern Arizona at 2 p.m. on Saturday in Reed Gym. The Lumberjacks won a shootout with Weber State 96-87.
Sacramento State has never won against Idaho State in the 17 games played in Pocatello. The Bengals lead the overall series 35-3.
We Are Your Bengals
