Box Score
POCATELLO, Idaho – The Idaho State Bengals fell to second-place Southern Utah, 70-66, Thursday night at Reed Gym in Pocatello.
Kara Jenkins scored a career-high 20 points to lead Idaho State. The Bengals led most of the game before the T-Birds pulled ahead in the final minutes behind forward Lori Parkinson who scored all of her 14 points after the break.
The Thunderbirds scored first but the Bengals wouldn't let them gain a significant advantage. SUU led by 13-9 after Jessica Richardson hit a jumper with 13:16 remaining in the first half.
Idaho State then hit back-to-back shots to take its first lead of the game. The Bengals led the rest of the half and held a 33-26 lead on a fast break layup by
Lindsey Reed with 3:51 remaining.
The T-birds cut the lead to 34-32 on an Andrea Jones jumper with 1:56 remaining.
Sheryl Bitter hit two free throws with 25 seconds remaining to set the halftime score at 36-32.
The Bengals extended their lead to 41-32 on a 3-pointer by Reed with 19:04 left in the game. SUU then went on an 14-6 run culminating in a layup by Lori Parkinson with 12:17 left in the game to give SUU their first lead of the second half at 47-46.
The Bengals took a lead on the next possession on a Jenkins jumper. ISU led by as much as four points before SUU battled back.
The Thunderbirds took their final lead at 68-66 on a 3-pointer by Hailey Mandelko with 2:02 remaining. Mandelko hit two free throws in the final seconds to set the final score at 70-66.
Along with Jenkins, Reed scored 17 and
Jessica Tingey scored 14 to round out the Bengals in double-figures.
Reed, Tingey and
Alissa Willard led the Bengals with seven rebounds each.
Jones led SUU with 15 points while Parkinson scored 14 and Mandelko added 12.
Cali Morelend had nine rebounds to lead Southern Utah.
The Bengals now sit at in a three-way tie for fifth in the conference at 7-6 (9-13 overall). Southern Utah kept pace with Montana at 9-4 (15-7 overall) to remain in a tie for second.
The Bengals travel to Weber State Monday at 7 p.m. for their first of three games during next week.
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