Box Score
GRAND FORKS, N.D. – The first time Idaho State and North Dakota met this season, North Dakota escaped Pocatello with a one-point, 48-47, win. It was no surprise that the second game was just as close, but unfortunately for Idaho State the outcome was the same, a UND victory. This time the Bengals fell 64-59 in their first overtime game of the season.
The first half started as a defensive battle with neither team gaining a significant advantage. The Bengals led 16-15 after a jumper by
Jessica Tingey with 9:32 remaining, but North Dakota finished the half on an 18-5 run to lead 33-21 at the break.
North Dakota held on to its double-digit lead midway into the second half until a Tingey jumper with 10:05 kicked off a 19-5 run that gave the Bengals a 51-48 lead with 3:00 minutes to play.
The Bengals held UND to just 20 points in the second half on 6-of-21 shooting (28.6 pecernt).
North Dakota then went on a 5-0 run to take 53-51 lead with 15 seconds remaining. The Bengals found themselves in the same situation as they were in the last meeting with UND, down with a chance to tie the game on the final possession.
Kara Jenkins missed a 3-pointer but
Lindsey Reed got the rebound and found
Rebecca Schrimpsher who missed her shot but got her own rebound and put the basket in as time expired to tie the game at 53-53 and force overtime.
North Dakota scored on back-to-back possessions to take a four-point lead with 3:20 remaining in OT.
Idaho State cut the lead to one on a transition jumper by Schrimpsher with 1:18 on the clock but UND was able to ice the game with free throws and missed shots by the Bengals.
"The slow start in the first half really hurt us," Head Coach
Seton Sobolewski said. "I was really happy with the effort in the second half, especially on the defensive end. We gave ourselves a chance to win but we couldn't get over the hump."
For the second time this season it came down to Schrimpsher to make a big shot and for the second time she delivered. This shot was more about effort than a play that was drawn up for her.
"She made a great play to get her own rebound," Sobolewski said. "She was right in the middle of their bigs and she got in there, got the rebound and made a big shot."
The Bengals were paced by Reed who had 15 points and 11 rebounds both team highs. Tingey had 14 points and eight rebounds for ISU.
Mia Loyd led UND with 17 points and nine rebounds; Madi Buck had 13 points and also grabbed nine rebounds for North Dakota.
The win gives North Dakota (16-6, 11-2 BSC) a three and a half game lead on second-place Montana in the Big Sky race.
Idaho State (9-12, 7-5 BSC) sits in a three-way tie for fourth. At number three is Southern Utah who sit a half game in front of the fourth place schools but the T-birds play Northern Arizona at home Monday.
The Bengals face SUU Thursday at 7 p.m. in Reed Gym in the only game of the.
We Are Your Bengals
