Box Score
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The Idaho State Bengals started slow and struggled in the last few minutes en route to a 56-53 loss to Sacramento State, Saturday afternoon at The Nest in Sacramento.
The Bengals struggled to find a rhythm early in the game and made just one of their first nine shots which helped Sacramento State jump out to a 13-3 lead. The Hornets extended that lead to 19-5 before the Bengals got their feet under them.
A 3-pointer by Rebecca Shrimpsher with 8:49 left in the half cut the hornet lead to 22-13 before Sacramento State made another big run.
The Hornets scored eight straight to gain a 30-13 advantage with 3:51 left in the first half.
Idaho State didn't throw in the towel, the Bengals went on a 27-3 run spanning the break to take a 40-33 lead on Anna lee Policicchio jumper with 12:41 left in the game.
The Bengals extended their lead to 10, 51-41 on a 3-pointer by Schrimpsher with 5:55 left in the game.
After a Schrimpsher layup with 5:09 remaining, the Bengals led 53-43. Idaho State would not score the rest of the game.
Sacramento State finished the game on a 13-0 run. They took the 54-53 lead on a 3-pointer from Sadie Clements with 36 seconds remaining.
The Bengals had an opportunity to score, but the Hornets got a rebound and a fastbreak layup by Takara Burse gave them 56-53 lead with five seconds on the clock.
Idaho State had a chance at a 3-pointer as time expired but the contested shot fell short.
Lindsey Reed led Idaho State with 11 points, Schrimpsher added 10 and nine rebounds.
Jessica Tingey also had nine rebounds to lead ISU.
Clements had a game-high 19 points to lead Sacramento State. Alle Moreno scored 12 points for the Hornets and Margaret Huntington had 16 rebounds.
Idaho State moves to 11-16 overall and 9-9 in Big Sky play. The Bengals sit in sixth place with two games remaining.
Idaho State is a half game above Montana State at 8-9. The Bengals own the tiebreaker over MSU with a season sweep. Behind MSU is Northern Colorado at 8-11. The Bears have just one game remaining. They play Southern Utah in Cedar City. If the Thunderbirds win that game the Bengals will be in the tournament.
The Bengals host Eastern Washington Thursday at 7 p.m. at Reed Gym.
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