Box Score
POCATELLO, Idaho – Sheryl Bitter was six-for-six in the second half including four-for-four from the three-point line to lead Idaho State to a 55-point second half and an 86-62 victory over Eastern Washington Thursday Night in Reed Gym.
The Bengals and Eagles played a tightly contested first half. ISU shot 46.2 percent to EWU's 33 percent. But the Eagles forced 10 turnovers and only gave the ball up twice to go into halftime tied at 31.
Hayley Hodgins had 10 points to lead EWU and
Jessica Tingey had eight to lead the Bengals.
The second half looked like it would continue on the same trajectory as the first half, but that changed with 11:51 to play in the game.
Bitter hit a 3-pointer to kick off an offensive explosion for the Bengals. ISU hit shots on their next eight possessions, highlighting a 24-4 run that gave the Bengals a 70-48 lead with 5:16 remaining.
The Eagles scored on back-to-back possessions to cut the deficit to 83-72 with 4:37 left in the game.
Bitter wasn't done putting on a show. She made another big 3-pointer, while being fouled, and hit the free throw to spark a 7-0 run for the Bengals. The run gave Idaho State its biggest lead of the game at 79-53 with 3:05 remaining.
"Sheryl was amazing tonight," Head coach
Seton Sobolewski said. "I'm so happy for her that she could have a game like this in front of this crowd, and her family and friends, before the end of her career. A lot of that stuff we tried to set up for her, but a lot of that stuff she took it upon herself. That four-point play was amazing."
After trading baskets,
Katrina Bacovcin finished off the scoring with a layup in the final second of the 86-62 ISU win.
Melissa Williams led the Eagles with 23 points and a team-high five rebounds. Hodgins had 13 points for EWU.
Four Bengals scored in double-figures with Bitter's career-high 21 leading the way. Tingey had 16 points for the Bengals and
Lindsey Reed had 11.
Rebecca Schrimpsher scored 13 and a game-high seven rebounds.
ISU is now 10-9 in Big Sky play (12-16 Overall) and clinched a spot in the Big Sky Tournament with the win. It will be the 11th consecutive tournament appearance for the Bengals, the second-longest current streak in the Big Sky behind Montana.
The Bengals also found out their destination. North Dakota clinched at least a share of the Big Sky title, and the right to host the Big Sky Tournament, as it finished the season 15-5 in Big Sky Play.
Idaho State can finish as high as fifth with a win and a Sacramento State loss but can finish no lower than sixth because they have a one game lead and a season sweep of Montana State.
ISU finishes the regular season against Portland State Saturday at 2 p.m. in Reed Gym. The Bengals defeated the Vikings 76-65 in Portland earlier this season.
Saturday will be the final home game for Reed, Bitter, Tingey,
Kara Jenkins and
Alissa Willard. They will be honored at 1:45 p.m., about 15 minutes before tipoff.
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