Bengals' Comeback Halted as North Dakota Holds on for Win

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GRAND FORKS, N.D. – The Idaho State women's basketball team suffered its third conference loss Saturday afternoon at the hands of North Dakota, dropping a 45-42 final decision at the Betty Engelstad Sioux Center. The Bengals outscored UND 15-11 in the final quarter but were unable to overcome an 11-point third quarter deficit on the road, giving North Dakota its first conference win.

Freshman guard Isabel Vara de Rey came alive in the final quarter, fueling ISU's final comeback attempt with eight of her team-high 13 points in the last 10 minutes. Sophomore forward Lindsay Brown was a perfect 4-of-4 from the field and was the only other Bengal in double-figures with 10.

Idaho State (7-7, 0-3 BSC) struggled to get its offense going in the first half with 12 turnovers in the opening 20 minutes. Despite ISU's relatively stagnant offense that produced just 17 first-half points, the Bengals claimed a two-point lead at half, 17-15. The Bengals strong defensive showing forced North Dakota (5-10, 1-3 BSC) into 10 first-half turnovers in addition to shooting 23 percent from the floor.

After the break, ISU struggled in the third for the second-straight game, shooting just 18.8 percent coming out of the half. The Bengals faced their largest deficit of the game at 11, 34-23, with just over two minutes remaining in the third. ISU cut it to seven heading into the fourth behind a three from Brown and a free throw from junior guard Brooke Blair, but the Bengals would cut UND's lead even further in the fourth.     
       
Brown's jumper to open the fourth cut UND's lead to five, and five-straight points from Vara de Rey brought the Bengals within a single possession, 36-34. UND extended its lead to five points behind three free throws, but the Bengals struck back with a jumper from senior forward Anna Policicchio and another three from Brown to cut the lead to two with 1:57 remaining. A three from Vara de Rey with 53 second remaining put ISU down by one, 43-42, and a turnover by UND gave ISU the ball with 30 seconds remaining.

UND tipped the ball from behind on ISU's final possession, disrupting the Bengals' final attempt and handing them their 20th turnover of the game. ISU was forced to foul, putting UND's Leah Szabla at the line who converted both to give North Dakota the three-point win, 45-42.

"We are really proud of our defensive effort, especially in the last three games," Head Coach Seton Sobolewski said. "Once we get our offense going again, we should be pretty good."

North Dakota was led by Makailah Dyer with 15 points, while Stephanie Smith grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds.

ISU returns home for next week's Big Sky action as the Bengals host Sacramento State Jan. 14 at 7 p.m. at the ICCU Court at Reed Gym.