Box Score PDF
POCATELLO, Idaho – For just the ninth time in program history and the first time since 2012, the Idaho State women's basketball team defeated Montana. The Bengals drilled the Grizzlies to the tune of 61-43 and shot over 50 percent in the process in the Big Sky Conference opener.
"Our shooting was great," Head Coach
Seton Sobolewski said. "
Grace Kenyon looked great, Saylair [Grandon] and everybody off the bench. We've been able to get a lot of shots in over Christmas break, and I think that's paying off."
Sophomore guard
Saylair Grandon led all scorers with a career-high 15 points off 4-for-8 from the floor and 6-for-7 from the charity stripe in 28 minutes of play. Sophomore guard
Grace Kenyon also reached double figures with 10 points to go along with eight boards which tied for game-high honors. All but two Bengals scored in the contest with eight players logging at least 15 minutes of play.
The Bengals also limited Montana to 15 or fewer points every quarter. Idaho State (7-5, 1-0 BSC) forced Montana (3-9, 0-1 BSC) to shoot 23.1 percent in the first quarter for just six points, and ISU limited Montana's second chance points by collecting seven defensive rebounds in the first 10 minutes. Two free throw shots from Grandon with 54 seconds left in the first gave ISU a five-point advantage heading into the second quarter.
With 5:23 left in the second, the Bengals had extended their lead to 12, 20-8 with a layup from junior forward
Lindsay Brown. Montana briefly cut the lead to single digits, 20-11 following a layup from Sierra Anderson, but an 8-2 ISU run over the next 3:23 gave the Bengals their largest lead of the half at 15, 28-13 with just 41 seconds remaining. Montana's Jace Henderson scored as time expired to cut the Bengal's lead to 13 heading into the break.
Montana came out hot in the second scoring 10 points over the first 4:20 to cut ISU's lead to eight, 33-25. Freshman
Estefania Ors hit an off-balance jumper 22 seconds later to extend ISU's lead to 10 and the Bengals never looked back. By the end of the third quarter, ISU led by 14, 42-28 and extended its lead to 23 points with 3:49 remaining in the fourth quarter. The Bengals kept the Griz at bay for the final minutes and cruised to the 61-43 win.
"Every quarter we almost got better," Sobolewski said. "Every single quarter in terms scoring the ball. The first quarter we scored 11, then 17, then 14, then 19, so that just shows you that we kept getting better and shooting the ball better and doing things better. So that's a real positive to me."
The Griz were led by freshman guard Taylor Goligoski with 14 points while freshman guard McKenzie Johnston finished with a team-high eight boards which tied for game-high honors. Montana also forced the Bengals into 23 turnovers, ISU's second-high turnover total of the season.
"I thought Montana, even with all of their injuries, they still can really defend," Sobolewski said. "They caused a lot of those turnovers by taking away passing lanes and taking away things that we thought we were going to get."
The Bengals continue play Saturday, Dec. 31 as they face Montana State at 2 p.m. at the ICCU Court at Reed Gym.
NOTES
- With the win, ISU improves to 9-70 all-time against the Griz. This was just the third time under Sobolewski that the Bengals have bested the Griz, and the first time since 2012 that ISU has defeated Montana.
- The Bengals out-rebounded the Griz 35-28. This marks the 11th time so far this season that ISU has won the rebounding battle.
- Saylair Grandon scored a career-high 15 points and reached double-figures for the fifth time in her career and this season. She also shot a career-high seven free throws and made a career-high six free throws.
- Grace Kenyon reached double-figures for the ninth time this season and the 18th time in her career. Her eight rebounds marks the ninth time this season she has collected five or more boards.
- Since the 2004-05 season, Idaho State is 12-1 in conference openers.
