Women's Basketball Plays Southern Utah in Annual Play 4Kay Game Saturday

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POCATELLO, Idaho – The Idaho State women's basketball hosts Southern Utah at the ICCU Court at Reed Gym Feb. 20 at 2 p.m. The Bengals look to sweep the weekend after defeating Northern Arizona Thursday evening, 71-61. Saturday's game will serve as ISU's annual Play 4Kay pink game with a presentation prior to tip off honoring those affected by cancer and those working toward a cure. Fans are encouraged to wear pink in support of the cause.

SCOUTING SOUTHERN UTAH
Southern Utah carries a 2-22 overall record with a 0-14 mark in conference play. The Thunderbirds have tested several teams in conference play, falling to Montana by six points (66-60) and Eastern Washington by three, 85-82.

This season, SUU is averaging 55.6 points per game and 40.1 rebounds per contest while shooting 33.3 percent from the floor. The Tbirds are led by junior forward Jessica Richardson who averages 12.5 points per game and 8.3 rebounds per game.

In the last meeting, ISU battled SUU back and forth for the majority of the game and finally regained the lead following a layup from Policicchio in the fourth quarter. The Bengals never relinquished the lead and converted 9-of-11 at the free throw line to keep the Thunderbirds at bay. Policicchio sealed the win for the Bengals, scoring the final six points for the 71-67 win.

Southern Utah is coached by Head Coach Chris Boettcher.

SERIES REVIEW
Idaho State has controlled the overall series against Southern Utah with a commanding 33-12 advantage, but until ISU's victory on Jan. 28, Southern Utah had was the previous three straight.

A LOOK BACK: THIS DATE IN HISTORY
This is the 12th time in program history that the Bengals have played on Feb. 20. ISU carries a 4-7 record so far on the 20th, and this is the second time in program history that ISU has faced Southern Utah on Feb. 20. In the last meeting during the 1975-76 season, the Bengals defeated the Thunderbirds 53-46 in Pocatello.

FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE CLOSE-UP
During conference play, ISU has limited all but two of its Big Sky opponents to under 40 percent shooting from the field. The Bengals rank third in the conference in field goal percentage defense, forcing their opponents to an average of 36.8 percent shooting. ISU ranks first in three-point field goal percentage defense, forcing opponents into shooting an average of 28.5 percent from beyond-the-arc.

CRASHING THE BOARDS
The Bengals have out-rebounded their opponent eight times during conference play and has grabbed more boards in each of their last four games. Idaho State ranks third in the conference in rebounding margin, and has outrebounded its opponents by an average of 4.0 rebounds per game. Senior guard Apiphany Woods has been crashing hard for the Bengals as of late, averaging 8.7 rebounds per game over the last three games.

LIMITING OPPORTUNITIES
In conference play, the Bengals are limiting their opponents to an average of 60.4 points per contest, the lowest conference average since the 2012-13 season in which they limited opponents to just 54.5 points per game. However, ISU is averaging just 58.2 points per game, the lowest conference scoring average for the Bengals since the 2008-09 season in which they averaged 61.8 points per game.

TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT
So far this season, the Bengals have played in 10 games decided by five points or less and nine games decided by three points or less. ISU carries a 5-5 record in games decided by five points or less and a 4-5 record in games decided by three points or less. ISU has been part of a school-record five games decided by one point this season, winning three. During a stretch from Jan. 7 to Feb. 6, the seven games were decided by four points or less.

Idaho State has played in the most games decided by five points or less in conference play, carrying a 3-5 record in those games. Northern Colorado is the next closest team in conference play with five-point games, playing in seven with a 4-3 record so far.