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POCATELLO, Idaho – The Idaho State women's basketball team opens its four-game road swing at Washington State Friday, Dec. 1. Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. MST at Beasley Coliseum in Pullman, Wash.
BENGALS PREVIEW
· Idaho State is off to one of its best starts in program history, tying a program-best start with a 5-1 record. The Bengals have started 5-1 on three other occasions: 1989-90, 1997-98 and 2003-04.
· Through six games, the Bengals are averaging 76.3 points per game shooting a conference-best 46.5 percent from the floor and 47.6 percent from three. ISU averages 44.2 rebounds per game with a +12.7 rebounding margin to go along with 8.5 steals per game and 2.2 blocks per game. The Bengals also boast a conference-best +17.0 scoring margin.
· Idaho State is led in scoring by senior guard
Brooke Blair at 15.8 points per game while junior guard
Saylair Grandon also averages double-figures with 11.7 points per game. Six players average at least seven points per contest while five players chip in at least nine points a game.
· Four Bengals average at least five rebounds per game, led by sophomore forward
Sai Tapasa with 7.7 per contest. Junior guard Grace Keyon ranks second at 6.8 per contest.
HOLDING THEIR OWN....NATIONALLY
As of Nov. 29, the Bengals ranked nationally in a few categories. ISU ranks fourth in the nation in three-point field goal percentage at 47.6 percent and eighth in the nation in defensive rebounds per game with 32.7. Blair also has made her mark on the national stage, as she leads the conference and ranks fourth in the nation in three-point field goal percentage with 62.1 percent.
GETTING BACK TO THEIR ROOTS
Head Coach
Seton Sobolewski's teams are most often known for their defensive tendencies, yet the 2017-18 squad is better known for its scoring power so far this season. However, Idaho State has limited three of its six opponents to under 60 points, while limiting two opponents to under 45 points: College of Idaho (32 points) and Utah State (44 points). Through six games, Idaho State ranks second in the Big Sky in scoring defense, allowing 59.3 points per game, and the Bengals lead the conference in scoring margin at +17.0 points per game. ISU also ranks second in field goal percentage defense at 34.8 percent and lead the conference in three-point percentage defense at 25.9 percent.
CONSISTENT FROM THE FLOOR
Through six games, Idaho State leads the Big Sky in shooting percentage at 46.5, nearly three percent higher than the next best squad (Portland State, .438). From beyond-the-arc, the Bengals are shooting nearly 10 percent better than the second-best three-point shooting team in the Big Sky; Idaho State averages 47.6 percent from long range while Portland State, the second-best three-point shooting team in the Big Sky, shoots 39.5 percent. Through six games, nine of the 11 Bengals to have seen the floor are shooting at least 40 percent from the floor, while five players are shooting over 50 percent.
· Head Coach
Seton Sobolewski is in his 10th season with the program and carries a 155-132 overall record (.540) and has led the team to two postseason tournament appearances: one NCAA tournament berth and one WNIT tournament appearance.
SCOUTING WASHINGTON STATE
· Washington State is 3-4 overall so far this season and has won two straight with wins vs. East Tennessee State and Rutgers.
· Through seven games, the Cougs average 68.7 points per game shooting 40 percent from the floor and 31.7 percent from three. WSU averages 38.6 rebounds per game to go along with 12.9 assists, 8.0 steals and 3.6 blocks per game. The Cougs rank dead last in the Pac-12 in rebounding defense, giving up an average of 42.4 rebounds per contest.
· Two players average double-figures for Washington State, led by Borislava Hristova with 17.7 points per game shooting 43.9 percent from the floor. Alexys Swedlund adds 11.1 points per game. Louise Brown leads the Cougs in rebounding with 6.3 per contest, while five total players average at least four rebounds.
· WSU is led by Head Coach June Daugherty who is in her 11th season at the helm of the program.
· SERIES REVIEW: WSU leads the series 4-2 including a 2-0 record in Pullman. WSU has won the last three meetings including an 84-34 win in the last meeting on Nov. 16, 2014 in Pullman. Each of ISU's wins over Washington State have come in overtime. The first, a 60-58 OT win at a neutral site on Dec. 8, 1979 and the second, a 73-69 OT win at a neutral site on Dec. 7, 1984.
FOLLOW THE ACTION LIVE
Friday's game at Washington State will be broadcast live locally on KISU 91.1 FM. Fans can also listen online to play-by-play announcing by
Mark Liptak. Live stats and live video will also be available for Friday's game.
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