Game Notes | Watch Live | Listen Live | Live Stats
POCATELLO, Idaho – The Idaho State women's basketball team returns home this week to host Portland State Thursday evening. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. at the ICCU Court at Reed Gym. The Bengals currently sit in sixth place in the Big Sky, two spots ahead of the Vikings.
SCOUTING PORTLAND STATE
Portland State sits at 10-12 overall with a 4-6 mark in conference play. The Vikings sit in the middle of the Big Sky in scoring offense averaging 69.9 points per game, but they rank second-to-last in scoring defense, giving up 73.6 points per contest. PSU also averages 38.6 rebounds per game, good for seventh in the Big Sky. Portland State is the best shooting team in the conference as it averages 45.3 percent from the floor for the season.
Three players average double figures for the Vikings, led by sophomore guard Sidney Rielly at 16.7 points per game, good for fourth in the conference, while shooting 53.8 percent from the floor. Sophomore guard Ashley Bolston averages 15.5 points and sophomore Courtney West adds an even 10.0 points per contest. Five players average at least four rebounds for PSU, led by West at 7.1 per contest to rank tied for seventh.
The Vikings are currently on a four-game losing streak with losses at Montana State and against Sacramento State, Idaho and Eastern Washington at home.
The Vikings are led by Head Coach Lynn Kennedy who is in his second season.
SERIES REVIEW
Idaho State leads the series with Portland State 30-20 with an 18-6 advantage in Pocatello. Last season, the Bengals swept Portland State but narrowly defeated the Viks in Pocatello 71-70 on Jan. 16. In their last meeting, ISU handled PSU 64-42 in Portland, Ore. on Feb. 11, 2016.
BENGAL BITES
- Overtime Overhaul: Idaho State has already played two double-overtime games this season, winning against Denver 65-64 and earning the W at Southern Utah 71-68. The last time Idaho State played two double-overtime games in a season was during the 1979-80 season when the Bengals bested both Washington State and New Mexico State in OT. Could there be a third? Idaho State has never played in three double-overtime games in a season in program history.
- Capitalizing at the Charity Stripe: In Idaho State's last three wins, the Bengals have been solid from the charity stripe. Against both Weber State and Southern Utah, Idaho State sealed the wins at the free throw line by converting down the stretch. In the last three games, ISU has made 47-of-57 attempts from the free throw line to shoot 82.5 percent. In the first 18 games, ISU was shooting just 66.6 percent from the charity stripe as a squad.
- Becoming Road Warriors: After starting the season with a rough 2-6 start on the road, Idaho State won two-straight must-win road games at Northern Arizona (Feb. 2) and at Southern Utah (Feb. 4). After averaging just 52.6 points shooting 32.8 percent from the floor through their first eight road games, the Bengals averaged 67.5 points shooting 40.5 percent from the floor against the Lumberjacks and TBirds.
FOLLOW THE ACTION LIVE
Thursday's game will be broadcast live on KISU 91.1 FM. Fans who are unable to make the game can also watch, listen or follow live stats.
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