CANCUN, Mexico – Idaho State (2-3) was down two starters Thursday night, but found a way to top Kennesaw State (2-4) in its opening game of the Cancun Challenge. Three Idaho State players reached double figures as ISU snapped a three-game skid with the 60-49 win.
"I'm really proud of our team tonight," said Head Coach
Seton Sobolewski. "Under less than ideal circumstances due to Estefi and Maddy being out we found a way to win. Saylair hit big shots all game to keep us in it. Sai had a big second half and Grace had a tough double-double."
Saylair Grandon,
Grace Kenyon and
Sai Tapasa carried the Bengals with a combined 44 points and 27 rebounds on the night. Grandon led all players with 18 points after shooting 6-11 from the field and 4-7 from three-point range. Kenyon earned the first double-double of the season for ISU with 12 boards and 15 points.
Delaney Moore also had a productive night in her first career start. The sophomore gathered 10 rebounds, five assists and three blocks.
Callie Bourne made her second-consecutive start and added four assists while
Montana Oltrogge chipped in for eight points and three rebounds.
Idaho State shot 38.0 percent from the field and 42.1 percent from three while limiting Kennesaw State to a 34.5 field goal percentage and two three pointers. They tallied 16 assists on 19 field goals and forced 11 turnovers. The Owls forced 16 turnovers with seven steals.
The Bengals were effective on defense, limiting Kamiyah Street to 12 points and 5-17 shooting. Street entered the game averaging more than 20 points per contest. ISU also had a season-high 44 rebounds and limited KSU to 29 boards.
Kenyon was the only player to score in the first four minutes of play, sinking two free throws to open the scoring. Grandon and Tapasa put ISU up 7-4 at the midpoint, but KSU scored eight unanswered points to take a 12-7 lead. KSU's Street secured a fast break layup to put the Owls up by five and Bourne connected on a drive to cut KSU's lead to 16-13 after the first.
Kenyon and Grandon scored all but two of ISU's 19 points in the second quarter with the latter landing three triples in the period. The Bengals outscored the Owls 19-11 in the second with six points coming from turnovers. KSU narrowly outscored ISU 20-19 in the third with Tapasa scoring the final six points.
Idaho State held a narrow four-point advantage heading into the final quarter of play and delivered lockdown defense to earn the win. The Bengals held the Owls to just one field goal on 12 attempts over the final 10 minutes and padded their lead by seven. The Bengals made their final six free throws to secure the 60-49 win.
Street led KSU with 12 points and Carlotta Gianolla added 10. Alexis Poole led the Owls with seven rebounds in 24 minutes of play.
Idaho State plays its final game of the Cancun Challenge against Georgia Tech tomorrow at 4:30 p.m.
