CANCUN, Mexico – Idaho State (2-4) dropped its second and final match of the Cancun Challenge 74-51 to Georgia Tech (5-1) Friday night. The game brought an end to a long stretch of road games that tested the team as they went up against talented squads from five divisions.
"We saw some great stuff out of our team tonight, especially in the first half," said Head Coach
Seton Sobolewski. I saw us reach an intensity level tonight that I haven't seen this team reach before."
Sai Tapasa led Idaho State with 12 points and eight rebounds.
Madison Hinrichs and
Montana Oltrogge both secured career highs with 11 and 10 points respectively.
"Montana is really developing," Sobolewski said. "She had a career high with 10 points including going 3-4 from three."
Grace Kenyon tallied four assists, a block and seven points.
Callie Bourne had her best night rebounding with seven boards and added two assists.
Idaho State shot 36.7 percent from the floor but was 19 percent from three on 21 attempts. Georgia Tech posted a 44.2 field-goal percentage and made four of its 10 attempts from three-point range.
The Yellow Jackets won the rebounding battle 36-27 and committed seven less turnovers (17-12). Idaho State did find the open player three more times with 11 assists overall.
Tapasa scored the first two baskets to give ISU a 4-2 advantage and the teams traded the lead four times in the early going. She later gave Idaho State the lead for the second time on a jumper that made the game 9-7. The Yellow Jackets outscored the Bengals 9-2 over the final four minutes of play.
Idaho State tried to claw its way back into the game but was outscored by seven in the second and nine in the third. The Yellow Jackets extended the lead by two more in the fourth to secure the 74-51 win.
Georgia Tech's Francesca Pan and Liz Dixon led all players with 18 points each. Chanin Scott added 12 points and the trio combined for 18 rebounds.
After six consecutive games on the road and a trip out of the United States, the Bengals are ready to return to Pocatello. The Bengals host Benedictine University at Mesa in Reed Gym next Thursday, Nov. 29, in the Field Trip game.
