Box Score PDF
GRAND FORKS, N.D. – The Idaho State women's basketball team defeated North Dakota 68-55 Saturday afternoon at the Betty Engelstad Sioux Center for ISU's first-ever victory in Grand Forks.
The Bengals were led by senior guard
Brooke Blair with 19 points off 6-of-11 from the floor to go along with three rebounds and four assists while sophomore guard
Dora Goles finished with 14 points, three rebounds and a game-high six assists. Junior forward
Grace Kenyon also finished in double-figures with 11.
Idaho State (15-8, 7-5 BSC) fell behind early as North Dakota (11-13, 4-9 BSC) opened up on a 7-2 run in the first 2:30. UND extended its early lead to seven (11-4) with 4:22 remaining in the opening quarter, but the Bengals outscored the Fighting Hawks 11-4 to tie the game 15-all heading into the second period. Both Idaho State and UND shot 50 percent in the opening quarter.
The Bengals opened the second on a 6-0 run to take a 21-15 lead with 7:15 in the second. UND would twice cut ISU's lead to just one over the course of the second period, but the Bengals never relinquished their lead. Idaho State shot 46 percent for 18 points while limiting the Fighting Hawks to 15 points on 40 percent shooting. The Bengals held a three-point lead (33-30) heading into the break.
Quick back-to-back baskets from sophomore forward
Sai Tapasa to open up the third period gave ISU a seven-point cushion (37-30), but an ISU foul on Lexi Klabo's jumper on the ensuing possession put Klabo at the line to complete the three-point play. She converted, consequently cutting ISU's lead to four with 8:11 remaining.
Idaho State responded and went on a tear over the next 3:30, hitting its next four attempts to complete a 9-2 run and gain an 11-point lead (46-35). 90 seconds later, Idaho State extended its lead off a layup from sophomore forward
Irene Vicente. The Bengals finished the quarter 10-of-12 from the floor for 21 points while limiting UND to 11 points off 27.3 percent shooting. At the close of the third period, Idaho State led by 13 points, 54-41.
North Dakota opened the fourth quarter with a quick 7-0 run to cut the Bengals' lead to just six points, 54-48. A trey from Kenyon at the 5:50 mark put ISU back up by nine, but an old-fashioned three-point play from UND's Klabo on the ensuing possession cut the lead to six once more. The Bengals responded once again with a three, this time from Goles, and ISU's lead was back up to nine. A laylup from Kenyon on the following possession put ISU up by double-digits once more at 11 (62-51) with 4:34 left to play.
Sophomore guard
Estefania Ors extended ISU's lead to 14 (65-51) 90 seconds later with another three. North Dakota began to foul to stop the clock and put the Bengals on the line, and Idaho State converted 3-of-6 free throws down the stretch to seal the 13-point win, 68-55.
"I thought we did a great job bouncing back after a tough game Thursday," Head Coach
Seton Sobolewski said. "Out shot selection was much improved from the other night."
North Dakota was led by Klabo with a game-high 22 points. Klabo also led the Fighting Hawks in rebounds with a game-high nine.
Idaho State returns home to host two Big Sky games next week, starting with Sacramento State on Feb. 15 at 7 p.m. in Reed Gym.
NOTES
- ISU's win marks the first time in program history that the Bengals have defeated North Dakota in Grand Forks. Idaho State now holds a 1-5 record against the Fighting Hawks in Grand Forks. The win also marks the first time in program history that Idaho State has swept North Dakota in a single conference season.
- Dora Goles six assists tie her career-high. Goles also dished out six assists at Southern Utah on Jan. 4.
- Idaho State was out-rebounded by UND 29-28, and it marks just the seventh time this season that the Bengals have been out-rebounded. Idaho State now carries a 2-5 record in games in which it is out-rebounded.
