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RENO, Nev. – The Idaho State women's basketball team is set to face No. 1 Northern Colorado Friday, March 9 at 1:05 p.m. MST in the semifinals of the Big Sky Conference Tournament at the Reno Events Center in Reno, Nev. It will be the third time in three years that the Bengals and Bears will face off in postseason play.
BENGALS PREVIEW
· Idaho State advanced to the Big Sky semis for the third-straight season in thrilling fashion, erasing a 25-poimt third-quarter deficit to upend Weber State 113-109 in overtime. The Bengals broke multiple ISU records in the process including point scored in a single game and points score in a half (64).
· Through 31 games, the Bengals are averaging 71.1 points per game shooting 45.8 percent from the floor and 36.7 percent from three. ISU averages 36.9 rebounds per game with a +3.9 rebounding margin to go along with 7.5 steals per game and 14.9 assists per game. The Bengals also boast a conference-best +8.4 scoring margin.
· Idaho State is led in scoring by Blair at 13.5 points per game.
Grace Kenyon,
Estefania Ors and
Saylair Grandon also average double-figures for the Bengals at 13.0, 11.0 and 10.5 points per game, respectively.
· Kenyon leads the rebounding effort with 6.7 rebounds per contest while
Sai Tapasa adds 6.1 per contest.
· Head Coach
Seton Sobolewski is in his 10th season with the program and carries a 171-141 overall record (.548) and has led the team to two postseason tournament appearances: one NCAA tournament berth and one WNIT tournament appearance.
SCOUTING No. 1 NORTHERN COLORADO
· Big Sky regular-season champion UNC secured the No. 1 seed after finishing conference play 15-3. The Bears carry a 24-6 overall record after outlasting Montana 78-69 in the quarterfinals on Wednesday. UNC's three conference losses came at Weber State (82-73), at North Dakota (78-70) and against Idaho (79-71).
· Through 30 games, the Bears average 69.7 points per game shooting 44.3 percent from the floor and 35.1 percent from long range. UNC averages 31.7 rebounds per contest to go along with 15.2 assists, 8.3 steals and 3.2 blocks per game.
· The Bears are led by Big Sky MVP Savannah Smith with 17.8 points per game, 4.0 rebounds per game and 3.4 assists per game. Second-team all-Big Sky performer Savannah Scott adds 17.2 points per game for the Bears. Defensive Player of the Year Kianna Williams leads the rebounding effort at 5.9 a game.
· UNC is led by Big Sky Coach of the Year Kamie Ethridge who is in her fourth season with the program.
· SERIES REVIEW: Idaho State leads the all-time series 19-9 and swept the Bengals during the regular season. In the last meeting, UNC ran past ISU 75-52 in Greeley on Feb. 8. This game marks the third time in three seasons that ISU and UNC have faced each other in postseason play. The Bengals have claimed the edge each of the last two seasons: In 2016, No. 9 ISU defeated No. 8 UNC 54-45 in the first round, and in 2017 No. 6 ISU bested No. 3 UNC 60-59 in the quarterfinals.
RECORDS ARE MEANT TO BE BROKEN
In ISU's quarterfinal game against Weber State, multiple records were broken in one of the biggest comeback wins in tournament history. Below are all the records that fell:
- Idaho State's 113 points set the school record for points scored in a single game, eclipsing the previous record of 108. Idaho State has twice scored 108 points; vs. Denver on March 9, 1978 and again vs. Southern Utah on Feb. 15, 1982.
- ISU's 113 points also shattered the previous Big Sky Conference Tournament record of 102 set by Sacramento State in a first round win over Southern Utah in 2017.
- The Bengals' 64 second-half points also set a new school record for most points scored in a single half. - The previous record was 62 points in a single half, scored against Denver on March 9, 1978.
- The combined point total of 232 points destroyed the previous record of combined points in a Big Sky Conference Tournament game. The previous mark was 197 in Eastern Washington's 100-97 win over Sacramento State in the 2016 tournament.
- ISU's 41 field goals is one short of the Big Sky tournament record 42, set by Idaho in a win over Montana State in 1984.
- Idaho State finished 21-of-22 from the charity stripe, sinking 21 consecutive free throws in the process. It's a new tournament record and more than doubled the previous mark of 10 consecutive free throws set by Montana in 2002.
FOLLOW THE ACTION LIVE
Friday's game will be broadcast locally on KISU 91.1 FM, but fans can also watch live online, listen online and follow live stats.
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