POCATELLO, Idaho – After sweeping a three-game road trip, Idaho State women's basketball returns to Pocatello for a matchup with Sacramento State. The Bengals and Hornets will tip off at 2:05 p.m. in Reed Gym Saturday afternoon.
How To Follow
Saturday's game will be streamed on
Watch Big Sky TV and
Pluto TV channel 243.
Mark Liptak and former women's basketball player Freya Newton will provide play-by-play coverage on KISU 91.1 FM and
Stretch Internet with pregame coverage beginning 25 minutes before the tip.
All-Time Series
Overall: 38-7 | Home: 19-1 | Away: 16-5 | Neutral: 1-1 | Streak: ISU W3
Idaho State has dominated Sacramento State since the teams first met in 1997. The Bengals have lost just seven times in 45 meetings.
Their advantage is even stronger at home. The Bengals are 19-1 in Reed Gym with their lone loss coming in 2016. ISU has won the last three meetings by double-digit points.
Scouting Sacramento State
Overall: 4-7 | BSC: 0-3 | Home: 2-4 | Away: 0-2 | Neutral: 2-1 | Streak: L3
Sacramento State is winless in Big Sky Conference play with losses to Northern Colorado, Montana and Montana State so far. The Hornets are 4-7 overall and enter the game on a three-game losing streak. SAC will have fresh legs coming into Saturday's game thanks to having Thursday off.
-There are two statistical categories where Sacramento State has outperformed its opponents, highlighting the team's high-pressure approach to defense. The Hornets have forced opponents to make 209 turnovers (19 per game) while collecting 120 steals (10.9 per game) so far. They have forced 20 or more turnovers five times this season.
-The Hornets have the highest scoring offense in the Big Sky, but have posted a -11.2 scoring differential. They have shot more three pointers than anyone in the conference and are No. 11 overall with 404 attempts this season. Their ability to force turnovers creates several opportunities for offense, where they take care of the ball (No. 53 in fewest turnovers) and generate second chances with offensive rebounding (No. 8 in offensive rebounds per game).
-Four players average double figures for SAC this season with Hannah Friend leading the way at 21.1 points per game. The junior is also one of the team leaders in rebounding (8.5 per game), blocks (14) and steals (20).
-Meanwhile, Kennedy Nicholas has achieved the feat of averaging a double-double for the season. The junior averages 13.6 points and 11.5 rebounds per game and leads the team in blocks with 15.
-Sacramento State has shot 35.5 percent from the floor and 25.7 percent from three-point range this season. However, those averages have climbed to 39.0 and 36.6 percent against conference opponents.
-SAC is coached by Bunky Harkleroad who has spent six seasons with the Hornets.
Team Averages
|
Points |
Rebounds |
Assists |
Steals |
Blocks |
Turnovers |
| ISU Overall |
66.2 |
34.4 |
15.1 |
5.9 |
3.4 |
15.2 |
| SAC Overall |
76.5 |
44.2 |
14.1 |
10.9 |
4.1 |
18.0 |
| ISU Big Sky |
70.8 |
36.2 |
14.4 |
6.4 |
5.0 |
12.2 |
| SAC Big Sky |
69.3 |
38.3 |
13.3 |
9.3 |
4.3 |
16.3 |
Idaho State Bengals
Overall: 9-5 | BSC: 4-1 | Home: 4-1 | Away: 4-3 | Neutral: 1-1 | Streak: W4
Idaho State returns to Reed Gym on a four-game winning streak. Idaho State is 4-1 on its home court with its lone loss coming against Idaho in the conference opener. With the road-trip sweep, ISU holds just one of two winning away records in the conference.
-The Bengals have shot 44.6 percent from the floor, 33.0 percent from three and 69.3 percent from the free-throw line. Opponents have shot 38.8 percent against them while scoring 63.9 points on average.
-The Bengals were picked to finish third in the Big Sky Coaches' Preseason Poll and fourth by the media.
-Head Coach
Seton Sobolewski is in his 11th season with the program and carries a 180-147 overall record. He has led the team to two postseason tournament appearances: one NCAA tournament berth and one WNIT tournament appearance.
National Ranks
As a team, Idaho State ranks:
-No. 84 in assist to turnover ratio at 0.99 (No. 4 BSC)
-No. 77 in assists per game with 15.1 (No. 3 BSC)
-No. 95 in fewest turnovers with 213 (No. 6 BSC)
-No. 34 in field-goal percentage at 44.6 (No. 1 BSC).
Individually,
Grace Kenyon is No. 96 in field-goal percentage at 49.3. Her percentage is the second best in the Big Sky Conference.
Madison Hinrichs and
Delaney Moore have not met the minimum criteria for shot attempts.
Hot Shooting
Seven ISU players are shooting 40 percent or better. Moore leads all players with a 60.5 field goal percentage.
Starting Five
Idaho State's starting five has carried a heavy load this season.
Sai Tapasa is the only player with multiple starts averaging less than 28 minutes of play per game at 26.7, though she played a career-high 33 minutes at Weber State. Kenyon,
Saylair Grandon,
Estefania Ors and Hinrichs are all playing more than 30 minutes per contest.
-The six players with multiple starts have scored 94 percent of ISU's points this season. The starting five's contribution is 88 percent through five conference games with Kenyon, Grandon and Ors accounting for 70 percent.
Going Out With A Bang
The senior duo of Kenyon and Grandon holds the lead in nearly every statistical category. Kenyon leads ISU in steals (16), blocks (13), points per game (14.4) and rebounds per game (6.6). Grandon leads the team in assists (48) and is second in steals (15), points per game (13.7) and rebounds per game (5.9).
Downtown Sharpshooter
Ors is on pace to be the most accurate three-point shooter in Idaho State history. She has a career 42.9 three-point field goal percentage and ranks ninth in school history for three-pointers made with 109. This season she is shooting 38.8 percent from downtown.
Dual Threat Down Low
Tapasa has averaged 9.0 points and 5.5 rebounds per game this season. She has been solid from the floor with a 45.7 field goal percentage and even better from the free throw line with an 80.0 percent conversion rate.
Streaking
Wins are not the only thing Idaho State is stringing together this season.
Kenyon has:
59 consecutive starts
Scored in double figures in eight-straight games
Scored in 62 consecutive games.
Grandon has:
46 consecutive starts
40 consecutive games with at least one assist
Recorded at least one made field goal in 18 consecutive games
Scored in 51 consecutive games
Scored double-digit points in her last seven games.
Callie Bourne has an assist in 12 straight games.
Tapasa has:
31 consecutive starts
Secured a rebound in every contest this season.
Moore has scored and tallied a rebound in every game this season.
Ors has scored double-digit points in six-straight contests.
The team has:
Recorded at least one block in 21 straight games
Double-digit assists in 12 of 14 games.
In The Record Books
Kenyon has made several leaps into the record books. She currently ranks: 10th in double-doubles; ninth in assists, points and blocks; and eighth in rebounds, free-throws made and field goals made.
Ors made the leap to the No. 9 spot in three pointers made with 109. She is also the most accurate 3-point shooter in ISU history at 42.9 percent. Meanwhile, Grandon ranks eighth in 3-point percentage at 38.0 percent.
Stellar Saylair
Grandon is the only ISU player to win the Big Sky Conference Ready Nutrition Player of the Week Award this year. She is also just one of three players to win it twice this season. Grandon is the reigning player of the week and won the award for the first time on Dec. 11, 2018.
Bigger Than Idaho State
Kenyon is a name to know in the Big Sky Conference. The senior earned a spot on the Big Sky Preseason All-Conference Team earlier this season.
Just Like The Old Days
Idaho State did not need a three-pointer to defeat Northern Arizona on the road. It was the first time since Jan. 12, 2017 the Bengals failed to make a long ball. Ironically, the last win ISU had without a three-pointer was against Northern Arizona on Jan. 17, 2015.
Bengals Make School History
The 2018-19 team made program history on Dec. 6, 2018. The Bengals shot 66.0 percent from the field in an 80-68 win over Utah Valley to set a program record for field goal percentage.
Hot Start
ISU's 4-1 start to conference play is the program's best since the 2011-12 season. That year, the Bengals went on to win the Big Sky Championship.
Sacramento State National Ranks
Sacramento State ranks:
No. 8 in offensive rebounds per game (No. 1 BSC)
No. 20 in rebounds per game (No. 1 BSC)
No. 40 in scoring offense (No. 1 BSC)
No. 35 in steals per game (No. 1 BSC)
No. 11 in three-point field goals attempted (No. 1 BSC)
No. 16 in three-point field goals per game (No. 2 BSC)
Hannah Friend ranks:
No. 13 in points per game (No. 2 BSC)
Kennedy Nicholas ranks No. 6 in the nation and first in the Big Sky in offensive rebounds per game with 5.0.
