Game Notes
POCATELLO, Idaho – Idaho State women's basketball aspires to extend its five-game winning streak while lengthening Northern Colorado's skid Saturday night in Greeley, Colo. The Bengals did not play Thursday night, giving them a few extra days to prepare for the game as they look to hold on to the No. 1 spot in the Big Sky Conference.
How To Follow
Saturday's game will be streamed on
Watch Big Sky TV and
Pluto TV channel 241.
Mark Liptak will provide play-by-play commentary on KISU 91.1 FM and
Stretch Internet with pregame coverage beginning 20 minutes before the tip.
All-Time Series
Overall: 19-10 | Home: 8-5 | Away: 9-5 | Neutral: 2-1 | Streak: UNC W3
Idaho State has fared well against Northern Colorado historically. However, the Bears tamed the Bengals last season with three wins in as many meetings. Northern Colorado's final victory against Idaho State came in the semifinals of the Big Sky Conference Championship Tournament.
-Two of last year's games were decided by seven points or less with the only decisive victory coming in Greeley, Colo. The Bengals have won more games on the road against UNC than at home with a 9-5 record at the Bank of Colorado Arena.
Scouting Northern Colorado
Overall: 10-6 | BSC: 5-2 | Home: 5-2 | Away: 5-4 | Streak: L2
The defending Big Sky Conference Champion began conference play as the hottest team in the league with a 5-0 start. However, Montana State and Weber State both went to Greeley, Colo. this week and emerged victorious to hand the Bears their first back-to-back losses since the start of the season.
-This will be the fourth game for Northern Colorado in eight days. An ISU win would be the third-straight loss for UNC on its home court and the longest losing streak of its season.
-Northern Colorado is led by reigning Big Sky MVP Savannah Smith who is averaging 18.8 points per game despite dishing out 60 assists. Her averages have climbed to 22.0 points and 4.6 rebounds per game against conference opponents. Smith, the most recent Big Sky Player of the Week, has also been disruptive on the defensive end of the court with 27 steals.
-Alexis Chapman and Micayla Isenbart are the only other players in double figures during conference play. Chapman is scoring 12.7 points per contest and Isenbart adds 10.6.
-Northern Colorado has been aggressive on the boards and holds the best rebounding margin in the Big Sky. Ali Meyer has been instrumental to the team's success with 11.4 rebounds per game (No. 16 overall and No. 1 in the BSC). Meanwhile, Bridget Hintz and Krystal Leger-Walker have combined for nearly 12 more boards per contest. Leger-Walker is also 16th in the nation in assists with 93.
-In addition to rebounding, the Bears are among the Big Sky's best in scoring defense and three-point shooting. Northern Colorado has allowed 64.9 points per game to opponents and scores an average of 24 points per game from behind the arc.
-UNC is shooting 39.3 percent from the field, 32.9 percent from three-point range and 65.6 percent from the free-throw line. Opponents have a collective 38.1 field goal percentage this season.
-The Bears are coached by Jenny Huth who is in her inaugural season at Northern Colorado.
Team Averages
Both Idaho state and Northern Colorado have improved their numbers in every major category since the start of conference play.
|
Points |
Rebounds |
Assists |
Steals |
Blocks |
Turnovers |
| ISU Overall |
66.7 |
35.5 |
15.5 |
6.3 |
3.9 |
14.9 |
| UNC Overall |
66.3 |
40.7 |
12.6 |
7.4 |
2.8 |
15.6 |
| ISU Big Sky |
71.2 |
38.5 |
15.5 |
7.3 |
5.8 |
12.0 |
| UNC Big Sky |
72.4 |
41.7 |
15.1 |
7.9 |
3.4 |
13.6 |
Idaho State Bengals
Overall: 10-5 | BSC: 5-1 | Home: 5-1 | Away: 4-3 | Neutral: 1-1 | Streak: W5
Idaho State comes into Greeley, Colo. with the best record in Big Sky Conference play. The Bengals hold a league-leading win streak spanning five games and have won three-consecutive games on the road.
-Six games into conference play, the Bengals have shot 46.0 percent from the floor, 31.6 percent from three and 62.9 percent from the free-throw line. Opponents have shot 33.8 percent against ISU while scoring 60 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 181-147 overall record. He has led the team to two postseason tournament appearances: one NCAA tournament berth and one WNIT tournament appearance.
National Ranks (As of Jan. 15, 2019)
As a team, Idaho State ranks:
-No. 61 in assist to turnover ratio at 1.04 (No. 3 BSC)
-No. 84 in assists with 232 (No. 2 BSC)
-No. 67 in assists per game with 15.5 (No. 2 BSC)
-No. 98 in blocked shots per game with 3.9 (No. 3 BSC)
-No. 70 in fewest turnovers with 224 (No. 5 BSC)
-No. 38 in field-goal percentage at 44.5 (No. 1 BSC)
-No. 91 in field-goal percentage defense at 37.6 (No. 2 BSC)
-No. 91 in turnovers per game with 14.9 (No. 2 BSC).
Individually,
Grace Kenyon is No. 94 in field-goal percentage at 49.1. 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
Six ISU players are shooting 40 percent or better. Moore leads all players with a 58.3 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 26.5. Kenyon,
Saylair Grandon,
Estefania Ors and Hinrichs are all playing more than 30 minutes per contest.
-The six players with multiple starts have scored 93 percent of ISU's points this season. The starting five's contribution is 85 percent through six conference games.
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 (18), blocks (17), points per game (14.5) and rebounds per game (6.7). Grandon leads the team in assists (52) and is second in steals (15), points per game (13.0) and rebounds per game (5.8).
Downtown Sharpshooter
Ors is currently the second-most accurate three-point shooter in Idaho State history. She has a career 41.9 three-point field goal percentage and ranks ninth in school history for three-pointers made with 111.
Dual Threat Down Low
Tapasa is averaging 9.9 points and 5.6 rebounds per game this season. She has been solid from the floor with a 48.5 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:
60 consecutive starts
Scored in double figures in nine-straight games
Scored in 63 consecutive games.
Grandon has:
47 consecutive starts
41 consecutive games with at least one assist
Recorded at least one made field goal in 19 consecutive games
Scored in 52 consecutive games
Callie Bourne has an assist in 13 straight games.
Tapasa has:
32 consecutive starts
Secured a rebound in every contest this season.
Moore has scored and tallied a rebound in every game this season.
The team has:
Recorded at least one block in 22 straight games
Double-digit assists in 13 of 15 games.
In The Record Books
Kenyon has made several leaps into the record books. She currently ranks: 10th in double-doubles; ninth in assists and blocks; eighth in points, field goals made, free throws made and rebounds; and is tied for first in triple doubles with one.
Ors made the leap to the No. 9 spot in three pointers made with 111. She is also the second-most accurate 3-point shooter in ISU history at 41.9 percent. Meanwhile, Grandon ranks eighth in 3-point percentage at 37.8 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.
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 5-1 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.
Around the Big Sky
Idaho State and Northern Colorado are the only two teams with five Big Sky Conference wins thus far. The Bengals sit atop the league standings trailed by Portland State (4-1) and Idaho (4-1). Northern Colorado is currently fourth trailed by both Montana universities. The remainder of the league is below .500 in conference play.
Monday, Jan. 14
Montana State def. Northern Colorado (79-66)
Thursday, Jan. 17
Sacramento State def. Northern Arizona (65-61)
Weber State def. Northern Colorado (55-54)
Portland State def. Southern Utah (63-49)
Northern Colorado National Ranks
Northern Colorado Ranks:
No. 100 in rebounding margin (No. 1 BSC)
No. 77 in rebounds per game (No. 3 BSC)
No. 49 in three-point field goals (No. 3 BSC)
No. 53 in three-point field goals made (No. 2 BSC)
No. 46 in three-point field goals per game (No. 3 BSC).
Krystal Leger-Walker ranks:
No. 16 in assists with 93 (No. 1 BSC)
No. 19 in assists per game with 5.8 (No. 1 BSC)
No. 30 in minutes played at 615:59 (No. 2 BSC)
No. 4 in minutes played per game at 38.50 (No. 1 BSC).
Savannah Smith ranks:
No. 23 in field goal attempts with 272 (No. 2 BSC)
No. 15 in free-throw percentage at 90.2 (No. 1 BSC)
No. 45 in points per game with 18.8 (No. 3 BSC)
No. 5 in three-point field goals attempted with 156 (No. 1 BSC)
No. 36 in three-point field goals made with 47 (No. 2 BSC)
No. 23 in three-point field goals per game with 3.13 (No. 3 BSC).
Ali Meyer ranks:
No. 13 in defensive rebounds per game with 8 (No. 1 BSC)
No. 16 in rebounds with 183 (No. 1 BSC)
No. 13 in rebounds per game with 11.4 (No. 1 BSC).
