MISSOULA, Mont. – Idaho State battled back from an early 13-point deficit but fell just short of victory in a 60-59 loss to Montana Saturday afternoon. Montana climbed to 12-11 with a 7-7 Big Sky Conference record while Idaho State dropped to 16-8 with an 11-4 mark in conference play.
"I thought our intentions were very good and we wanted to play hard and make things happen," said Head Coach
Seton Sobolewski. "I don't know if our effort and energy was consistent. I thought we had a lot of defensive lapses of energy and just focus where we gave up really simple easy stuff."
Idaho State outshot Montana from two and three-point range but struggled at the free throw line in the loss. The Bengals finished with a 41.8 field goal percentage, a 28.6 three-point field goal percentage and a 53.8 free throw percentage. The Grizzlies shot 34.5 percent from the floor and just 8.3 percent from three, but sank 19 of 30 free throw attempts.
UM held a narrow advantage on the boards (40-38) but secured 13 second-chance points on 11 offensive rebounds. They also created 14 points from ISU's 15 turnovers while collecting nine steals.
Saylair Grandon made half of her 14 attempts to lead all scorers with 19 points. She also tallied six rebounds and a steal.
Madison Hinrichs tallied 12 points, a rebound and three assists, which all came in the second half.
"She's the one who finally came in the game and got us some better looks at the basket, some higher percentage shots," Sobolewski said. "You know, she was the one that really made a big difference to open things up for us offensively."
Grace Kenyon secured another double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds, and
Estefania Ors netted 10 points and three assists.
Kenyon scored on Idaho State's first possession to put the Bengals in front for the only time in the game. Montana responded by outscoring the Bengals 20-8 through the final eight minutes of the quarter to put ISU in a 22-10 hole after 10 minutes of play.
Idaho State clamped down on defense in the second, limiting Montana to a lone field goal and two points. The Bengals were able to put 14 on the board to tie the game at 24-24 at the half.
It was Montana's turn to take command once again in the third. As they had done in the first quarter, UM's starters played the entire period and outscored ISU 22-12. Montana still held an eight-point advantage with just under three minutes to play. Hinrichs began the comeback effort with back-to-back buckets to cut the lead to four, and Idaho State grabbed a defensive rebound with 36 seconds left.
Grandon came down the court and calmly knocked down a three-point shot to narrow the deficit to one point. Both teams came away with a single made free throw on the next two possessions, leaving ISU down by one with five seconds remaining. UM's Emma Stockholm stretched the lead to three by sinking both of her attempts from the charity stripe.
The Bengals charged down the court in the closing seconds and settled for a two-point shot before the Grizzlies inbounded to secure the marginal win.
Gabi Harrington topped the scoring chart for Montana with 18 points and nine rebounds. McKenzie Johnston and Stockholm both collected 12 points. Johnston also pulled down 11 rebounds and added five steals for a double-double.
The Bengals will return to Reed Gym for the final three home games of the season. Idaho State hosts Portland State and Weber State next Thursday and Saturday before its Senior Night game against Northern Colorado on Feb. 28.
"We've got to learn from this one," Sobolewski said. "We've got to watch some film on this and figure out what we've got to do better and then yeah, it's on to Portland State and Weber. Grace, Madison and Saylair have got three more home games in their ISU careers."
