PORTLAND, Oregon – The Idaho State defense clamped down on Portland State's potent offense in the fourth quarter to set
Estefania Ors up for the game-winning shot Saturday afternoon. The Bengals did not lead in the final period before Ors nailed a three-point shot to give ISU a one-point advantage with four seconds remaining.
Portland State was able to inbound, and Ashley Bolston put up a shot, but she was swarmed by orange jerseys as the ball fell harmlessly and Idaho State's bench stormed the court. The 58-57 victory puts ISU at 14-6 with a 9-2 mark in Big Sky play. Portland State dropped to 15-4 with a 7-3 conference mark.
Ors led all players with 18 points and 10 rebounds to secure the second double-double of her career. The junior guard was 7-15 from the field including 4-9 from three-point range and added three assists.
Grace Kenyon and
Sai Tapasa both had 13 points. The former added three rebounds, five assists, three blocks and two steals.
Saylair Grandon also provided a boost to the offense with a career-high eight assists.
Idaho State and Portland State entered the contest as the conference leaders in field goal percentage and field goal percentage defense. In the end, it was the defense that won out with both teams shooting well below their season averages.
Idaho State shot 38.1 percent from the floor and 28.6 percent from three-point range. Portland State shot just 31.0 percent overall and was 31.6 percent from behind the arc. The Vikings also knocked down 15 of 19 free-throw attempts.
The two teams exchanged the lead eight times in the first six minutes of play with four different ISU players collecting a basket. Ors gave ISU a four-point gap at the end of the first with a buzzer-beating jumper from just inside the arc. The Bengals created the largest buffer in the game at 25-18 in the second quarter following a three-point basket from Grandon and took a 31-26 lead into the locker room.
PSU netted four shots in the final 1:44 of the third quarter to take a 48-43 lead. Then Ors took control of the game. She drained three long balls and scored Idaho State's final 11 points in the comeback effort.
The Idaho State defense also came in clutch during the final minutes of play. The Bengals prevented the Vikings from netting a field goal over the final 6:28 and limited PSU to one basket in its final 11 attempts.
"They're really good in the third quarter," said Head Coach
Seton Sobolewski. "We had a hard time slowing them down and matching them offensively. But in the fourth we defended really well and held them to 15 percent shooting and nine points. That's tough to do."
Sidney Rielly paced Portland State with 17 points and seven rebounds and Ashley Bolston added 12 points.
Idaho State handed Portland State its first loss at the Viking Pavillion during conference play. PSU was 11-1 at home coming into the game.
Next week the Bengals return to Reed Gym for more Big Sky Conference action. Idaho State faces Northern Arizona Thursday night and Southern Utah Saturday afternoon.
