Women's Basketball Tops Portland State For the Second Time

POCATELLO, Idaho – Portland State has lost just five games all season, but Idaho State has now handed the Vikings two losses in one month. The Bengals put on a dominant performance in a 72-54 win to complete the sweep of PSU. The 18-point loss is the largest defeat Portland State has faced all season.
 
The win pushes Portland State from atop the conference standings, dropping them to 19-5 overall and 11-4 in Big Sky play. Meanwhile, Idaho State improved to 17-8 and 12-4 in conference play. Idaho sits a half game ahead of Idaho State in the BSC standings.
 
For the second time this season, five Bengals finished in double figures. Grace Kenyon and Estefania Ors led the charge with 14 points each and Kenyon matched her season-high with 12 rebounds to net her sixth double-double of the year. Ors collected four assists and provided a spark from three once again with a 4-7 mark from long range.
 
Sai Tapasa and Madison Hinrichs followed with 12 points apiece while each shooting 50 percent or better from the field. All of Hinrichs' points came in the second half for the second-consecutive game. Saylair Grandon rounded up the scoring leaders with 10 points, four rebounds and four assists.
 
The Bengals shot 47.1 percent from the field, 57.9 percent from three-point range and 86.7 percent from the free throw line. It was the fifth-consecutive game the Bengals have shot 40 percent or better from the field. Portland State finished with a 34.0 field goal percentage, a 33.3 three-point field goal percentage and an 81.8 free throw percentage.
 
Portland State was able to muddle Idaho State's offense early and forced 22 turnovers with 12 steals. However, PSU committed 15 turnovers which turned into 26 ISU points. The Bengals controlled the glass, nearly doubling the Vikings' number of offensive and defensive rebounds.
 
The first half featured six lead changes and five ties despite Idaho State jumping to an early advantage. The game was tied at 5-5 with 3:28 remaining in the first period before Ors drained back-to-back threes to put ISU on top. Each team made two more baskets before the buzzer with Idaho State maintaining a six-point cushion.
 
ISU's lead climbed to eight points early in the second, but PSU took control of the paint, scoring 14 points in the key, to tie the game at 33-33 with under a minute to play. Portland State's Courtney West sank two free throws with five seconds left before Ors drove the length of the court and tied the game 35-35 at the buzzer.
 
Idaho State shut down Portland State in the second half, allowing just four field goals while limiting the Vikings to a 19.0 field goal percentage. Hinrichs emerged from the locker room on a mission and dropped ISU's final 10 points in the third quarter. She matched Portland State's output herself over the final 6:37 of the period to help ISU maintain an eight-point advantage.
 
In the fourth, Kenyon scored as many points as the entire PSU team (11) while collecting five rebounds. The Bengals led by 10 or more points for the final nine minutes and took a 21-point lead in the final minute before holding the ball in front of 874 cheering fans in the closing seconds.
 
Portland State was led by Savannah Dhaliwal who scored 16 points. West was the only other Viking in double figures with 12 points and a team-high five rebounds. Starters Ashley Bolston, Jordan Stotler and Sidney Rielly were held to a combined nine points, five of which came at the free throw line.
 
Up next for Idaho State is Weber State. The Bengals and Wildcats tip off at 2:05 p.m. inside Reed Gym. Fans are encouraged to wear white for the White Out game Saturday afternoon.
 
Notes
-Idaho State has now shot over 40 percent from the field in 18 games this season.
-This was the fifth time ISU has shot 50 percent or better from 3-point range.
-The Bengals made a season-high 11 three-point shots.
-Portland State's 21 rebounds was tied for ISU's opponent low.
-Hinrichs' 12 points matched her career high set last week against Montana.
-The Bengals have still not lost a game when holding their opponent under 60 points.  
-The Bengals shot over 70 percent from the free throw line for the first time in six games.