POCATELLO, Idaho – Idaho State was in control for three quarters Thursday night before surrendering a late lead to Northern Colorado in Reed Gym. The Bengals led for over 33 minutes of the game before the Bears stole the lead for a 61-59 win.
Idaho State is now 18-9 overall and 13-5 in Big Sky Conference play. Northern Colorado improved to 18-8 and 13-5 in conference play.
The Bengals shot 39.1 percent from the floor and 37.5 percent from three-point range while tallying 12 assists, three blocks and five steals. The Bears shot 36.2 percent overall and 30.4 percent from deep while collecting nine assists, three blocks and a steal. UNC also went 12-14 from the free throw line.
Four players were recognized on senior night including
Grace Kenyon,
Saylair Grandon,
Madison Hinrichs and
Sai Tapasa. In her final home game, Kenyon led the team with 19 points while adding seven boards and three assists.
Estefania Ors followed with 15 points and seven rebounds. Grandon also finished strong with 12 points and five rebounds. Tapasa led Idaho State on the boards with 10 rebounds and added six points.
The game started well for ISU with the Bengals jumping out to a 5-0 lead. Grandon, Kenyon and Tapasa scored the first 20 points for Idaho State, and a three-point basket by Ors put ISU in front 23-15 at the end of the first.
With four minutes remaining in the half, Kenyon extended ISU's advantage to 10 points. A few minutes later,
Montana Oltrogge connected from long range to give the Bengals the largest lead of the game at 13. Northern Colorado responded with a 6-0 run before the half, cutting Idaho State's padding to seven.
UNC was unable to pull closer than two points in the third while ISU never pushed the lead back to double digits. Northern Colorado's Savannah Smith continued to fire at the basket and scored 14 points in the quarter to help the Bears inch within six points.
Each of Northern Colorado's seven players scored two points in the final period. Idaho State had an eight-minute scoring drought in the fourth, allowing UNC to take command for the first time with three minutes remaining in the contest. The Bengals took a final shot with four seconds on the clock, but the potential game winner caught iron and fell to the floor.
Northern Colorado's Smith led all players with 33 points. The next closest Bear was Shalise Fernander with seven points. Ali Meyer tallied 14 rebounds and added six points.
The Bengals will have an extended break with no game on schedule this Saturday. ISU will travel north next week for the final two games of the regular season. The Bengals take on Eastern Washington Thursday and Idaho on Saturday.
