Game Notes
POCATELLO, Idaho – Idaho State is looking to bounce back from Thursday's loss in its upcoming game against Southern Utah in Reed Gym Saturday afternoon. The Bengals host the Thunderbirds at 2:05 p.m. in their annual PINK game.
About the PINK Game
Players will don pink accessories in support of women's cancer and ask all fans in attendance to join them in the Pink Out.
According to the Kay Yow Cancer Fund, a woman is diagnosed with cancer every minute. The PINK game was created after the Play4Kay initiative was designed to help fundraise for cancer research. Since the fund began, $7.53 million has been donated towards scientific research focused on women's cancers.
Yow, the former NC State University head women's basketball coach, established the fund in 2007 after battling with breast cancer for 20 years. She passed in 2009, but her legacy lives on through the fund. Her vision was to support advanced research, extend the quality of life for those battling cancer and provide hope.
Prior to the tip, Portneuf Medical Center will be handing out pink t-shirts to the first 300 fans. The starting five Idaho State players will also walk onto the court with a cancer patient or survivor during the pregame ceremonies. Additionally, there will be a 50-50 raffle with half the pot being donated towards Play4Kay.
How to Follow
Saturday's PINK game will be streamed on
Watch Big Sky TV and
Pluto TV channel 242.
Mark Liptak and
Brad Bugger will provide play-by-play commentary on KISU 91.1 FM and
Stretch Internet with pregame coverage beginning 25 minutes before the tip. Live stats will also be
available here.
Scouting Southern Utah
Overall: 6-15 | BSC: 3-9 | Home: 5-5 | Away: 1-10 | Streak: L2
Southern Utah is coming off its third one-point loss of the season after falling 67-66 in Ogden, Utah Thursday afternoon. The Thunderbirds and Wildcats exchanged the lead six times in the fourth quarter and Southern Utah led with five seconds remaining. WSU's Emily Drake was able to sink a layup with less than a second remaining in the game to give Weber State its second Big Sky win.
Overall Southern Utah is 6-15 with a 3-9 record since the start of conference play. The Thunderbirds have dropped back-to-back contests and have won just one of their 11 road games.
The T-Birds have a trio of starters averaging double figures led by Harley Hansen at 12.3 points per game. Hansen also contributes 4.1 rebounds per game and leads the team with 51 steals.
Breanu Reid and Rebecca Cardenas score 10.4 points per game apiece and have combined for 57 steals. Cardenas is also the team leader in rebounding with 6.5 boards per game. Ashley Larsen is just shy of a 10-point average in conference play (9.9) and has more blocks (27) than the rest of her teammates combined.
Southern Utah is averaging 63.0 points per game while shooting 36.5 percent from the floor. Opponents have shot 45.0 percent against SUU while putting up 70.3 points per game.
Southern Utah is coached by Tracy Sanders who is in her first season as head coach at SUU.
Team Averages
|
Points |
Rebounds |
Assists |
Steals |
Blocks |
Turnovers |
| ISU Overall |
64.7 |
35.2 |
15.5 |
6.5 |
3.9 |
15.0 |
| SUU Overall |
63.0 |
36.0 |
10.9 |
8.1 |
2.4 |
14.0 |
| ISU Big Sky |
64.4 |
36.6 |
15.5 |
7.2 |
4.8 |
13.5 |
| SUU Big Sky |
65.9 |
35.9 |
11.3 |
7.6 |
1.8 |
12.0 |
All-Time Series
Overall: 38-13 | Home: 22-4 | Away: 14-9 | Neutral: 2-0 | Streak: ISU W3
Last Meeting: Jan. 3, 2019, ISU won 69-57 in Cedar City, Utah
Idaho State has the upper hand in the all-time series with an impressive 38-13 record against the T-Birds and is 22-4 when hosting SUU. The Bengals won the first contest of the season 69-57 in Utah after all five starters reached double figures.
Grace Kenyon led ISU with 21 points and nine rebounds and the win extended ISU's streak against SUU to three games.
Idaho State Bengals
Overall: 14-7 | BSC: 9-3 | Home: 7-2 | Away: 6-4 | Neutral: 1-1 | Streak: L1
Despite the loss on Thursday, Idaho State is still 7-2 when playing in Reed Gym. In addition, Southern Utah is just 1-10 in road games and Idaho State has not lost back-to-back games since mid-November.
-Idaho State's 81-77 loss to Northern Arizona was the first time the Bengals dropped a game when any of the following criteria was met.
-The Bengals had a higher shooting percentage than their opponent
-The Bengals led at halftime
-The Bengals out blocked their opponent
Kenyon led Idaho State with her fourth double-double of the season after tallying 18 points and 10 rebounds.
Saylair Grandon,
Estefania Ors and
Delaney Moore also reached double figures.
Madison Hinrichs made her return to the court after an extended absence and shot a perfect 3-3 from the field for eight points.
-In conference play, Idaho State is shooting 44.1 percent from the floor, 35.4 percent from three and 63.6 percent from the free-throw line. Opponents have shot 33.0 percent against the Bengals while averaging 56.4 points per contest.
-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 185-149 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 Feb. 6, 2019)
As a team, Idaho State ranks:
-No. 69 in assist to turnover ratio at 1.01 (No. 4 BSC)
-No. 94 in assists with 305 (No. 2 BSC)
-No. 69 in assists per game with 15.3 (No. 2 BSC)
-No. 78 in fewest turnovers with 302 (No. 5 BSC)
-No. 46 in field-goal percentage at 43.5 (No. 1 BSC)
-No. 24 in field-goal percentage defense at 35.6 (No. 2 BSC)
-No. 51 in scoring defense at 58.7 (No. 2 BSC)
-No. 89 in three-point field goal percentage at 33.3 (No. 3 BSC)
-No. 74 in win-loss percentage at 70.0 (No. 2 BSC).
Kenyon is the second-most efficient shooter in the Big Sky Conference. The redshirt senior has compiled a 48.0 field goal percentage this season.
Hot Shooting
Just one of Idaho State's 12 players to appear in Big Sky play is shooting below 38 percent through 12 games.
Sai Tapasa leads all shooters in conference play with a 55.3 field goal percentage.
Starting and Scoring
Idaho State's starting five has produced in a big way this season. Of the six players with multiple starts, Tapasa is the only one averaging less than 29 minutes per game at 25.7.
-Those six players have scored 95 percent of ISU's points this season. The starting five's contribution is 85 percent through 12 conference games.
Like A Well-Oiled Machine
Idaho State has been one of the most efficient teams in the Big Sky Conference this season. The Bengals ranked first in field goal percentage and second in field goal percentage defense entering play this week.
Going Out With A Bang
Kenyon and Grandon, both seniors, hold the lead in nearly every statistical category. Kenyon leads ISU in steals (28), blocks (24), points per game (14.4) and rebounds per game (7.0). Grandon leads the team in assists (73) and is second in steals (25), points per game (12.3) and rebounds per game (5.7).
Downtown Sharpshooter
Ors is currently the second-most accurate three-point shooter in Idaho State history. She has a career 41.4 three-point field goal percentage and ranks seventh in school history for three-pointers made with 122.
Dual Threat Down Low
Tapasa is averaging 9.1 points and 5.0 rebounds per game this season. She has been solid from the floor with a 49.1 field goal percentage and even better from the free throw line with an 76.3 percent conversion rate.
Streaking
Wins are not the only thing Idaho State is stringing together this season.
Kenyon has:
66 consecutive starts
Scored in 69 consecutive games.
Grandon has:
53 consecutive starts
47 consecutive games with at least one assist
Recorded at least one made field goal in 25 consecutive games
Scored in 58 consecutive games.
Bourne has an assist in 19 straight games.
Tapasa has:
38 consecutive starts
Secured a rebound in every contest but one this season.
The team has:
Recorded at least one block in 28 straight games
Double-digit assists in 18 of 21 games.
In The Record Books (Idaho State Top-10)
Kenyon has made several leaps into the record books. She currently ranks: ninth in games played; eighth in blocks and double-doubles; seventh in free throws made; fifth in points and assists; fourth in rebounds and field goals made and is tied for first in triple-doubles.
Ors holds the No. 7 spot in three pointers made with 122 and is the second-most accurate 3-point shooter in ISU history. Meanwhile, Grandon ranks ninth in 3-point percentage at 37.4 percent.
Stellar Saylair
Grandon has tallied two Ready Nutrition Big Sky Player of the Week awards 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 floor in an 80-68 win over Utah Valley to set a program record for field goal percentage.
The Bengals made history again on Jan. 24 against the Montana Grizzlies. ISU held UM to 34 points which is an all-time opponent low against a Division I squad.
Hot Start
ISU's 5-1 start to conference play was the program's best since the 2011-12 season. That year, the Bengals went on to win the Big Sky Championship.
