Women's Basketball Set to Take the Court In Century Link Tuesday Night

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Women's Tournament Schedule
 
Previous Recaps Vs. EWU: Home, Away
Previous Recaps Vs. WSU: Home, Away
 
BOISE, Idaho – The Idaho State women's basketball team will play its first Big Sky Conference Tournament game at approximately 8 p.m. Tuesday against No. 6 Eastern Washington.

The Big Sky Conference Tournament, held at Century Link Arena in Boise, Idaho, gets underway this afternoon when No. 8 Northern Arizona takes on No. 9 Sacramento State at 2:30 p.m.
 
Idaho State secured the No. 3 seed in the tournament after finishing 15-5 in conference play. As a result, ISU received a bye along with No. 1 Idaho, No. 2 Northern Colorado, No. 4 Portland State and No. 5 Montana State.
 
Idaho State defeated both of its potential opponents twice this season with a double-digit margin of victory in all four games. ISU topped both EWU and WSU by 20-plus points the second time around.
 
Idaho State Tournament Quick Hits
-Did you know? Idaho State has not lost to a lower seeded team in the conference tournament since 2013.
-In the past 10 seasons with Head Coach Seton Sobolewski, Idaho State is 12-9 in conference tournament play.
-In the last three tournaments, the Bengals have posted an 8-3 record with two championship game appearances (2016 and 2017).
-This is the second-highest seed ISU has secured and the first No. 3 seed in the Sobolewski era.
-Idaho State has advanced past the quarterfinals in four of the last five seasons.
-Grace Kenyon made the Big Sky Conference All-Tournament Team in 2017 and Saylair Grandon made the all-tournament team last season.
-Idaho State was the Big Sky Conference Tournament Champion in 2001, 2007 and 2012.
 
The Matchup On Paper

	Points	Rebounds	Assists	Steals	Blocks	Turnovers
ISU BSC	67.4	36.8	15.9	7.1	4.1	14.2
EWU BSC	66.2	33.9	13.2	7.0	3.9	15.7
WSU BSC	62.3	37.7	10.5	6.4	2.1	13.6

 
Scouting No. 6 Eastern Washington
Overall: 10-19 | BSC: 9-11 | Streak: L3
The Eagles have not won a game in March thus far and enter the tournament on a three-game losing streak. Both Idaho State and Weber State defeated Eastern Washington last week.
 
Eastern Washington is a threat from long range. This season they have made 243 three-point attempts which places them second in the BSC behind Idaho. EWU is shooting 34.3 percent from behind the arc and has four players in the top-15 of the BSC for 3-point field goal percentage.
 
The Eagles have a trio of players averaging double figures led by Violet Kapri Morrow. She has averaged a team-high 18.6 points and 6.0 rebounds per game while shooting 45.0 percent from the field. She is the sixth-highest scoring player in the Big Sky and leads the team with 29 steals.
 
Grace Kirscher follows with 11.2 points and 2.4 rebounds per game while shooting 41.6 percent from the floor. Alissa Sealby is the third member of the group with 10.2 points and 3.8 rebounds per game.  
 
Bella Cravens and Jessica McDowell-White also provide a spark for the team on opposite sides of the ball. Cravens, a freshman, has the third-most blocks in the league this season with 45 swats, and McDowell-White is the eighth-most accurate three-pointer shooter in the conference.
 
In conference play, Eastern Washington has scored 66.2 points per game while shooting 40.1 percent from the field and 36.7 percent from three-point range. Opponents have scored 70.1 points per game while shooting 43.0 percent against EWU.
 
The Eagles are led by longtime Head Coach Wendy Schuller who carries a 264-278 overall record with Eastern Washington.
 
All-Time Series vs. Eastern Washington
Overall: 39-41 | Big Sky Tournament: 3-0 | Streak: W2
Idaho State has never lost a game to Eastern Washington in the Big Sky Conference Tournament. The teams last met in the tournament in 2014 when ISU needed overtime to edge past EWU 76-65. The two programs also met in postseason play in 2005 and 2000.
 
Last 10 Meetings             
*             03/06/14              H             W            86-62    
+             03/13/14              N             W            76-65(OT)           
*             01/03/15              H             L              75-88    
*             03/05/15              A             L              58-62    
*             03/02/16              H             W            71-62    
*             01/12/17              A             L              41-58    
*             02/25/17              H             L              58-61    
*             2/24/18                A             L              64-66    
*             12/31/18              H             W            63-48
*             03/07/19              A             W            74-45
 
Scouting Weber State
Overall: 6-24 | BSC: 3-17 | Streak: W1
The Wildcats snapped a seven-game losing streak to wrap up regular season play against the very team they face tonight. WSU topped EWU 70-66 on the road for its third conference win of the season.
 
However, WSU has showed an ability to pester even the top contenders in the Big Sky. Weber State downed Northern Colorado on the road in mid-January and recently forced Idaho to come from behind for a victory on the Vandals' home court.
 
Idaho also had trouble with Weber State the opening weekend of BSC play. UI's first-half lead shrank to three points inside the final minute, but the Vandals escaped Ogden, Utah with a 79-74 victory. It is also worth noting that eight of WSU's conference losses have been by 10 points or less.
 
The Wildcats lead the league in rebounds with 1,148 on the season, but have otherwise struggled offensively. They have the third-most turnovers per game in the league and are in the bottom quarter of the BSC for field goal percentage.
 
Three starters average more than 10 points a game led by Jaiamoni Welch-Coleman at 17.7 points per contest. Despite her heavy scoring load, she has distributed the ball at a high clip as well; she has the second-most assists in the Big Sky with 154 this season. The senior also brings an intensity to defense with 51 steals.
 
Emily Drake and Kayla Watkins combine for another 24.9 points per game. Drake adds 4.4 boards per contest and is second on the team in assists (67) and steals (44). Watkins has shot 41.9 percent from the floor this season while grabbing 7.0 rebounds per game and tallying 17 blocks.
 
Dominique Williams is the biggest factor for Weber State on the glass. The sophomore is among the league's top five in both offensive and defensive rebounds and pulls down 8.2 rebounds per game.
 
The Wildcats are averaging 62.3 points per game while shooting a collective 37.3 percent from the field. Opponents have a 42.5 field goal percentage and have averaged 72.4 points per game against WSU.  
 
Weber State is under the guidance of Head Coach Velaida Harris who is in her first year with the Wildcats.
 
All-Time Series vs. Weber State
Overall: 40-48| Big Sky Tournament: 3-1 | Streak: W3
Idaho State has prevailed the last three times these two teams met in the conference tournament. That includes last year's instant classic in which ISU used every second of regulation to complete a 25-point comeback for the 113-110 overtime win in Reno, Nev. The Bengals also claimed tournament games against the Wildcats in 2001 and 2007. WSU's tournament win was a one-point victory in the 2006 season.  
 
Last 10 Meetings
*             02/28/15              H             W            63-56    
*             01/02/16              H             L              61-46    
*             01/23/16              A             W            58-57    
*             01/07/17              A             L              43-50    
*             01/28/17              H             W            57-52    
*             12/30/17              H             L              70-76    
*             01/27/18              A             L              73-84    
+             3/07/18                N             W            113-110               
*             01/10/19              A             W            70-57
*             02/23/19              H             W            84-57
 
Idaho State Bengals
Overall: 20-9 | BSC: 15-5 | Streak: W2 
Idaho State enters the conference tournament on a high note after defeating No. 1 Idaho on the road Saturday night. The Bengals led for over 39 minutes and shot 55.6 percent from the field in the win.
 
The victory was ISU's 20th of the season, marking the first time in program history the Bengals have posted back-to-back 20-win seasons. It also gave ISU eight conference wins on the road, matching the program record set during the 2000-01 championship season.
 
Madison Hinrichs paced the Bengals with a career-high 19 points on 8-10 shooting and Sai Tapasa scored 18 points. Ors closed the game with 14 points and Grace Kenyon led the team with six rebounds.
 
A season with 20-plus wins is not a new feat for the program. Idaho State has won at least 20 games in six seasons since the turn of the century with three since Sobolewski took over as head coach. Two of the Bengals' three championships came on the heels of a 20-win year.  

In conference play, Idaho State is shooting 45.9 percent from the floor, 38.9 percent from three and 65.2 percent from the free-throw line. Opponents have shot 34.0 percent against the Bengals while averaging 55.8 points per contest.
  
Coach Sobolewski is in his 11th season with the program and carries a 191-151 overall record. He has led the team to two postseason tournament appearances: one NCAA tournament berth and one WNIT tournament appearance.

What to Watch For
Estefania Ors, though only a junior, is just seven points away from giving the Bengals three 1,000-point scorers. Kenyon reached the milestone two seasons ago and Grandon hit 1,000 points against Weber State at home.

Delaney Moore is on pace to set a new ISU single-season record for field goal percentage. The sophomore is currently shooting 56.5 percent from the field, placing her just ahead of Coryna Truitt's 55.9 shooting percentage during the 1987-88 season.
 
ISU in the Top-50 (National Ranks) *Entering play this week
As a team, Idaho State ranks:
-No. 49 in assists per game with 15.7 (No. 2 BSC)
-No. 25 in field-goal percentage at 45.1 (No. 1 BSC)
-No. 19 in field-goal percentage defense at 35.9 (No. 2 BSC)
-No. 47 in scoring defense at 58.4 (No. 1 BSC)
-No. 17 in three-point field goal percentage at 37.2 (No. 2 BSC)
 
Triple Threat
Kenyon, Grandon and Ors received Big Sky All-Conference recognition for their efforts this season. It was the second time Kenyon and Grandon's names have appeared on an all-conference team. It was the third time in as many seasons Ors has been recognized by the conference. Kenyon made first team, Grandon made second team and Ors was named honorable mention.
  
Hot Shooting
The lowest field goal percentage of Idaho State's 12 players to appear in Big Sky play is still a respectable 38.7 percent. Ten of ISU's players are shooting over 40 percent, led by Moore at 53.6 percent.
 
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. Idaho State also has the best scoring defense in the league with only 58.4 points allowed per game.
 
Doing It All
Kenyon has been dominant for Idaho State in her final season. The redshirt senior leads Idaho State in points (13.9) and rebounds (7.1) per game. She also tops the standings in blocks and steals with 29 and 39 respectively.
 
Ors is scoring 12.6 points per game and leads the team with a 40.7 percent conversion rate from behind the arc. Grandon is also in double figures with 13.9 points and 5.4 rebounds per game and has a team-high 94 assists.
   
Speed Limit, 60
The Bengal defense has allowed less than 60 points to an opponent on 16 occasions this season with a perfect 16-0 record in those games. ISU has allowed between 60-69 points seven times with a 4-3 record. All six times an opponent has tallied 70 or more points the Bengals have lost.
 
To pair with that statistic, Idaho State has held its opponent under a 40 percent field goal percentage 19 times with a 17-2 record. ISU is 3-7 when an opponent shoots at least 40 percent from the floor.  
  
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.

Road Warriors
ISU's win against UI was its eighth on the road in conference play, matching the program's highest total set in 2000-01. The last time the Bengals won more than six conference road games, they went on to win the Big Sky Conference Tournament (2012). 
 
Home Sweet Home
Idaho State's win against Weber State on Feb. 23 was the Bengals' 100th home win since the start of 2009-10 season. The Bengals are 100-31 in Reed Gym since that season. Their 76.3 winning percentage is the best in the Big Sky during that same stretch.
 
Fantastic Four
The Bengals have won 78 contests the past four seasons, marking the best four-year stretch in program history. The previous record was 75 wins from 2009-10 to 2012-13.

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.