POCATELLO, Idaho – Idaho State wraps up the regular season against the Idaho Vandals this Saturday with a 3 p.m. tipoff in the Cowan Spectrum. The Battle of the Domes matchup, sponsored by Idaho Central Credit Union, will be the seventh of the year. The Bengals currently hold a 40-30 edge in the series.
How To Follow
Saturday's game can be streamed on Watch Big Sky TV and Pluto TV channel 242. Mark Liptak will call the game on KISU 91.1 FM and Stretch Internet with pregame coverage beginning 20 minutes before the tip. Idaho will also provide live stats for the game.
Scouting Idaho
Overall: 19-9 | BSC: 16-3 | Home: 10-1 | Away: 9-7 | Neutral: 0-1 | Streak: W6
Idaho enters Saturday's contest on the brink of a 20-win season and will look to become the lone Big Sky Conference Regular Season Champion. The Vandals have lost just three games in BSC play with the last coming three weeks ago.
Idaho has also been solid inside the Cowan Spectrum. The Vandals have dropped just one home game, an 86-72 loss to Northern Colorado on Jan. 5. The Bengals will look to avenge a home loss earlier in the season to Idaho.
Idaho features the most potent offense in the Big Sky. The Vandals are No. 20 in the nation for scoring offense with 77.9 points per game. Two key aspects have allowed them to reach that lofty status.
To begin, Idaho takes excellent care of the ball. The Vandals have committed the fourth fewest turnovers in the nation with just 323 on the season. They also lead the conference with a 1.24 assist-to-turnover ratio.
The second key is three-point shooting. Just five teams in Division I basketball have launched more than Idaho's 825 shots from beyond the arc. Nationally, Idaho is No. 3 in 3-point field goals made, No. 7 in 3-point field goal percentage and No. 1 in 3-point field goals per game.
Opposing teams can take advantage on the other half of the court. Idaho allows the second-most points per game to opponents among Big Sky squads and is No. 331 in scoring defense among 349 DI programs. The Vandals are last in the BSC for steals and turnovers forced and have allowed teams to shoot 42.9 percent against them (No. 304).
Idaho's high-scoring offense is fueled by the duo of Mikayla Ferenz and Taylor Pierce. The former is the leading scorer in the Big Sky while the latter ranks third. Ferenz is averaging 22.5 points and 5.4 rebounds per game and leads the team with 111 assists and 17 steals. Pierce scores 19 points per game and grabs 3.6 boards per contest.
UI's roster features two sisters, Lizzy and Natalie Klinker. The siblings have provided a boost for Idaho on the glass with a combined 15.1 boards per game. The Klinkers also combine for 14.2 points on average. Isabelle Hadden has been the enforcer for the Vandals in the paint with 33 blocks.
Thursday night, Idaho trailed Weber State by nine points at the half before rallying for an 86-78 win. Ferenz and Pierce each scored 24 points in the victory while Hadden and Gina Marxen combined for another 20.
The Vandals are led by former Idaho State Head Coach Jon Newlee. He carries a 281-241 overall record and is 188-159 in 11 seasons with Idaho.
Team Averages
|
Points |
Rebounds |
Assists |
Steals |
Blocks |
Turnovers |
| ISU Overall |
66.0 |
35.8 |
15.7 |
6.5 |
3.6 |
15.0 |
| UI Overall |
78.1 |
38.7 |
14.9 |
4.4 |
2.9 |
11.8 |
| ISU Big Sky |
67.1 |
36.9 |
15.8 |
6.9 |
4.2 |
14.1 |
| UI Big Sky |
81.6 |
40.5 |
16.1 |
4.8 |
3.1 |
11.6 |
All-Time Series
Overall: 14-29 | Home: 11-10 | Away: 3-17 | Neutral: 0-2 | Streak: ISU L1
Last Meeting: ISU lost 86-72 in Pocatello
Idaho has played well against the Bengals through time and built a strong 29-14 advantage with a significant edge in the 80s. The deficit is even greater considering only games played in Moscow, Idaho, though ISU has won its last two road games against UI. Idaho State holds the upper hand with five wins and three losses since Idaho rejoined the Big Sky Conference.
Idaho handed Idaho State an 86-72 loss to open conference play back in December. After a tight first half, the Vandals outscored the Bengals by 23 points in the third quarter to lock up the win. Grace Kenyon led ISU with 27 points while Estefania Ors and Saylair Grandon combined for 27 more. Ferenz and Pierce led UI with 29 and 22 points respectively.
Idaho State Bengals
Overall: 19-9 | BSC: 14-5 | Home: 10-3 | Away: 8-5 | Neutral: 1-1 | Streak: W1
Idaho State cruised to victory in Cheney, Wash. Thursday night for its 19th win of the season. A win against Idaho would give ISU its first back-to-back, 20-win seasons in program history.
Grandon paced the Bengals in Idaho State's 74-45 win over Eastern Washington last night. The senior tallied 14 points, four rebounds, five assists and a block. Ors finished with 13 points, and Kenyon collected 10 points, six rebounds and two blocks.
In conference play, Idaho State is shooting 45.4 percent from the floor, 38.4 percent from three and 64.7 percent from the free-throw line. Opponents have shot 33.4 percent against the Bengals while averaging 55.3 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 190-151 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
Kenyon became the 18th player in program history to reach 1,000 career points on Feb. 28, 2018. Grandon followed in her footsteps with 19 points against Weber State on Feb. 23. Now Ors, though only a junior, is just 21 points away from giving the Bengals three 1,000-point scorers.
Delaney Moore is on pace to set a new ISU single-season record for field goal percentage. The sophomore is currently shooting 57.5 percent from the field, placing her well above Coryna Truitt's 55.9 shooting percentage during the 1987-88 season.
National Ranks (As of March 4, 2019)
As a team, Idaho State ranks:
-No. 72 in assist to turnover ratio at 1.03 (No. 4 BSC)
-No. 79 in assists with 419 (No. 2 BSC)
-No. 54 in assists per game with 15.5 (No. 2 BSC)
-No. 91 in fewest turnovers with 408 (No. 8 BSC)
-No. 31 in field-goal percentage at 44.6 (No. 1 BSC)
-No. 19 in field-goal percentage defense at 35.8 (No. 2 BSC)
-No. 49 in scoring defense at 58.6 (No. 1 BSC)
-No. 82 in scoring margin at 7.1 (No. 2 BSC)
-No. 27 in three-point field goal percentage at 36.5 (No. 2 BSC)
-No. 84 in win-loss percentage at 66.7 (No. 3 BSC).
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 54.9 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 58.1 points allowed per game.
Doing It All
Kenyon and Grandon lead the team in nearly every statistical category. Kenyon holds the lead in points per game (14.1), rebounds per game (7.1), steals (37) and blocks (29). Grandon is ISU's top player in assists (92) and ranks second in rebounds per game (5.4) and steals (35).
Downtown Sharpshooter
Ors reclaimed Idaho State's three-point throne Thursday night. Her 42.8 3-point field goal percentage is the best in ISU history. She also ranks fourth in the record book for three-pointers made with 140.
Dual Threat Down Low
Sai Tapasa is averaging 8.2 points and 5.1 rebounds per game this season. She has been solid from the floor with a 48.3 field goal percentage.
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 six times with a 3-3 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 2-7 when an opponent shoots at least 40 percent from the floor.
Streaking
Wins are not the only thing Idaho State is stringing together this season.
Kenyon has:
73 consecutive starts
Scored in 76 consecutive games.
Grandon has:
Recorded at least one made field goal in 32 consecutive games
Scored in 65 consecutive games.
Callie Bourne has an assist in 26 straight games.
Tapasa has:
45 consecutive starts
Secured a rebound in every contest but one this season.
The team has:
Recorded at least one block in 35 straight games
Double-digit assists in 25 of 28 games.
In The Record Books (Idaho State Top-10)
Kenyon has made several leaps into the record books. She currently ranks: eighth in blocks; seventh in free throws made, games played and double-doubles; fifth in points; fourth in assists and field goals made; third in rebounds and is tied for first in triple-doubles. She also became the eighth player in ISU history to reach 100 career blocks earlier this season.
Ors holds the No. 4 spot in three pointers made with 140 and is the most accurate 3-point shooter in ISU history. Meanwhile, Grandon ranks eighth in three-point field goals made and sixth in 3-point field goal percentage at 38.7 percent. She also just climbed into the top-10 for games played with 112.
Tapasa also rejoined the top-10 for career field goal percentage. She is currently shooting 46.0 percent.
Just Like The Old Days
Idaho State did not need a three-pointer to defeat Northern Arizona on the road this year. 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.
Road Warriors
ISU's win against EWU was its seventh on the road in conference play, marking the programs highest total since 2012-13. The last time the Bengals won more than six conference road games, they went on to win the Big Sky Conference Tournament.
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
With a game still remaining in the season, the Bengals have won 77 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.
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.
