Bengals Defeat Montana 67-53

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POCATELLO, Idaho - The Idaho State women's basketball team defeated Montana 67-53 on Thursday night in Missoula, Mont.

The game marks just the fourth time in program history that ISU has defeated Montana on the road.

"I'm proud of how we finished the game," said Head Coach Seton Sobolewski. "I'm proud that we played better defense in the second half. I thought we did a great job at challenging shots."

Idaho State out-shot UM 47 percent to 33 percent from the floor. ISU scored 34 points in the paint after adjusting to Montana holding them to just 24 percent from three. The Bengals also out-rebounded Montana 41-33. 

Montana Oltrogge led the Bengals with 18 points, scoring 11 in the second half. Diaba Konate followed with 15 points and Callie Bourne recorded her sixth-consecutive double-figure game with 14 points. Ellie Smith recorded a career-tying nine boards, a career-high four assists, and two blocks. Bourne and Konate also grabbed seven boards each. Dora Goles had a career-high five steals.

The first quarter was a back-and-forth battle with neither team taking larger than a three-point lead. Montana held the Bengals to a 2:23 minute scoring drought at the end of the quarter to take a two-point lead, 17-15. 

The Bengals led most of the second quarter until the Lady Griz took a 32-30 lead with just one minute left. A layup from Bourne put ISU up 33-32 just before a steal and fast break layup put the Lady Griz up 34-33 to end the first half. ISU's 48 percent from the field wasn't enough to combat UM's 45 percent from the floor and 75 percent from three. The Lady Griz, who have struggled to defend the three-ball this season, held the Bengals to just 2-11 from three-point range in the half. 

ISU went on a three minute drought early in the third quarter before Oltrogge followed through with a layup off a steal from Konate to tie the game back at 38. The Bengals would take a six-point lead at 46-40 after going on a 6-0 run. Montana would make two free-throws to end the quarter down 46-42. The Bengal defense held the Lady Griz to just 1-11 from the field in the third. 

Montana tried to close the Bengal lead early in the fourth at 46-42 before Oltrogge answered back with a three to strengthen the ISU lead, 49-46. Idaho State took a ten-point lead, 61-51, with under two minutes left in the fourth and the final score would be the largest lead of the game. Oltrogge scored nine of the 21 Bengal points in the final quarter. 

Idaho State continues its road weekend against Montana State on Saturday, Jan. 25, at 2 p.m. (MST).

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