Gallery: (12-30-2021) WBB vs Montana
POCATELLO, Idaho – The Idaho State Women's Basketball team held off a late rally by the Montana Grizzlies to secure the 69-61 win in Reed Gym Thursday night.
With 2:33 left to play in the game, the Montana Grizzlies, cut a Bengal lead that had been as high as 15 to four points after an Abby Anderson layup. Staring this comeback in the face, the Bengals didn't blink going on a 6-0 run highlighted by Estefania Ors' dish to Tomekia Whitman who hit a layup at a dead sprint icing the game and securing the Bengal victory.
The game started hot for the Bengals, Montana Oltrogge took control and within three minutes of the opening tip, hit her third three-pointer of the night giving the Bengals an 11-2 lead early in the game.
The Bengals kept up the pressure for the remainder of the period, going eight-of-19 from the field and four-of-eight from the three-point arc.
The first quarter ended with an eight-point Bengal advantage.
The Orange and Black continued to press in the second quarter outscoring the Grizzlies 18-12 and taking a 38-24 lead into the locker room at halftime.
Both teams had a slow third quarter, with Montana outscoring the Bengals 10-7 in the period. This would prove to be the deep breath needed before taking the plunge into the fourth.
The two teams entered the final period ready to battle it out and determine a victor. The Bengals would score 24 points and the Griz would score 27 in the final ten minutes in a wild, back and forth, fast paced fight.
In the final quarter, the Bengals shot nine-of-13 from the field and a perfect six-of-six from the charity stripe to close out the victory. Whitman would go a perfect four-of-four from the floor to help the Bengals close it out.
Ellie Smith was instrumental in those final ten minutes as when Whitman wasn't shooting the ball, the Bengals were completing perfect pick and rolls to smith who also tacked on six for the Orange and Black.
After holding off the final Grizzly push at the end of the game, the final horn sounded and the Bengals ended the game with the 69-61 victory.
The Idaho State team shot 26-of-60 from the floor for a team 43.3 shooting percentage. Where the Bengals had been struggling so far this season from behind the arc, it didn't bother them tonight shooting 7-of-16 from three and finishing with a 43.8 three-pointer percentage.
From the free throw line the Bengals were perfect, hitting 10 out of 10 free throws.
Every player on the team had at least one field goal attempt.
Four Bengals scored in double-digits led by Ors who had 15 points on four-of-10 from the field and a perfect six-of-six from the free throw line.
Whitman had 13 points and Oltrogge led the team from three with 11 points going three-of-six from the arc.
Diaba Konate saw significant increased playing time tonight spending 19:55 on the court. During that time she went four-of-seven from the floor and four-for-four from the free throw line. She also had two assists and three steals.
Once again, Whitman was a terror on the defensive side of the ball as well, grabbing five steals and eight boards.
The Bengals as a team forced the Griz into a season-high 22 turnovers and the Bengals capitalized scoring 27 points off of those 22.
Whitman, Konate, Callie Bourne and Finley Garnett grabbed 11 steals off of the Griz.
While limited, Anaya Bernard and Kayla Salmons saw playing time this evening, both with a made field goals.
In 10 minutes played, Jordan Sweeney hit a three-pointer for the Bengals.
The Orange and Black return to Reed Gym on Saturday, Jan. 1 to ring in the new year hosting the Montana State Bobcats. Tip is set for 2:00 p.m. Follow along at ISUBengals.com to keep up to date with the team and follow along on social media on Facebook, and Twitter.
