Bengals Comeback Falls Just Short in Overtime Loss to Bobcats

POCATELLO, Idaho - The Idaho State women's basketball team lost a tough 88-80 overtime contest against the Montana State Bobcats Saturday afternoon in Bozeman, Mont. The Bengals erased a 12 point deficit in the fourth quarter to take the game to overtime before eventually falling to the Bobcats. 

Diaba Konate opened the scoring for the Bengals, hitting a jumper at 08:24 to tie the game at 2-2. With 5:40 to go in the first, Callie Bourne hit a three-pointer to give the Bengals their first lead of the game at 5-4. The Bengals would go on a 15-0 run capped by a jumper from Delaney Moore to give the Bengals a 17-4 lead. The Bobcats responded with an 8-0 run at the end of the quarter to cut the Bengal lead to 17-12.

In the second, Dora Goles broke the Bengals scoring drought with a three-pointer with 7:20 in the period giving the Bengals a 20-15 lead. After a Montana State three with 5:25 to play the Bobcats tied the game at 22 apiece. The Bobcats ended the half going on an 18-3 run heading into the locker room with a 37-25 halftime lead over the Bengals.

With 1:53 left to play in the third, Konate hit a three to bring the Bengals to within 11 points of the Bobcats at 53-42. The Bengals would go 4-4 over the final 1:30 of the quarter to pull within 6 heading into the final period.

Less than a minute into the 4th, Estefania Ors hit a three to pull the Bengals to within three at 55-52. The Bengals would cut the lead to two with a made layup by Ors with 7:39 to play. The Bengals tied the game at 60 after two free-throws by Moore with 4:05 left to play in the game. After a jumpshot by Konate with 3:12 the Bengals took their first lead since the first quarter at 62-60 lead. Tomekia Whitman hit a jumper to give the Bengals the 68-66 lead with 1:17 to play after an O-board by Ors. The Bengals would take a 72-69 lead with 20 seconds to play.

After gaining possession, the Bobcats hit a three-pointer to tie the game at 72 with .06 seconds left and send the game to overtime.  

In the first minute of overtime, The Bengals and Bobcats went back and forth with field goals. At 02:25 to play in OT, Ors hit a three-pointer to tie the game. 

The Bobcats then went on a 9-2 run over the last three minutes of overtime while the Bengals only made one of their last eight field goals to end the game with the 88-80 Bobcat victory.

The Bengals shot 38.6% from the field. Five Bengals shot in double-digit figures. Delaney Moore led the team with a career high 25 points. Goles and Ors both scored 11 points.

Two Bengals had double-doubles. Bourne had 14 points and 13 rebounds and Konate scored 11 points and 10 rebounds.  Overall, the Bengals out-rebounded the Bobcats 48-41.

The Bengals are back in action Thursday, Feb. 25 as they head north to Missoula to take on the University of Montana.

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