POCATELLO, Idaho – The Idaho State Bengals came into Reed gym looking to break a five-game losing streak as they resumed Big Sky play against Portland State. The Bengals broke that streak and then some as the Orange and Black routed the Vikings 79-43 in front of the Bengal faithful in Pocatello.
The Bengals move to 5-9 (1-2 BSC) and the Vikings fall to 5-10 (0-3 BSC)
Postgame Remarks
How it Happened
From the first tip, it was as if the Bengals' energy was shot out of a cannon. Idaho State absolutely dominated both ends of the court outscoring the Vikings 23-10, forcing eight turnovers from PSU and outrebounding the ball eight to four.
Tasia Jordan led the first period with six points on three-of-three shooting. The Bengals as a team shot 64.7 percent from the floor on 11-of-17 shooting in one of the best offensive performances of the season.
After a dominant first period, the Bengals upped their performances in the 2
nd. Idaho State's defense was absolutely ferocious, holding the Vikings to only five points on two-of-17 shooting. This was even with the Vikings outrebounding the Bengals 13-11 in the period.
The Bengals kept the offensive pressure on in the period.
Halle Wright stepped up, scoring six points.
Kacey Spink followed with five points hitting two-of-two in the quarter.
The Bengals went into the locker room with their biggest halftime lead of the season against a DI opponent, 42-15.
Coming out of the locker room, the Bengals didn't let up.
Halle Wright led the Bengal offense with seven points on three-of-five shooting. The Bengal offense kept the foot on the gas, scoring 25 points on 11-of-19 shooting with three-of-five from behind the arc.
While slower in the fourth, the Bengal offense completed the fourth-straight quarter outscoring the Vikings 12-9. After controlling the ball for the final 10 minutes the Bengals ended the game victorious 79-43 over the Vikings.
Notes-
- The +36 margin over the Vikings is the 2nd highest scoring margin for the Bengals against a DI opponent since the 2010 season.
- The Bengals held the Vikings to 15 points in the first half. This is believed to be a team record against DI opponents. The team record is five points against Fort Lewis in 1977.
- Halle Wright scored a career-high 13 points against the Vikings
- Tasia Jordan had a career-high five steals, all five coming in the first half of game.
- The Bengals 22 team assists were the most for a Bengal team since the 2021-22 season.
- Idaho State outscored the Vikings 42-14 in the paint.
- The Bengals are now 48-23 all-time against the Vikings.
Up Next
The Bengals welcome the Sacramento State Hornets into Reed Gym on Saturday, January 13 at 2:00 PM as they continue the 2024 Big Sky Conference campaign.
