POCATELLO, Idaho – 2024 is a special year for the Idaho State women's basketball program. It marks the 50th year of Women's Basketball being included as a varsity sport at Idaho State University. Over the years hundreds of talented women have helped to make the program stand where it does today.
From championships to NCAA tournament appearances to regular season thrillers, these amazing women have done it all bearing the Orange and Black.
Earlier in the year, a group of Idaho State program alumni consisting of Coaches, Players, Broadcasters, and Sports Information personnel sat down to discuss the most influential Bengal women in the history of the program and agreed on 50 women through voting.
The list is not a ranking, it would be nearly impossible to rank one Bengal over another because of the work they have all put into this program, Instead the '50 Greatest Players' list will be announced alphabetically by last name over the coming weeks. In groups of 10.
This marks week four of the Bengals list.
Stacy Nelson (1993-1997)
Career Highlights: Played under head coaches Ted Anderson, Steve Hayes and Ardie McInelly. Scored 32 points in the championship game of the Gate City Shootout against Southern Utah 12/1/95.
Freya Newton (2014-2017)
Career Highlights: Played under head coach Seton Sobolewski. Big Sky Conference Defensive Player of the Year 2016-2017 season. Team MVP 2016-2017 season. Scored 364 points. Scored 21 points in a win over Idaho at Reed Gym 2/23/17. A "glue-type" player who would do the little things that didn't show up in a box score but helped the team win games. Native of New Zealand.
Kayla Oakes (2009-2013)
Career Highlights: Played under head coach Seton Sobolewski. Big Sky champion. Played in both the NCAA and the WNIT Tournaments. 1st team all-Big Sky Conference 2011-2012 season. 2nd team all-Big Sky Conference 2012-2013 season. Honorable Mention Big Sky Conference 2010-2011 season. 3X Team MVP 2010-2011, 2011-2012 and 2012-2013 seasons. 2X Big Sky Conference Player of the Week. Scored 1,171 points including a game winner. Ranked in top 10; five times in various categories in program history. Scored 28 points at Portland State 1/17/11. Scored 47 points in two games at the UTEP Thanksgiving Tournament to win MVP 11/27/10.
Estefie Ors (2016-2022)
Career Highlights: Played under head coach Seton Sobolewski. 2X Big Sky champion. Played in both the NCAA and WNIT Tournaments. 2nd team all-Big Sky Conference 2021-2022 season. Honorable Mention all-Big Sky Conference 2018-2019 season. Named the Big Sky Conference postseason all-Tournament MVP March 2021. Big Sky Conference Freshman of the Year 2016-2017 season. Big Sky Conference Top Reserve 2017-2018 season. 2X Big Sky Conference Player of the Week. Scored 1,713 points including two game winning baskets. Scored 33 points to beat Montana State at Reed Gym 1/1/22. Ranked in top 10; 16 times in various categories in program history. Program and Big Sky Conference leader in games played with 156. Native of Spain.
Mandi Ortega (1996-1998)
Career Highlights: Played under head coach Ardie McInelly. 2X 1st team all-Big Sky Conference 1996-1997 and 1997-1998 seasons. Named the Big Sky Conference postseason all-Tournament team March 1997. 4X Big Sky Conference Player of the Week. Ranked in top 10; three times in various categories in program history. Scored 27 points in a home win against Northern Arizona 1/16/97. Blocked 10 shots at home versus Weber State 1/10/97.
Leah Palmer (1990-1992)
Career Highlights: Played under head coach Ted Anderson. 1st team all-Big Sky Conference 1991-1992 season. Big Sky Conference Player of the Week. Team MVP 1991-1992 season. Ranked in top 10; six times in various categories in program history. Averaged 17.9 points per game her senior season. Scored 31 points with 10 rebounds in a game with Wyoming at Holt Arena 12/2/91.
Stefanie Pemper (1988-1992)
Career Highlights: Played under head coach Ted Anderson. 2X Honorable Mention Big Sky Conference 1990-1991 and 1991-1992 seasons. Ranked in top 10; 13 times in various categories in program history.
All-time program leader in single season and career three-point shooting. Big Sky Conference Player of the Week. Member of the ISU Athletic Hall of Fame.
Chelsea Pickering (2007-2012)
Career Highlights: Played under head coaches Jon Newlee and Seton Sobolewski. Big Sky champion. Played in the NCAA Tournament. 2X 1st team Big Sky Conference 2010-2011 and 2011-2012 seasons. Named the Big Sky Conference postseason all-Tournament MVP March 2012. Team MVP 2010-2011 season. Big Sky Conference Player of the Week. Ranked in top 10; five times in various categories in program history. Scored 1,200 points. Scored 31 points in a home game against Portland State 1/10/09 and 31 points in a win at Texas State 11/23/10.
Anna Lee Policicchio (2012-2016)
Career Highlights: Played under head coach Seton Sobolewski. Team MVP 2015-2016 season. Scored 864 points. Named to the Big Sky Conference postseason all-Tournament team March 2016. Ranked in top 10; three times in various categories in program history. Holds program record for most blocked shots in a season (85). Scored 27 points at Montana State 2/27/16.
Lindsey Reed (2010-2014)
Career Highlights: Played under head coach Seton Sobolewski. Big Sky champion. Played in both the NCAA and WNIT Tournament. 1st team all-Big Sky Conference 2013-2014 season. Team MVP 2013-2014 season. 2X Named to the Big Sky Conference postseason all-Tournament team March 2012 and 2016. Big Sky Conference Player of the Week. Scored 1,492 points and had a game winning basket. Scored 34 points in a home win against Montana State 2/20/14. Had 17 points in the game from the free throw line. Ranked in top 10; 10 times in various categories in program history.
