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 five of the Bengals list, rounding out the top-50.
Meg Salness (1993-1998)
Career Highlights: Played under head coaches Ted Anderson, Steve Hayes and Ardie McInelly. Big Sky Conference Newcomer of the Year 1993-1994 season. Twice scored 27 points is a game. First time versus Marist 11/27/93, second time against Weber State at home 2/15/95.
Karen Tharp (1974-1977)
Career Highlights: Played under head coaches Sandra Noakes, Kevin Gilbride and Nancy Shay. 2X Team MVP 1975-1976 and 1978-1979 seasons. Ranked in top 10; three times in various categories in program history. Still is the school record holder for assists and assists per game in a single season. Scored 15 points in ISU's first ever 'official' game as a varsity sport in win over Ft. Lewis College 12/21/74. Set school record with 17 assists versus Southern Colorado College 3/8/79.
Holly Togiai (1994-1998)
Career Highlights: Played under head coaches Ted Anderson, Steve Hayes and Ardie McInelly. 2X 1st team all-Big Sky Conference 1996-1997 and 1997-1998 seasons. Honorable Mention all-Big Sky Conference 1994-1995 season. Big Sky Conference Freshman of the Year 1994-1995 season. 3X Big Sky Conference Player of the Week. 3X Team MVP 1994-1995, 1996-1997 and 1997-1998 seasons. Scored 1,145 points with 764 rebounds. Led Big Sky Conference in rebounds her senior season. Had a 26-point game versus Clemson. Ranked in top 10; four times in various categories in program history. Was an assistant coach at ISU. Member of the ISU Athletic Hall of Fame.
Ashley Toner (1999-2003)
Career Highlights: Played under head coaches Ardie McInelly, Shirley Huyett, Lynn Kennedy and Jon Newlee. 1st team all-Big Sky Conference 2000-2001 season. Honorable Mention all-Big Sky Conference 2002-2003 season. Named to the Big Sky Conference postseason all-Tournament team March 2001. Team MVP 2002-2003 season. 3X Big Sky Conference Player of the Week. Scored 1,342 points. Scored 36 points at home in a win over Portland State 2/23/02. Ranked in top 10; six times in various categories in program history. Member of the ISU Athletic Hall of Fame.
Chris Urbanski (1997-2001)
Career Highlights: Played under head coach Ardie McInelly. Big Sky champion. Played in the NCAA Tournament. 2nd team all-Big Sky Conference 1999-2000 season. Big Sky Conference Scholar-Athlete award winner 2000-2001 season. Big Sky Conference Player of the Week. 3X Team Best Defensive Player 1998-1999, 1999-2000 and 2000-20001 seasons. Scored 26 points in a win over Eastern Washington 2/17/00. In the NCAA Tournament game against Vanderbilt she scored 20 points with six three-point shots. Ranked in top 10; three times in various categories in program history.
Ashley Vella (2009-2013)
Career Highlights: Played under head coach Seton Sobolewski. First recruit ever signed him. Big Sky champion. Played in both the NCAA and WNIT Tournament. 2nd team all-Big Sky Conference 2012-2013 season. 2X Honorable Mention all-Big Sky Conference 2010-2011 and 2011-2012 seasons. Named to the Big Sky Conference postseason all-Tournament team March 2012 2X Big Sky Conference Player of the Week. Ranked in top 10; four times in various categories in program history. Scored 1,341 points including three game winning shots with 750 rebounds. Had 31 points in a win at Utah 12/8/10 the only time the Bengals have ever beaten the Utes'. Native of Australia.
Alison Verona (1984-1988)
Career Highglights: Played under head coaches Mark French and Ted Anderson. 2X 2nd team all-Big Sky Conference 1986-1987 and 1987-1988 seasons. Honorable Mention all-Big Sky Conference 1985-1986 season. Team MVP 1986-1987 and 1987-1988 seasons. Mountain West Conference Player of the Week, she was the first ISU WBB player to ever receive a player of the week award. Scored 1,320 points with 756 rebounds. Had 26 points in a game against St. Mary's 1/2/88. Ranked in top 10; seven times in various categories in program history. Member of the ISU Athletic Hall of Fame.
Andrea Videbeck (2007-2008; 2009-2010)
Career Highlights: Played under head coaches Jon Newlee and Seton Sobolewski. Played in the WNIT Tournament. Honorable Mention all-Big Sky Conference 2009-2010 season. Ranked in top 10; five times in various categories in program history. Scored 336 points including a game winner. Scored 20 points in a come from behind win over Weber State at Reed Gym 2/18/10. Was an assistant coach at ISU.
Tomeika Whitman (2019-2022)
Career Highlights: Played under head coach Seton Sobolewski. 2X Big Sky champion. Played in both the NCAA and WNIT Tournaments. 1st team all-Big Sky Conference 2021-2022 season. Big Sky Conference Defensive Player of the Year 2021-2022 season. Team MVP 2021-2022 season. Had 617 points in her ISU career. Scored 30 points in a win over Eastern Washington 1/13/22. Hit three-quarter shot right before halftime versus Northern Arizona which made SportsCenter's Top 10 on 12/8/21.
Apiphany Woods (2014-2016)
Career Highlights: Played under head coach Seton Sobolewski. 2X Big Sky Conference Honorable Mention 2014-2015 and 2015-2016 seasons. Big Sky Conference Newcomer of the Year 2014-2015 season, averaged 15.5 points per game. Big Sky Conference Player of the Week. Team MVP 2014-2015 season. Ranked in top 10; two times in various categories in program history. Had 883 points in only two seasons at ISU. Scored 32 points at Montana in a Big Sky Conference postseason tournament game 3/11/15.
