POCATELLO, Idaho – Idaho State women's basketball is back home Thursday evening with a non-conference clash against the Westminster Griffins, an NCAA DII School out of the RMAC.
The contest will be a countable game for the Bengals while it will go in as an exhibition for the Griffins who are playing up a division.
The Griffins are coached by Asami Morita, who was Seton Sobolewski's first G.A. when he took the position in Pocatello 17 years ago. She is the first head coach of Japanese descent in the NCAA. She coached at Robert Morris and Nevada-Reno and also was an assistant coach for a men's professional team in Japan.
The Griffins are a young team who brought in transfers to bolster their squad after a 3-25 record in 2023-24.
The Bengals are coming back to Reed off of a back and forth battle with the BYU Cougars that was never more than about two points apart until the final 10 seconds as the Cougars hit their free throws to extend the lead and take the 77-68 win over the Bengals.
Sophia Covello led the Bengals in the contest against the Cougars with a career-high 19 points on six-of-nine from the floor and five made three-pointers. The most of any Bengal this season. Covello's five made three-pointers were the most in a single game for a Bengal since Estefania Ors made seven in a game against Montana State in 2022.
The game previous, the Bengals fought the San Diego State Aztecs, the Bengals held tough for three quarters as the two teams battled it out. The margin never more than about two points. The Aztecs put together a 9-0 run in the final five minutes of regulation to pull away for the win. Piper Carlson led the Bengals with a career-high 16 points.
Piper Carlson and Halle Wright lead the Bengals with 11 and 10 PPG.
Idaho State has outrebounded two of its four opponents this season. Against SDSU, the Bengals finished the game with a +12 margin. The Bengals, through four games, have a +4.8 margin and are grabbing 38.3 boards per game on average.
Turnovers have hurt the Bengals early this season. Idaho State has either tied or had more turnovers in all of its games, the Bengals have committed 67 total turovers to opponents 53 early in the season.
The Bengals return four of their five starters in Kacey Spink, Maria Dias, Halle Wright and Sophia Covello.
ISU averaged 59.5 ppg in 23-24 and is looking to increase it's offensive production.
After finishing the 2023-24 season only shooting 29 percent from three-point range, the Bengals have improved in the early season. Through three games the Bengals are shooting 37.5 percent from three-point range, 2nd best in the Big Sky.
Tickets
Season and single-game tickets for the Bengals are available all-season long, Visit idahostate.evenue.net to purchase.
