POCATELLO, Idaho - The Idaho State Bengals surged past the Denver Pioneers 73-61 behind
Kacey Spink's double-double and an improved offensive output from the Bengals.
The two teams battled back and forth for the first quarter of the game before a pull up jumpshot by
Tasia Jordan gave the bengals a one-point, 15-14 lead over the Pioneers. After taking the lead the Orange and Black didn't look back holding the lead for the remainder of the game. The Bengals shot eight-of-11 from the field in the first quarter to take a 24-18 lead after the first 10.
Despite a slow second period where neither team shot higher than 32 percent from the field, The Bengals outscored the Pioneers 13-11 in the second and went into the locker room up 37-29 on the Pioneers.
The Bengals came out of the locker room energized with the lead and shot lights out in the third period. Over the next 10 minutes ISU shot nine-of-15 from the field, 60 percent.
Maria Dias led the Bengals shooting three-for-four.
The Bengal defense was stifling in the third, holding the Pioneers to just 11 points on only 10 field goal attempts. The Pioneers were saved by the charity stripe in the quarter, scoring seven of its points from the free throw line.
The Bengals had a slower fourth quarter, only shooting three-of-12 from the floor, but the lead held and Idaho State came away with the 73-61 win in front of the home crowd.
Notes
- The Bengals shot 46.3 percent from the floor while holding the Pioneers to just 37 percent.
- The two teams had a field day at the free throw line with 52 combined attempts from the charity stripe. ISU ended the evening going 19-of-26, 73.1 percent, an improvement on their season average.
- Kacey Spink had her first double-double of the season scoiring 11 points and grabbing 10 boards.
- Three other Bengals scored in double-digits; Halle Wright and maria Dias both scored 11 points and Tasia Jordan scored 10. Alyse Aby came in just off the double-digit mark with nine points.
- The Bengals forced 15 turnouvers out of the Pioneers and scored 19 points off of them.
- Idaho State dominated the game in the paint, scoring 36 points under the basket to the Pioneers 14.
- The Bengals won the battle on the glass for the first time in three games with a rebound margin of +14 grabbing 39 boards. The +14 margin is the highest for the Bengals this season since the season opener against Arizona Christian.
- Kacey Spink had a team-season-high in steals against the pioneers, grabbing five steals from the Denver women's basketball team.
Next Up
The Bengals hit the road for the 2nd game of the Big Sky / Summit League Challenge this Saturday as they head east to take on the University of Missouri - Kansas City (UMKC) Roos. Tip-off is set for 1:00 PM MT and the game will be broadcast on the Summit League Network.
Mark Liptak will have the call on KISU and live stats will be available.
