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.
With that being said, we present the first 10 of our '50 Greatest Players' career highlights.
Annie Anderson (2002-2004)
Career Highlights: Played under head coach Jon Newlee. Played in the WNIT Tournament. 1st team all-Big Sky Conference 2003-2004 season. Two times named Big Sky Conference Player of the Week. Team MVP 2003-2004 season. Averaged 11.6 points in her senior season.
Brooke Blair (2015-2018)
Career Highlights: Played under head coach Seton Sobolewski. Scored 837 points in two seasons. 2nd team all-Big Sky Conference 2017-2018 season. Named to the Big Sky Conference postseason all-Tournament team March 2016. Big Sky Conference Player of the Week. Scored 30 points in ISU's win at Washington 11/12/17. Native of New Zealand.
Jeni Boesel (2005-2007)
Career Highlights: Played under head coach Jon Newlee. Big Sky Conference champion. Played in the NCAA Tournament. 2nd team all-Big Sky Conference 2006-2007 season. Scored 732 points in two seasons. Scored 25 points at Northern Arizona 2/1/07. Ranked in top 10, five times in various categories in program history.
Charly Bond (1976-1980)
Career Highlights: Played under head coach Nancy Shay. Scored 1,259 points and had 824 rebounds. 2X Team MVP 1976-1977 and 1977-1978 seasons. Scored 32 points in ISU's win at Southern Utah 1/20/78. Set program record with 26 rebounds in ISU's win over Southern Utah 2/19/77. Ranked in top 10, 11 times in various categories in program history. Member of ISU Athletic Hall of Fame.
Callie Bourne (2018-2023)
Career Highlights: Played under head coach Seton Sobolewski. 2X Big Sky Conference champion. Played in both the NCAA and WNIT Tournaments. Scored 1,383 points and grabbed 906 rebounds. 2X 2nd Team all-Big Sky Conference 2019-2020 and 2022-2023 seasons. Named to the Big Sky Conference postseason all-Tournament team March 2021. Team MVP 2022-2023 season. ISU's all-time assist leader with 413. Scored 29 points versus Sacramento State 2/18/23. Ranked in top 10, nine times in various categories in program history. Native of Australia.
Christa Brossman (2003-2005)
Career Highlights: Played under head coach Jon Newlee. Scored 622 points in two seasons. Honorable mention all-Big Sky Conference 2004-2005 season. Big Sky Conference Player of the Week. Scored 31 points in ISU's win at Southern Utah 12/2/03.
Jenna Brown (2005-2009)
Career Highlights: Played under head coaches Jon Newlee and Seton Sobolewski. Big Sky Conference champion. Played in both the NCAA and WNIT Tournaments. Scored 715 points. 2nd team all-Big Sky Conference 2008-2009 season. Big Sky Conference Player of the Week. Scored 21 points, including the game winner at Northern Arizona 2/28/09. Ranked in top 10, four times in various categories in program history.
Jennifer Cannon (1991-1993)
Career Highlights: Played under head coach Ted Anderson. 1st team all-Big Sky Conference 1992-1993 season. 2X Big Sky Conference Player of the Week. Big Sky Conference Scholar-Athlete award winner 1992-1993 season. Ranked in top 10, three times in various categories in program history including first all-time in assists per game. Her career high scoring game while at ISU was 27 points.
Mandi Carver (1998-2002)
Career Highlights: Played under head coaches Ardie McInelly, Shirley Huyett and Lynn Kennedy. Big Sky champion. Played in the NCAA Tournament. Big Sky Conference MVP 2000-2001 season. 3X 1st team all-Big Sky Conference 2000-2001, 2001-2002 and 2002-2003 seasons. Named the Big Sky Conference postseason all-Tournament MVP March 2001. 3X Team MVP 2000-2001, 2001-2002 and 2002-2003 seasons. Scored 1,538 points and had 1,098 rebounds. 6X Big Sky Conference Player of the Week. Ranked in top 10, 19 times in various categories in program history. Scored 37 points against Wyoming in an ISU overtime win 11/20/99. Member of ISU Athletic Hall of Fame.
Natalie Doma (2004-2008)
Career Highlights: Played under head coach Jon Newlee. Big Sky champion. Played in both the NCAA and WNIT Tournaments. Big Sky Conference MVP 2007-2008 season. 3X 1st team all-Big Sky Conference 2005-2006, 2006-2007 and 2007-2008 seasons. Named the Big Sky Conference postseason all-tournament MVP March 2007. 3X Named to the Big Sky Conference postseason all-tournament team March 2005, 2006 and 2008. Big Sky Conference Freshman of the Year 2004-2005 season. 13X Big Sky Conference Player of the Week. 3X Team MVP 2005-2006, 2006-2007 and 2007-2008 seasons. Scored 2,296 points and grabbed 1,174 rebounds, both led the Big Sky Conference when her career ended. Ranked in top 10, 31 times in various categories in program history. Scored 32 points at Stanford in an NCAA Tournament first round game 3/17/07. Is a member of both the ISU Athletic Hall of Fame and as of 2024 the Big Sky Conference Hall of Fame.
