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 two of the Bengals list.
Nancy Espeseth (1980-1984)
Career Highlights: Played under head coaches Beth Bricker and Mark French. Scored 1,050 points with 405 assists in her career. Her assist record stood for 39 seasons. Her career high scoring game while at ISU was 33 points. Ranked in top 10, six times in various categories in program history. In ISU's first ever win in the Mountain West Conference, which they belonged to before the Big Sky Conference was formed, she scored 22 points in the game against Montana State 1/14/83. Member of ISU Athletic Hall of Fame.
Greta Garver (1987-1991)
Career Highlights: Played under head coach Ted Anderson. 2X 1st team all-Big Sky Conference 1989-1990 and 1990-1991 seasons. Big Sky Conference Player of the Week. Team MVP 1989-1990 season. Ranked in top 10, four times in various categories in program history. Still the program's all-time leader in steals for a single season and a career. Had eight steals against Northern Arizona in a win 2/14/91. Member of ISU Athletic Hall of Fame.
Dora Goles (2017-2022)
Career Highlights: Played under head coach Seton Sobolewski. 2X Big Sky Conference champion. Played in both the NCAA and WNIT Tournaments. 1st team all-Big Sky Conference 2020-2021 season. 2nd team all-Big Sky Conference 2019-2020 season. 2X Team MVP 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 seasons. Big Sky Conference Player of the Week. Ranked in top 10, eight times in various categories in program history. Scored 1,145 points. Scored 36 points, 29 in the second half in a win over Montana 2/15/20. Native of Croatia. Now an assistant coach at ISU.
Jeanne Gragg (1979-1981)
Career Highlights: Played under head coaches Nancy Shay and Beth Bricker. 2X Team MVP 1979-1980 and 1980-1981 seasons. Ranked in top 10, seven times in various categories in program history. Passed away at the age of 62 on December 13, 2021.
Saylair Grandon (2015-2019)
Career Highlights: Played under head coach Seton Sobolewski. 2nd team all-Big Sky Conference 2018-2019 season. 3rd team all-Big Sky Conference 2016-2017 season. Named to the Big Sky Conference postseason all-Tournament team March 2018. Scored 1,066 points. 2X Big Sky Conference Player of the Week. Ranked in top 10, three times in various categories in program history. Hit game winning shot to beat Northern Colorado in Reno at the Big Sky Conference postseason tournament 3/8/17. Scored 28 points to help fuel the miracle comeback against Weber State in Reno at the Big Sky Conference postseason tournament 3/7/18.
Michelle Grohs (2005-2009)
Career Highlights: Played under head coaches Jon Newlee and Seton Sobolewski. Big Sky champion. Played in both the NCAA and WNIT Tournaments. 1st team all-Big Sky Conference 2008-2009 season. Scored 1,0005 points. Big Sky Conference Scholar-Athlete award winner 2008-2009 season. 2X Big Sky Conference Player of the Week. Team MVP 2008-2009 season. Ranked in top 10, eight times in various categories in program history. Scored 27 points in win over Northern Colorado at Reed Gym 2/7/09.
Shelley Hand (1981-1985)
Career Highlights: Played under head coaches Beth Bricker and Mark French. Honorable Mention Big Sky Conference 1984-1985 season. Scored 1,056 points. Team MVP 1984-1985 season. Ranked in top 10, two times in various categories in program history.
Molly Hays (2003-2005)
Career Highlights: Played under head coach Jon Newlee. 2X 1st team all-Big Sky Conference 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 seasons. Team MVP 2004-2005 season. Played in the WNIT Tournament. Ranked in top 10, eight times in various categories in program history. Scored 25 points at Boise State 12/6/04 and then scored 25 points in a game again this time against Weber State at Reed Gym 1/29/05. Also holds the program record for most free throw attempts in a game (20) and most made free throws in a game (18). That took place against Eastern Washington at Reed Gym 2/19/05.
Lynn Henderson (1982-1986)
Career Highlights: Played under head coaches Beth Bricker and Mark French. Scored 1,052 points. Team MVP 1983-1984 season.
Joanna Hixon (2005-2007)
Career Highlights: Played under head coach Jon Newlee. Big Sky champion. Played in both the NCAA and WNIT Tournaments. Big Sky Conference Defensive Player of the Year 2005-2006 season. She was one of the Big Sky's top rebounders, ranking third at 8.2 a game. She also ranked second in the league in defensive rebounds with 4.7 a game, and had posted eight games of 10 or more boards that year. Recorded 24 blocks and 30 steals. Scored 20 points at Portland State in an ISU win 2/16/06. Averaged 10.1 points that year.
