Idaho State Women’s Basketball Set for Veteran-Led 2025–26 Campaign

POCATELLO, Idaho – A deep and experienced Idaho State women’s basketball roster returns to Reed Gym as the Bengals prepare for the 2025–26 season under head coach Seton Sobolewski. Led by a seasoned senior class and several proven contributors. 

The Bengals hit the floor first with an exhibition against Park University (AZ) Saturday evening at 7:00 PM. 

Returning Core

Idaho State brings back 10 players from last year’s 14–17 team that reached the Big Sky Semifinals, including four starters and its top four scorers. Graduate guard Tasia Jordan headlines the returners after leading the Bengals in scoring for the second straight season at 10.9 points per game. The Chicago native and former WBCA All-American combines explosive athleticism with elite body control, highlighted by a 28-point performance at Portland State last year. Known for her quickness, vertical leap, and defensive instincts, Jordan enters her fifth collegiate campaign as one of the Big Sky’s most dynamic guards.

Senior guard Kacey Spink anchors the Bengals as a two-time Big Sky All-Defensive Team selection. The Spokane, Washington native averaged 7.9 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 3.8 assists a year ago and begins the season ranked among ISU’s all-time leaders with 191 career steals, 12 away from catching Angela Munger in 2nd place on the Begals’ top-10 list. A “glue” player in the truest sense, Spink’s relentless energy, leadership, and toughness set the tone on both ends of the floor.

In the post, Piper Carlson returns following a breakout sophomore season where she shot 52.6 percent from the field, one of the best single-season marks in program history, tied for 6th all-time with Charly Bond from the 1977-78 season. The Minnesota product averaged 9.7 points and 7.3 rebounds, establishing herself as a consistent interior finisher and rebounder.  

Redshirt senior Sophia Covello will once again run the point after posting career highs across the board in 2024–25, including 9.4 points per game and a 37.1 percent clip from three. The Roseville, California native adds poise and physicality to the backcourt and has developed into one of the league’s most reliable shooters.

Senior Halle Wright returns after a lower-body injury limited her late last season. At 6-foot, Wright brings length, improved strength, and the ability to stretch the floor as a hybrid forward. Alyse Aby, a 5-foot-11 junior guard from Montana, continues her upward trajectory after hitting 35 percent from deep last year. A left-handed shooter with a smooth pull-up jumper, Aby’s athleticism and confidence give Idaho State another perimeter threat.

Guards Alyse Aby and Cam Collman round out the veteran guards. Aby averaged 6.7 PPG and a 38 percent shooting percentage from three-point range bringing a confident mid-range jumper to the group. Collman returns for her senior season, a reliable shooter from the perimeter who hits 36 percent from three point range when on the floor. 

Sophomore forwards Aurora Elder and Mackenzie Marenchin round out the frontcourt depth. Elder, a 6-foot-3 Californian coached in high school by former Big Sky standout Kaela Oakes, saw early action as a freshman and brings physical presence inside. Marenchin, a 6-foot-2 forward from Canada, earned key minutes last season and is known for her defensive effort and team-first approach.  

Redshirt freshman Molly Hays enters her first active season after sitting out 2024–25 recovering from a lower-body injury. The Cody, Wyoming native comes from a family of Bengals—her father and mother both played at Idaho State, and her brother Hunter was the program’s starting quarterback. Once acclimated to Division I pace, the two-time Wyoming Gatorade Player of the Year is expected to be a strong contributor in the backcourt.

New Faces

Six newcomers join the Bengal roster this season, adding both experience and international flair.  

Junior guard Aspen Caldwell transfers from Utah Valley after beginning her career at Idaho, where she once scored 12 points against the Bengals inside Reed Gym as a freshman. The Idaho Falls native brings 40 games of Division I experience, reliable perimeter shooting, and defensive tenacity—qualities that fit perfectly within Sobolewski’s system. 

Joining her in the backcourt is senior Tylie Jones, a 6-foot guard from Rigby and transfer from New Mexico State. Jones brings size, versatility, and a steady scoring touch, having averaged 7.3 points per game in 2023–24. Her combination of length and toughness makes her a valuable addition on both ends of the court.

Four international freshmen round out the new class. Milena “Millie” Sucacuexe, a 6-foot-1 guard/forward from Portugal, arrives with professional experience in the Liga Feminina, where she averaged 6.5 points and shot 41 percent from the floor. Asa Wolfram, a 6-foot-2 forward from Iceland and the first known player from her country to suit up for Idaho State, brings physicality, strong fundamentals, and efficient inside scoring after averaging 6.6 points and 4.2 rebounds last season for Athena-UMFK.  

Maeva Gauffrenet, a 5-foot-8 guard from France, was discovered when Idaho State played her club team on an international tour two summers ago. She has competed in France’s National Féminine 2 and Ligue Féminine 2 circuits and brings sharp passing and floor vision to the guard rotation. Finally, Tariah Carter, a 6-foot freshman from Melba, Idaho, redshirts this season while transitioning back from volleyball. A two-time 3A State Player of the Year in both basketball and volleyball, Carter’s athleticism and shooting ability will make her one to watch in coming years.

The 2025–26 roster features 10 returners and six newcomers, including four international players representing Canada, France, Iceland, and Portugal. Three Bengals hail from southeast Idaho.

2025-26 ISU WBB Roster

No.          Name                                         Pos.         Yr.            Ht.                             Hometown / Previous School

1                Kacey Spink                                   G                Sr.              5-9                               Spokane, Wash. / Ferris HS

2                Aspen Caldwell                              G                Jr.               5-7                               Idaho Falls, Idaho / Utah Valley University

3                Cam Collman                                 G                R-Sr.          5-8                               La Grande, Ore. / University of Portland

4                Alyse Aby                                      G                Jr.               5-11                             Laurel, Mont. / Laurel HS

5                Tasia Jordan                                  G                Gr.              5-8                               Melrose Park, Ill. / Kirkwood CC

7                Molly Hays                                     G                R-Fr.          5-8                               Cody, Wyo. / Cody HS

8                Tariah Carter                                 G                Fr.              6-0                               Melba, Idaho / Melba HS

11              Milena Sucacuexe                          G/F            Fr.              6-1                               Barreiro, Portugal / Gdessa Barreiro W

12              Mackenzie Marenchin                   F                So.              6-2                               Windsor, Ontario, Canada / Lincoln Prep School

13              Asa Wolfram                                  F                Fr.              6-2                               Hveragerdi, Iceland / Athena W

14              Piper Carlson                                 F                Jr.               6-1                               Albertville, Minn. / Albertville HS

18              Maeva Gauffrenet                          G                Fr.              5-8                               Toucy, France / National Féminine 2

20              Aurora Elder                                 F                So.              6-3                               Perris, Calif. / Sage Hill HS

22              Sophia Covello                               G                R-Sr.          5-9                               Roseville, Calif. / Woodcreek HS

23              Tylie Jones                                     G                Sr.              6-0                               Rigby, Idaho / New Mexico State

24              Halle Wright                                  F                Sr.              6-0                               Prosser, Wash. / Prosser HS

Preseason Polls

 

The Big Sky Conference announced its 2025–26 preseason women’s basketball polls on October 22, with Montana State picked to defend its league title after a 30-win campaign last season. The Bobcats received five first-place votes in the coaches’ poll and 11 in the media poll following a year in which they swept both the regular season and tournament championships.  

Montana was selected second in both polls, returning an experienced roster led by All-Conference guard Mack Konig under second-year head coach Nate Harris. Idaho followed in third after an 18-win season under first-year head coach Arthur Moreira.  

Idaho State was tabbed fourth in the coaches’ poll and fifth in the media poll, earning one first-place vote from the league’s coaches. The Bengals enter the year with one of the Big Sky’s most experienced lineups, bringing back four starters and nine letterwinners from a team that finished 8–10 in conference play last season. 

2025-26 Big Sky Women’s Basketball Preseason Coaches’ Poll

1: Montana State (5) – 74 

2: Montana (3) – 72

3: Idaho (1) – 65 

4: Idaho State (1) – 57

5: Sacramento State – 50

6: Eastern Washington – 38 

7: Northern Colorado – 36

8: Weber State – 28

T9: Northern Arizona – 15

T9: Portland State – 15 

() – Denotes First-Place Votes

2025-26 Big Sky Women’s Basketball Preseason Media Poll

1: Montana State (11) – 238

2: Montana (7) – 224

3: Idaho (7) – 220

4: Sacramento State (2) – 177

5: Idaho State – 161

6: Eastern Washington – 123

7: Weber State – 120

8: Northern Arizona – 102

9: Northern Colorado – 86

10: Portland State – 34

() – Denotes First-Place Votes

Looking Ahead

Idaho State opens the 2025–26 campaign at home with back-to-back games inside Reed Gym. The Bengals will host Park University (AZ) on November 1 in an exhibition before beginning official play against Westminster on November 4.  

A challenging non-conference slate follows, including a road trip to Grand Canyon (Nov. 8) and home games versus UC Irvine (Nov. 12) and South Dakota (Nov. 16). Idaho State will then travel to Honolulu for the Bank of Hawai‘i Classic, facing Portland on Nov. 21 and LMU on Nov. 23.  

The Bengals return to Pocatello on Dec. 3 to face Omaha in the Big Sky/Summit League Challenge before visiting Oral Roberts (Dec. 6). December concludes with three road matchups against BYU (Dec. 11), Cal Poly (Dec. 13), and Utah Valley (Dec. 20).

Big Sky Conference play begins on January 1 at Sacramento State, followed by another road test at Portland State two days later. The Bengals return home Jan. 8–10 to host Northern Colorado and Northern Arizona, part of a four-game January homestand that also features Montana State (Jan. 22) and Montana (Jan. 24).  

The second half of the conference schedule includes home-and-away series with regional rivals Idaho, Weber State, and Eastern Washington, along with late-February trips to Montana, Montana State, and Weber State. Idaho State will close the regular season at home on March 2 against Sacramento State before heading to Boise for the Big Sky Championship Tournament on March 7.

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