POCATELLO, Idaho - Idaho State rallied from a double-digit second half deficit to knock off Portland 58–57 at the Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center in Honolulu, improving to 4–1 on the season. The victory also marked the Bengals' second win this year over a team that won at least 30 games last season, joining their 67–55 road win at Grand Canyon on Nov. 8.
"I'm very proud of our resiliency after going down 10 and coming back," head coach Seton Sobolewski said. "Portland has a great women's basketball program and it is a big deal to find a way to compete with them."
Idaho State set the tone early, racing out to a 15–5 first-quarter lead by holding the Pilots to 1-for-10 shooting and forcing six straight empty trips to open the game. Tasia Jordan attacked in transition, Asa Wolfram provided early offensive-glass energy, and Halle Wright hit a three late in the period to push the margin to ten after one.
Portland did not reach the ten-point mark until the 8:40 mark of the second quarter, the slowest scoring start by any Idaho State opponent this season.
Portland steadied in the second quarter and trimmed the deficit to 29–24 at halftime. The Pilots then surged ahead with a 20–12 third frame, fueled by perimeter shooting and an 11-point lead with 4:36 remaining in the period.
Idaho State's veteran core played a major role in the response. Nine Bengals returned from last year's roster, including five upperclassmen, and that experience showed as the group settled in and began chipping away. After falling behind 42–31 at 4:36 in the third, Idaho State closed the quarter on a 10–2 run to pull within 44–41.
Jordan opened the fourth with a basket at 9:31, trimming the margin to one. At 8:36, Carlson converted off a Portland turnover to give Idaho State a 45–44 lead. Covello and Aby knocked down back-to-back threes at 7:55 and 6:27, completing a 10–0 stretch and building a 51–44 advantage. Seven different Bengals scored during the broader 20–2 surge that spanned eight minutes.
Portland answered and eventually regained a 57–56 lead on a three by Spear with 51 seconds left. After an ISU turnover, the Bengals forced a defensive stop to gain one last opportunity.
Spink secured an offensive rebound at 27 seconds and scored the putback at 13 seconds to give Idaho State a 58–57 lead. Portland's first attempt to answer came with four seconds remaining. The shot missed, but the Pilots grabbed an offensive rebound to set up a second chance at a game winner. On the ensuing scramble, Wright tied up the ball and forced a held ball with one second on the clock, giving possession back to the Bengals and sealing the win.
Sobolewski said the group stayed focused on the moment despite another tournament test ahead. "I don't know if we were thinking about this South Dakota game at all but we just did not want to lose," he said.
Bengal Bites
• Idaho State improves to 4–1 with the 58–57 victory.
• This is the Bengals' second win this season against a 30-win program from last year, joining the road win at Grand Canyon.
• ISU won the rebounding battle 43–31 and grabbed 21 offensive rebounds, coming within three of the program record.
• Idaho State forced 25 Portland turnovers and turned them into 25 points, finishing with 14 steals.
• ISU finished 14-for-18 at the free-throw line.
• Seven different Bengals scored during the 20–2 run spanning the late third and early fourth quarters.
• Tasia Jordan led ISU with 13 points, three rebounds, and two assists.
• Four other Bengals scored eight points: Piper Carlson (8 points, 8 rebounds), Halle Wright (8 points, 7 rebounds), Maeva Gauffrenet (8 points, 6-for-8 FT), and Alyse Aby (8 points, two threes).
• Kacey Spink finished with 6 points, a game-high 11 rebounds, and 4 steals, including the game-winning shot with 13 seconds left.
* Spinks game wining shot is the 22nd time in the Sobolewski era that ISU has won in the final 30 seconds of a game.
• ISU outscored Portland 24–18 in the paint and held the Pilots to 33 percent shooting from three.
• This was the third time in program history that Idaho State played consecutive games decided by a single point.
Next Up
Idaho State concludes its stay in Honolulu on Sunday at 3:00 PM against Loyola Marymount.
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