POCATELLO, Idaho – Idaho State Women's Basketball continues its December road stretch on Saturday afternoon as the Bengals travel to Orem, Utah for a matchup against Utah Valley at the UCCU Center. Tipoff is set for 12:00 PM MT. Idaho State enters the weekend 6–4 overall following a 62–49 road win at Cal Poly last Saturday.
Series History
Idaho State vs Utah Valley
Idaho State and Utah Valley meet for the 18th time on Saturday in a series that dates back to 2004. The Bengals hold a 12–5 advantage in the all-time series, including an 8–1 record at home and a 4–4 mark in Orem. Idaho State has won five straight meetings and eight of the last nine overall, though the two programs have met just twice since 2019, making recent results less indicative of Saturday's matchup.
Scouting the Wolverines
Utah Valley enters the game at 7–3 on the season under seventh-year head coach Dan Nielson, competing in the Western Athletic Conference. Through 10 games, the Wolverines are averaging 65.3 points per game while allowing 55.7, shooting 38.6 percent from the field, 34.1 percent from three, and 68.6 percent at the free-throw line. Utah Valley averages 32.9 rebounds per game but has been outrebounded by 4.1 per contest, while forcing 29.4 turnovers per game, one of the highest rates nationally.
Utah Valley is led by senior guard Amanda Barcello, who averages 15.6 points per game while shooting over 43 percent from the field and 44 percent from three-point range, and remains perfect at the free-throw line this season. Kylee Mabry, last year's WAC Sixth Player of the Year, provides additional scoring punch, while Cambree Blackham anchors the perimeter defensively and ranks among the team leaders in steals. Halle Nelson adds size in the frontcourt and contributes on the glass.
Defensively, Utah Valley utilizes both man-to-man coverage and a 1-3-1 zone, frequently trapping along the timeline and in the corners. The Wolverines rank among the national leaders in forced turnovers and steals per game, but rebounding has been an area of vulnerability. Utah Valley features a veteran roster with multiple transfers and several players standing 6-foot-2 or taller, allowing flexibility in lineup combinations despite their reliance on pressure defense.
What to Watch
Turnover Battle: Utah Valley forces 29.4 turnovers per game, using pressure to generate transition opportunities. Idaho State is 5–1 this season when committing 15 or fewer turnovers.
Rebounding Margin: The Bengals hold a +8.7 rebounding margin on the season, while Utah Valley has been outrebounded in nine games.
Tempo Control: Utah Valley looks to speed games up off turnovers, while Idaho State has been most successful when dictating pace in the half court.
Perimeter Discipline: Utah Valley mixes man-to-man defense with a 1-3-1 zone. Ball movement and spacing will be critical to avoiding live-ball turnovers.
Amanda Barcello: Limiting clean looks and keeping Barcello off the free-throw line will be a defensive priority.
Bengal Bites
Idaho State allows 58.0 points per game and holds opponents to 36.3 percent shooting.
The Bengals rank first in the Big Sky in steals per game and rebounding margin.
Idaho State has held eight of 10 opponents under 70 points this season.
Tasia Jordan leads ISU with 15.2 points per game.
Piper Carlson is averaging 8.3 rebounds per game.
Kacey Spink leads the team with 29 steals.
Idaho State is 6–2 when leading after three quarters this season.
Record Watch
Kacey Spink enters Saturday with 220 career steals, ranking second in Idaho State history. She is 7 steals from tying and 8 from breaking the program's all-time steals record, and 43 points from 750 career points.
Looking Ahead
Saturday's matchup closes Idaho State's December schedule before the Bengals turn their attention to Big Sky Conference play. Idaho State opens Big Sky play taking on the Sacramento State Hornets, in Sacramento on new years day.
