POCATELLO, Idaho – Idaho State women's basketball (7-4) clawed back in the second half Saturday afternoon, erasing multiple deficits to defeat Utah Valley 59–56 at the UCCU Center in Orem. The Bengals withstood early pressure and delivered their best stretch in the fourth quarter, closing the game on a decisive run to close out the non-conference season 7–4.
"It seems like every time we play UVU it's a grind," remarked Head Coach Seton Sobolewski. " [I'm] proud of our effort especially on the defensive end."
How it Happened
Utah Valley set the tone early, opening the game on a 7–2 run in the first three minutes and later stretching the margin to six after a late three with 0:18 left in the opening quarter. Idaho State answered just before the horn as Asa Wolfram converted two free throws following her offensive rebound, trimming the deficit to 20–16 at the end of the first period.
The second quarter featured the Bengals' first sustained push. Trailing 22–18, Idaho State strung together a 5–0 run sparked by Piper Carlson, who finished through contact in the paint at the 3:13 mark, with Alyse Aby assisting on the play. Earlier in the stretch, Tasia Jordan knocked down a pair of free throws and later added a fast-break jumper off a steal by Halle Wright, briefly giving ISU a 23–22 lead. Utah Valley countered late, closing the half on a 5–2 spurt to regain a 29–28 advantage at the break.
Momentum swung again, coming out of halftime. Utah Valley opened the third quarter with a 7–0 run, capped by a transition basket at the 4:12 mark to push the lead to 42–34. Idaho State responded immediately. Aspen Caldwell buried the first three-pointer of the game for the Bengals at 2:14 off an assist from Kacey Spink, and Jordan followed with a jumper and a free throw. The Bengals closed the quarter on a 10–2 run, highlighted by Jordan's back-to-back baskets in the final minute, cutting the deficit to 44–42 entering the fourth.
The decisive stretch came early in the final period. Idaho State rattled off a 12–0 run over a four-minute span, turning a three-point deficit into a five-point lead. Maeva Gauffrenet opened the run with a transition three off a turnover at 9:09, assisted by Aby. Jordan added a second-chance layup and later hit two free throws, while Carlson controlled the glass defensively to fuel the surge. By the 2:16 mark, ISU had built its largest lead of the game at 56–50.
Utah Valley made one final push, scoring five of the next seven points to cut the margin to two in the closing seconds. Idaho State closed the door at the free-throw line, with Jordan knocking down two free throws with 0:42 remaining and Spink adding another free throw with two seconds left to seal the 59–56 score. The Wolverines final shot attempt was too late and the Bengals came away with the win.
"I thought maeva and Aspen had some very timely threes to help separate us away from Utah Valley," continued Sobolewski. "Tae was really big in supplying steady scoring to keep us in the game"
Bengal Bites
Idaho State earned the win despite committing 30 turnovers, a rare outcome in program history. Since the year 2000, the Bengals have won just seven games when committing 25 or more turnovers, and Saturday's victory marked only the second win with 30 or more turnovers in that span. The last time Idaho State accomplished the feat came on Dec. 9, 2000, when the Bengals defeated UC Riverside despite committing 30 turnovers.
Idaho State improved to 7–4 on the season with the road win, marking the Bengals' third victory away from Pocatello in 2025–26.
ISU erased an eight-point third-quarter deficit, its largest of the game, and outscored Utah Valley 17–12 in the fourth quarter.
The Bengals closed the contest on a 12–0 run spanning the early portion of the fourth quarter, turning a three-point deficit into a five-point lead.
Idaho State forced 16 Utah Valley turnovers and scored 12 points off those miscues, including several key baskets during its fourth-quarter surge.
Tasia Jordan scored a team-high 26 points, reaching double figures in scoring for the ninth time this season, and went 14-for-20 at the free-throw line.
Jordan scored 11 of her points in the second half, including six in the fourth quarter.
Kacey Spink finished with double-digit assists and added a key steal and free throw in the final seconds to help seal the win.
Piper Carlson pulled down 10 rebounds, leading the Bengals on the glass and anchoring multiple defensive stops during Idaho State's late run.
Idaho State held Utah Valley to 33.3% shooting from the field and just 12 points in the fourth quarter.
Non-Conference Recap
Idaho State women's basketball closed non-conference play with a 7–4 record, pairing a physical, defense-first identity with resilience in close games and continued growth across a deep rotation. The Bengals recorded multiple road and neutral-site wins, knocked off two teams that won at least 30 games a season ago, and consistently imposed their will on the glass while testing themselves against a demanding non-league schedule.
Idaho State opened the season with momentum, rolling to dominant wins over Westminster, Grand Canyon, and UC Irvine to start 3–0. The early stretch established the Bengals' identity, aggressive rebounding, interior scoring, and defensive pressure. That formula carried through the entire non-conference slate, with Idaho State outscoring opponents in the paint in every game and routinely generating second-chance opportunities.
The Bengals faced their first setback against South Dakota in a one-point loss that came down to the final possession, a result that underscored both the group's defensive toughness and the narrow margins that defined several non-conference games. Idaho State responded with one of its signature performances of the season at the Bank of Hawai'i Classic, rallying from a double-digit second-half deficit to defeat Portland 58–57 on a last-minute basket. The win marked Idaho State's second victory over a 30-win program from last season and showcased the composure of a veteran core in a high-pressure setting.
Physicality and rebounding defined Idaho State's next stretch. The Bengals overwhelmed Omaha with a program-record 28 offensive rebounds, then carried that edge into road tests against Oral Roberts, BYU, Cal Poly, and Utah Valley. Against BYU, Idaho State controlled the glass against a Big 12 opponent, finishing with a plus-20 rebounding margin, while the season concluded with a gritty comeback win at Utah Valley, where the Bengals erased multiple deficits and closed the game with a decisive fourth-quarter run.
Across the non-conference slate, Idaho State showed an ability to respond. Whether rebounding from early deficits, absorbing scoring droughts, or grinding out wins in tight finishes, the Bengals consistently leaned on defense, effort, and balance to compete against varied styles and environments.
By the Numbers
Idaho State finished non-conference play 7–4, including multiple road and neutral-site victories.
The Bengals defeated two teams that won at least 30 games during the 2024–25 season, Grand Canyon and Portland.
Idaho State outscored opponents in the paint in every non-conference game and posted several games with double-digit second-chance scoring.
The Bengals recorded multiple comeback wins, including rallies from second-half deficits against Portland and Utah Valley.
Idaho State forced turnovers at a high rate throughout non-conference play, highlighted by a 22-turnover effort against Cal Poly and 25 turnovers forced against Portland.
The Bengals posted a program-record 28 offensive rebounds against Omaha and recorded 22 offensive boards against BYU.
Idaho State won seven games while holding opponents under 60 points.
Several games were decided by five points or fewer, including one-point outcomes against South Dakota and Portland and a three-point win at Utah Valley.
Tasia Jordan led the Bengals in scoring consistency, reaching double figures in nine non-conference games and recording multiple 20-point performances.
Kacey Spink continued her climb up the program record book, moving into the top 10 in career rebounds and becoming the program's second all-time steals leader during non-conference play.
Piper Carlson recorded multiple double-doubles and anchored the interior on both ends, while the Bengal bench played a pivotal role in key wins, including a 25-point bench performance at Cal Poly.
Up Next
It's finally time to start Big Sky Conference play coming back from the holiday break. The Bengals start on the road with a west coast roadtrip, starting with Sac State on new years day and Portland State on January 3.
