POCATELLO, Idaho – Idaho State Women's Basketball enters another two-game week as the Bengals travel to face 9–1 BYU on Thursday at 7:00 PM at the Marriott Center in Provo, then continue on the road for a Saturday matchup against 2–6 Cal Poly at 3:00 PM MT at the Mott Athletics Center in San Luis Obispo, California. Idaho State sits at 5–3 after splitting its first two games of December.
Series Histories
Idaho State vs BYU
BYU leads the all time series 15–3. The Cougars have won nine of the last ten meetings and have taken six straight from the Bengals. The teams met most recently on November 16, 2024 in Pocatello, where BYU collected 15 offensive rebounds and used a strong fourth quarter to win 77–68. Idaho State pushed the Cougars to overtime in Provo in 2023.
Idaho State vs Cal Poly
Idaho State leads the series 4–1. The Bengals have won four straight dating back to 1995 and are 2–0 on the road in San Luis Obispo with wins in 1996 and 2001. The most recent meeting occurred on January 3, 2002 in Pocatello, a 73–59 Idaho State victory. This is the first matchup between the programs in more than 20 years.
Scouting the Cougars
BYU enters the week at 9–1, one of the strongest starts in the Big 12, and will face Idaho State after a road test at Portland. The Cougars have the look of a program quickly reshaping itself under first year head coach Lee Cummard, a former BYU standout who spent time on both the men's and women's staffs before taking over this season. Cummard has emphasized a renewed confidence within the program, and early results reflect that shift. BYU blends key returners with transfers from Charleston, Santa Clara, and Buffalo and features six international players.
Offensively, BYU has adopted an up tempo approach built around early offense and three point volume. The Cougars average more than 74 points per game and attempt 26 three pointers per outing, placing them among the national leaders in attempts. When healthy, number 11 Delaney Gibb is the primary scoring option. She rewrote the BYU freshman record book last season and scored 22 points in last year's meeting in Pocatello. Number 2 Benally, a two time Gatorade Player of the Year in New Mexico, and number 8 Williams, who has returned from two knee injuries and is shooting above 50 percent from three, give BYU multiple perimeter threats. Number 13 Rohkohl adds frontcourt scoring and rebounding, while number 23 Hudgins and number 24 Cannon round out a balanced starting lineup.
Defensively, BYU plays mostly man to man with occasional zone and light pressure designed to disrupt timing. Rebounding remains a major emphasis after offensive boards played a significant role in last year's matchup, where BYU turned 15 offensive rebounds into 19 second chance points.
Scouting the Mustangs
Cal Poly enters the week at 2–6, with both wins coming at home. Through eight games, the Mustangs are averaging 66.4 points per game and allowing 68.1 points per game, while shooting 39.8 percent from the field, 27.6 percent from three, and 77.4 percent from the free throw line. Cal Poly averages 37.4 rebounds per game, holds opponents to 36.1, and records 21.8 turnovers per game while forcing 19.6.
Sophomore guard Vanessa McManus leads Cal Poly with 20.9 points per game, shooting 44.4 percent from the field and 34.9 percent from three, and adds 6.1 rebounds per game. McManus has produced several high scoring performances this season, including 34 points against Southern Utah and 29 at Stanford. Freshman forward Charish Thompson is the team's second leading scorer at 15.1 points per game while shooting 45.5 percent, and she ranks second on the team with 5.9 rebounds per game. Thompson is also Cal Poly's most efficient free throw shooter at 92.6 percent on 54 attempts.
Sophomore forward Nora Perez adds 6.6 points and 4.9 rebounds per game while shooting 43.1 percent, and Alana Goosby leads Cal Poly with 4.0 assists per game and 13 steals in six games. Additional scoring comes from Madison Butcher at 4.3 points per game on 33.3 percent from three, Katie Peiffer at 4.0 points per game, and Gillian Bears at 3.5 points and 3.1 rebounds per game.
Cal Poly has shown the ability to rebound in volume, including 50 rebounds in its win over Chapman, and has posted multiple games over 47 rebounds. Turnovers have been a challenge, highlighted by a season high 37 turnovers against Cal State Fullerton. Defensively, the Mustangs average 8.3 steals and 1.8 blocks per game.
Bengal Bites
- Idaho State allows 56.8 points per game and holds opponents to 36.1 percent shooting, both number one in the Big Sky.
- The Bengals average 10.8 steals per game, ranking in the Big Sky's top three and inside the national top 70.
- ISU has a plus 6.6 rebounding margin through eight games.
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Tasia Jordan leads Idaho State with 15.8 points per game.
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Piper Carlson is shooting 53.9 percent from the field and averaging 8.0 rebounds per game.
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Sophia Covello has scored at least eight points in five of her six appearances this season.
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Maeva Gauffrenet is shooting 39.3 percent from three.
- Idaho State has led after the first quarter in five of eight games this season.
Record Watch
Kacey Spink enters the week with 217 career steals, which ranks second in Idaho State history. She is:
- 11 steals from becoming the program's all-time steals leader
Idaho State Career Steals Leaders
1. Greta Garver, 227 (1987–91)
2.
Kacey Spink, 217 (2022–25)
3. Angela Munger, 203 (1996–00)
4. Theresa Mallak, 170 (1995–98)
5. Shelley Hand, 165 (1981–85)
6. Nancy Imhoff, 164 (1985–89)
7. Callie Bourne, 158 (2018–23)
8. Dora Goles, 157 (2017–22)
9. Estefania Ors, 156 (2016–22)
10. Chelsea Pickering, 153 (2007–12)
T11. Lindsey Reed, 152 (2010–14)
T11. Diaba Konate, 152 (2018–22)
12. Ash Vella, 151 (2009–13)
13. Nancy Espeseth, 145 (1980–84)
T14. Stacy Nelson, 142 (1994–97)
T14. Grace Kenyon, 142 (2013–19)
Looking Ahead
The Bengals have one more game in December before the start of Big Sky Conference play. Saturday, December, 20 the Orange and Black head to Orem, UT to take on the UVU Wolverines. Tip is set for 12:00 PM MT.
