POCATELLO, Idaho — Idaho State executed its game plan to near perfection Thursday night, leading for 39 minutes and 36 seconds in a decisive 71-54 win over Montana at Dahlberg Arena.
"We executed the game plan to a T! We made great adjustments to changing defenses," Head Coach Seton Sobolewski said.
The Bengals improved to 18-8 overall and 11-4 in Big Sky play, shooting 52.8 percent from the field and outscoring the Grizzlies 39-21 on the glass. Idaho State also held Montana to 40.4 percent shooting and just 3-of-16 from three-point range, a start difference from the first time the two teams met this season.
Piper Carlson led the way with 19 points on 8-of-11 shooting and added six rebounds. Tasia Jordan finished with 12 points, while Kacey Spink added 11 points and seven assists. Aspen Caldwell chipped in 10 points and six assists.
"Piper was our rock tonight in the post even after going down with an injury in the first half," Sobolewski said.
How It Happened
Idaho State set the tone early. the Bengals went on an 8-2 stretch early in the game fueled by second-chance baskets from Jordan and Carlson to take an 8-3 lead midway through the first quarter.
With the game at 10-11, Spink knocked down a three-pointer at the 4:11 mark to spark an 8-2 run. Alyse Aby added a three with 57 seconds left, and Jordan converted a second-chance layup in the closing seconds as Idaho State closed the quarter on an 8-3 push to lead 18-13.
The Bengals took full control in the second quarter.
Holding Montana to just 3-of-16 shooting in the period, Idaho State used a 8-0 run between 8:11 and 7:00 to extend the lead into double figures. Carlson scored inside, converted a free throw, and Maeva Gauffrenet added a three-pointer during the surge.
Later in the quarter, Caldwell scored off a turnover and then converted two free throws to push the advantage to 32-19. Idaho State outscored Montana 15-6 in the period and led 33-19 at halftime.
The Bengals delivered their most decisive stretch coming out of the break.
Idaho State opened the third quarter with a 9-2 run. Carlson scored off a turnover, Jordan added two interior baskets, and Carlson converted an and-one opportunity to extend the lead to 42-22.
The run continued as the Bengals stretched the margin to as many as 25 points at 57-32 with 38 seconds remaining in the third quarter. Idaho State shot 10-of-15 in the period and outscored Montana 24-13 to carry a 57-32 lead into the fourth.
Montana mounted a late push in the final quarter, outscoring the Bengals 22-14 and putting together a 12-2 run in the closing minutes, but Idaho State answered with timely buckets from Spink and Caldwell to secure the 17-point road victory.
Bengal Bites
• Idaho State shot 52.8 percent from the field and 41.7 percent from three.
Piper Carlson's 19 points tied her career high
• The Bengals out-rebounded Montana 39-21.
• ISU scored 42 points in the paint.
• Idaho State held Montana to 18.8 percent shooting in the second quarter.
• The Bengals led for 39:36 and never trailed.
• Carlson finished with 19 points on 8-of-11 shooting.
• Spink recorded 11 points and seven assists.
• Caldwell added 10 points and six assists.
