BOISE, Idaho— Idaho State saw its run in the 2026 Big Sky Conference Tournament come to an end Sunday afternoon as the Bengals fell to No. 5 seed Sacramento State, 62-53, in the quarterfinal round at Idaho Central Arena in Boise.
Tasia Jordan led Idaho State with 21 points, while Kacey Spink added 11 points, seven rebounds, and six assists. Piper Carlson contributed six points and eight rebounds as the Bengals outrebounded Sacramento State 38-29 but struggled from three-point range in the loss.
How It Happened
First Quarter
Tasia Jordan opened the scoring for Idaho State with a jumper at the 9:49 mark, assisted by Kacey Spink. Piper Carlson followed with a layup at 7:35 to keep the Bengals within striking distance early.
Spink added a jumper at 6:06 to give Idaho State a brief 6-4 lead, and Alyse Aby finished inside at 5:09 to put the Bengals back in front 8-7. Spink connected again with a jumper at 4:25 to keep Idaho State ahead before Sacramento State answered with a short run late in the period.
Jordan knocked down a pair of free throws with 2:26 remaining and added another jumper with 40 seconds left in the quarter. The Hornets hit a fast-break three-pointer with just over a minute remaining to close the period, taking a 17-14 lead into the second.
Second Quarter
Sacramento State opened the quarter with a three-pointer at 9:16 to extend the lead to six. Jordan responded with a jumper at 8:25 to keep Idaho State within reach.
Asa Wolfram scored inside at 5:56 and Jordan converted two free throws at 2:25 to cut into the deficit. Spink knocked down a jumper with 41 seconds left in the half, but Sacramento State closed the quarter with a three-pointer in the final seconds to take a 35-24 lead into halftime.
Third Quarter
Idaho State began to chip away at the deficit midway through the third. Spink knocked down a three-pointer at 5:49, and Aby followed with a layup at 5:06 to spark a Bengal push.
Carlson added a layup at 4:33 and then scored again on a fast-break opportunity at 3:32 after forcing a turnover. Jordan continued the rally with a jumper at 2:39 and another layup at 1:43, trimming the Sacramento State lead to single digits.
Despite the push, a late three-pointer by the Hornets pushed the margin back to nine as Idaho State entered the fourth quarter trailing 46-37.
Fourth Quarter
Jordan opened the final period scoring for Idaho State with a three-pointer at 9:15 to bring the Bengals within six. The Hornets answered with a quick layup before stretching the lead back to double digits midway through the quarter.
Aby scored in the paint at 5:07 and Halle Wright knocked down two free throws at 5:38 to keep Idaho State within reach. Tylie Jones added a layup at 1:47 to pull the Bengals within 12 before Jordan converted a jumper and free throw at 1:24 to cut the deficit to single digits.
Spink scored on a layup with 19 seconds remaining, but Idaho State could not complete the comeback as Sacramento State held on for the 62-53 win.
Bengal Bites
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Tasia Jordan led Idaho State with 21 points, shooting 7-of-17 from the field and 6-of-7 from the free throw line.
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Kacey Spink recorded 11 points, seven rebounds, and six assists.
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Piper Carlson added six points and eight rebounds for the Bengals.
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Idaho State outrebounded Sacramento State 38-29.
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The Bengals forced 18 turnovers and scored 24 points off turnovers.
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Idaho State finished 20-of-58 (34.5 percent) from the field and 2-of-14 (14.3 percent) from three-point range.
