Denim Millward
Sports Editor
The Idaho State women’s basketball team competed in six games over the winter break and, for the most part, had success, going 4-2 in those contests.
Unlike the men’s team, the women’s team had just one non-conference game over the break before embarking upon its conference schedule.
Up first for Idaho State was a trip to the northwest to face off against Seattle University December 21.
The Bengals pulled off a near wire-to-wire victory, trailing for only 12 seconds in the entire game.
Redshirt freshman guard Grace Kenyon led Idaho State with 16 points and eight rebounds.
Senior guard Jasmine Lemon contributed 12 points and 6 rebounds, and Rebecca Schrimpsher added 10 points and four rebounds.
“I thought we had a really nice scoring balance today,” head coach Seton Sobolewski said to ISU Sports Information following the game.
Defensively, the Bengals clamped down on the Redhawks, forcing 20 turnovers and yielding a low 25 percent field goal percentage.
Though the game was less in question than the final 63-55 score indicated, Sobolewski acknowledged there was still room for improvement.
“They really made us work tonight,” Sobolewski said. “I think we are getting better in every practice and every game. We have to take better care of the ball, though.”
After the holidays, the Bengals returned to their own stomping grounds of Reed Gym to face the NAIA College of Idaho Yotes.
The Bengals overcame a sluggish start and some early hot shooting by the Yotes and eventually cruised to victory, winning by a score of 81-48.
Kenyon came just two assists shy of the second triple-double in team history, tallying 15 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists.
“Passing the ball is my favorite thing to do,” Kenyon said to ISU Sports Information following the game. “It is really developing into part of my game.”
The Bengals’ success against intrastate opponents continued on New Year’s Day as Idaho State posted a 71-50 victory over the University of Idaho Vandals in Reed Gym.
Junior guard Apiphany Woods led ISU with 19 points and a career-high seven rebounds.
“It was key for us to share the ball tonight,” Woods told ISU Sports Information. “We run an offense where everyone needs to touch the ball to be successful. I knew that with my penetration ability they were going to play off me, so when I got the ball I took my time and shot it with confidence.”
The Vandals led 17-10 early, but the Bengals utilized an 11-0 run later in the first half and a 13-2 run in the second half to put the game out of reach.
“We finally had a breakout game,” Sobolewski said to ISU Sports Information. “Maybe it’s a situation where we are blossoming and coming into our own.”
Eastern Washington came to town and ended Idaho State’s winning streak January 3, downing the Bengals by a final score of 88-75.
The Bengals once again returned to the win column January 8 with a win against Montana State in Bozeman, edging the Bobcats 65-62.
Currently 7-8 overall and 2-2 in the Big Sky Conference, the Bengals’ next conference match up will be January 15 against Southern Utah in Reed Gym.
January 17, the Lumberjacks of Northern Arizona will come to town to face of against the Bengals.
