Taylor Meeks

Sports Editor

The Idaho State University women’s basketball team lost in a closely contested game to Portland State University, 69-64, on Saturday, Jan. 18 inside Reed Gymnasium in its seventh Big Sky Conference game this season.

The Vikings shot 46 percent from the field, 39 percent from beyond the arc and sank 12 of 19 free throws. The Bengals shot a close 44 percent from the field and a season-high 62 percent from the three-point line, keeping them in the game against PSU.

“We need to be tougher and play harder,” said Dora Goles. “We need to outwork the other team. We’re up and down with energy, and we needed to stay constant and work hard.”

The Bengals suffered a cold start to the game, only shooting 22 percent from the field compared to the Vikings 46 percent. After only hitting four of 18 attempts, Idaho State trailed 19-10 at the end of the first quarter.

It wasn’t until late in the second quarter that the Bengals caught their stride to go on an unanswered seven point run which cut the Vikings’ margin to 24-22. Coming off the bench, Montana Oltrogge drained back-to-back threes to give the team its first and only lead of the game at 32-31 headed into halftime.

Within minutes of the third quarter, PSU commanded a game-high 12-point lead over ISU after sinking nine of 12 shots from the field and shooting 66 percent from beyond the arc. The Bengals had scattered shooting in the third going just 33 percent from the field and only making eight total baskets.

“Defensively, we were not very good,” said head coach Seton Sobolewski. “We did not follow a lot of simple fundamentals. We were still thinking too much instead of just playing, and they got a lot of open looks.”

ISU shot 61 percent from the field and held the Vikings to just 40 percent with zero three-pointers in the fourth quarter. Despite a great effort by Idaho State, PSU denied the Bengals to get any closer than five points to close the game out, 69-64.

Goles led the Bengals in scoring with 20 points off a career-high six of seven three-pointers. Callie Bourne followed with 10 points and six rebounds, marking the fourth consecutive game that the two have hit double-digit points.

The Bengals outrebounded the Vikings 34-31 and forced 11 turnovers. The loss marks the first time in nine years that Idaho State has lost to Portland State. ISU is now 7-9 overall and 3-4 in Big Sky play.

“A big thing with a young team (is that) learning how to win and knowing how to win is its own skill,” Sobolewski said. “It’s just like passing, dribbling, shooting. We’re still trying to figure out what we have to do to win, to finish things.”

Idaho State will be on the road for both of its games this week against Montana, Jan. 23, at 7 p.m. (MST) and Montana State, Jan. 25, at 2 p.m. (MST).