Braxton Gregory
Sports Editor
POCATELLO, Idaho – The Idaho State women’s basketball team took control in the second half to defeat Montana 66-46 Thursday night at Reed Gym.
The Bengals were looking to avenge an earlier season loss to the Lady Griz, and after a sluggish first half, they turned up the intensity, outscoring Montana 34-16 in the final two quarters to secure the victory.
“We really stepped up defensively and played our best basketball in the second half,” said Idaho State head coach Seton Sobolewski. “It was great to see our players respond and put together a solid 40 minutes.”
Idaho State got off to a fast start, shooting 50% in the first quarter to take an 18-11 lead. However, the team struggled in the second quarter, hitting just 3 of 14 shots, which allowed Montana to close the gap. The Lady Griz outscored the Bengals 19-14 in the period, narrowing the lead to just two points at halftime, 32-30.
The third quarter began with a rough patch for Idaho State, as they went scoreless for over six minutes, allowing Montana to briefly take the lead. But the Bengals found their rhythm late in the quarter. A three-point play by Tasia Jordan sparked a 10-0 run that gave Idaho State a 40-36 advantage heading into the final period.
“We knew we had to pick it up after halftime,” said guard Tasia Jordan, who finished with 14 points. “Once we started hitting shots and playing our game, we felt like we could take control.”
In the fourth quarter, the Bengals turned up the heat. A 21-2 run over the first six minutes of the period put the game out of reach.
Idaho State finished the game with a 20-point lead, showcasing an explosive offense and suffocating defense. They shot 42.4% from the field and 46.6% from three-point range, while also dominating the boards, out rebounding Montana 43-27.
Alyse Aby contributed 13 points, while Piper Carlson added 11 points and nine rebounds. Kacey Spink, despite scoring just one point, was all over the court, finishing with 11 rebounds, six assists, and two steals.
The Bengal bench also played a key role, outscoring Montana’s reserves 22-13, with Maria Dias and Ruby Sweeney-Spitzeck each contributing eight points.
“Everyone really stepped up tonight,” said Aby. “We’ve had some tough losses this season, but it feels great to finally get a win like this, especially against a rival like Montana.”
Montana struggled offensively throughout the game, finishing with just 29.4% shooting from the field and 23.8% from beyond the arc.
The Lady Griz’s leading scorer, Mack Konig, tallied 17 points, while Izabella Zingaro added 14 points, all in the first half. However, outside of their top three scorers, the rest of the Montana team struggled, combining for just one field goal in 21 attempts.
Idaho State’s defense was particularly impressive, forcing 9 turnovers and limiting Montana to just seven assists. The Bengals were also active on the offensive glass, grabbing 14 offensive rebounds, which led to extra possessions and second-chance opportunities.
“I’m proud of our team’s defensive effort,” Sobolewski added. “We really locked in and didn’t let them get into any rhythm, especially in the second half.”
The win marked Idaho State’s seventh victory in the last 11 meetings against Montana. The Bengals have shown resilience this season, dealing with injuries and close losses, but Thursday’s win was a reminder of their potential when firing on all cylinders. The team remains in the hunt for a strong finish to the regular season.
