Lucas Gebhart
Sports Editor
For the second consecutive season, the Idaho State women’s basketball team has toppled a Power Five program.
Last year, the Bengals went to Madison and beat the University of Wisconsin, 42-35, and this year, the Bengals traveled to Seattle and took out the nation’s 25th-ranked team in the University of Washington, 79-59.
The victory marks the first time in school history that Idaho State has beat a ranked opponent as Washington was ranked 25th in the USA Today Coaches poll, but not the AP poll.
“That was a great team win,” said head coach Seton Sobolewski in a press release. “Anytime you can beat a Pac-12 team, it’s a big deal.”
Idaho State (2-0) held Washington (0-1) to under 30 percent from the floor and methodically built up a second half lead by shooting 71 percent from three and 63 percent from the field in the second half after leading by three at halftime.
Brooke Blair was 12-of-15 shooting and had a game-high 30 points. Saylair Grandon was two rebounds shy of a double-double, collecting eight rebounds and 13 points, including a three-pointer in the game’s opening minute.
18 of Blair’s 30 points came in the first half, as the senior guard also collected three rebounds, two assists and a steal.
“Brooke was on fire,” Sobolewski said. “After scoring 18 in the first half I didn’t know if she could keep it up, but she came out in the second half even tougher.”
Idaho State outscored Washington 28-12 in the paint and outrebounded the Huskies 46-27.
Sai Tapasa lead the Bengals in rebounding with ten while Grandon’s eight rebounds, Grace Kenyon’s seven, Dora Gole’s seven and Irene Vicente’s six, all would have lead Washington in the rebounding department, whose leading rebounder only collected five.
Idaho State has now won two games in a row after losing its season-opener to Northwest Nazarene, which was an exhibition game where Idaho State surrendered 95 points.
The Bengals will host the College of Idaho November 16 at Reed Gym.
