Written by Jon Match
The Idaho State women's basketball went into Schoenecker Arena in St. Paul, Minn. and came out with the 67-57 win against the St. Thomas Tommies. The Win was highlighted by Graduate Guard Dora Goles crossing the 1,000-point mark in her career.
After coming off of an overtime victory against NAIA Carroll College, the Bengals looked to rebound against an NCAA DI program.
Estefania Ors got the ball rolling when, just 20 seconds into the game, hit her first three-pointer of the afternoon giving the Bengals the lead that they never lost for the remainder of the game.
Following the opening three, Ors led the Bengals to a 17-9 first quarter advantage scoring eight points on a perfect three-of-three from the field with two from behind the arc.
The Bengals continued to press the advantage growing their lead to nine points with five to play in the second quarter off of an Ors Jumpshot.
With 2:06 to play in the first, ISU Guard Diaba Konate subbed in for the first time this season after battling a lower body injury. Konate immediately hit two free throws, grabbed a defensive board and assisted Ors on a made three pointer.
After hitting a three in the first period, all eyes were on Goles. With 4:08 to play in the second quarter, Goles drove hard to the rim and made her layup while drawing a foul off of the Tommies. With no hesitation, Goles hit the free throw giving her exactly 1000 career points. Goles became the 21st member of the Idaho State 1000-point club and is the first Bengal to join since current teammate Ors.
The Bengals would go back and forth with the Tommies for the remainder of the half and go into the locker room with a five-point 33-28 lead. Up to this point in the season, the Bengals were 2-1 when leading at halftime. Both teams started the second half slow, the first points coming for the Bengals by Ors with 7:09 to play in the third, giving the Bengals a 35-31 lead.
In the period, the Bengals would grow their lead to as 11 points off of a Callie Bourne jump shot with 3:46 to play to give the Bengals a 44-33 lead. The Tommies held on, trading baskets with the Orange and Black and at the end of the third, the Bengals held an eight-point 48-40 lead. With 6:38 to play in the game, Goles drove to the basket and put in a layup to give the Bengals the biggest lead of the game at 57-42.
The Bengals held onto that 14-point lead until the final minute of play. After getting the Bengal newcomers onto the floor for experience, the Tommies were able to score some field goals and end the game with the Bengal 67-57 victory.
Ors had a season-high game, scoring 22 points on nine-of-15 shooting from the field. She shot 50 percent four-of-eight from behind the arc and tacked on three boards, a steal and an assist. Goles was the only other Bengal to score in double-digits with 10 points.
The Bengals numbers as a team improved this game. The Orange and Black shot on the game, 44.4 percent from the floor on 28-of-63 shooting. They went seven-of-22 from behind the three point line for 31.8 percent and the Bengals shot 80 percent from the charity stripe.
The Bengals dominated the Tommies on the glass, out rebounding St. Thomas 37 to 24. Offensively it wasn't even a contest as the Bengals grabbed 16 oboards to the Tommies five. Idaho State guard Tomekia Whitman led both teams with 10 rebounds (3 OR, 7 DR).
In the past three games, the Orange and Black have averaged 21 offensive rebounds per game. The current Big Sky leaders, Southern Utah are only averaging 14.9 per game as of last weekend.
Whitman continued to play a strong defensive game with four steals. She has had nine in the previous two games and currently sits in second-place in the conference standings in steals per game.
Callie Bourne had a solid day for the Bengals with five points, eight rebounds six assists and two steals. Finley Garnett went four-of-seven from the field for eight points with a a steal and two boards. After today Ellie Smith is now tied with Natalie Doma for 7th in all-time blocks
The Bengals scored 26 points off of 18 St. Thomas turnovers and dominated the paint, outscoring the Tommies 38-22 under the basket. The Bengals are back home Dec. 21st as they take on WAC member Utah Valley University in Reed Gym. Tip is set for 7:00 PM and it is ugly sweater night, come out in your best holiday sweaters and lets ROAR into the break!
