The Idaho State Bengal women’s basketball team trounced the in-state rival Idaho Vandals 103-68 in front of a raucous crowd over of over 1100 screaming Bengal fans in Reed Gym Thursday night.
The Bengals (15-8, 11-3 BSC) handed the Idaho Vandals (5-15, 4-7 BSC) the most points scored on them by Idaho State in the program’s history.
The win also marked just the fourth time in program history that the Bengals have beaten a NCAA DI team with over 100 points scored.
The Bengals set the tone in the first half, after trading baskets for the first six minutes, and the Vandals holding an 11-10 lead, the Bengals turned on the jets. Thanks to consecutive three pointers made by Dora Goles and field goals by Montana Oltrogge and Estefania Ors the Bengals went on a 10-0 run at the end of the first that gave them a 22-16 advantage heading into the 2nd period.
The two teams traded baskets at the beginning of the second period with neither team being able to fully pull away from the other. The Vandals were able to bring the game to within one with 4:02 to play in the half before the Bengals, once again, showed their team strength.
Oltrogge kicked the Bengals run off hitting a jumpshot just outside the paint then on the next possession making a three to give the Orange and Black a six-point 39-33 lead with 3:17 to play.
As the half wound down the Bengals continued to pour it on. Growing the lead to as much as 12 with 1:16 to play off of a pair of Diaba Konate free throws.
The Vandals tried to respond but after cutting the lead to 10, ISU freshman Anaya Bernard hit her jumpshot with 21 seconds left and Tomekia Whitman blocked the Vandals last shot to send the Bengals into the locker room up 47-35.
As the second half started the Bengals maintained their margin until with 4:30 to go in the third, Goles hit a three and the next possession Konate took a steal and made a fastbreak layup giving the Bengals a 64-48 sixteen-point lead.
At this point was becoming electric, with each passing second and each made Bengal basket the Idaho State faithful were growing louder and rowdier setting the stage for a monumental fourth quarter.
The Bengals didn’t let up. Goles was fouled on a three-point attempt and hit all of her free throws, Whitman then followed with a three of her own and the Bengals went into the final period up 76-56.
Calling the fourth quarter dominant is an understatement. In the final 7:16 of the game, the Idaho State Bengals outscored the Idaho Vandals 19-2 highlighted by breaking the century mark on the scoreboard.
With 4:09 left in the game, Goles stole the ball from the Vandals and drove the length of the court, laying in the ball with the Vandal defender on her back and making the score 101-66. It was true pandemonium in the crowd with the Idaho State student sections cheers leading the way.
The Bengals would score two more points in the quarter but the statement was made and as the final buzzer sounded, the Bengals had come away with the 103-68 victory.
Five different Bengals scored in double-digits in the historic win. Goles led the way with 21 points on six-of-10 shooting from the field also going four-of-six from behind the arc.
Oltrogge and Whitman both contributed 19 points. Konate scored 15 on the floor and Ors added 11. Just behind them as a post presence was Ellie Smith with eight points.
The Bengals controlled the glass, outrebounding the Vandals 40-31. In the paint the Bengals margin was absolutely dominant outscoring Idaho 42-20.
The win was truly a team effort with 10 Bengals scoring and 46 points coming from the Bengal bench.
The team never stopped passing the ball and 23 of the Bengals 40 made field goals had an assist with them.
Idaho State ended the game shooting 40-of-69 from the floor for 58 percent. From behind the three point line, the Bengals shot 53.3 percent on eight-of-15 and finally from the free throw line, the Bengals went 15-of-17.
The Orange and Black return to the court Saturday, Feb. 12 at 2:00 PM to take on the Eastern Washington Eagles who are coming off of a win at Weber State this evening. Follow along at ISUBengals.com to keep up to date with the action and don’t forget to follow us on social media on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
