ISU Bengal

Issue date: 1/30/08 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Nee Alistair D. Natalie Doma, #35, scored 25 points with 12 rebounds and 3 blocked shots Jan. 24 in a loss to Northern Arizona.

The curse of the Lumberjacks, as it might be called, was cast upon Idaho State as they saw a 21 point lead dissolve into a 15 point loss last Thursday night in Flagstaff, where ISU has not won since 2004. This loss may be considered particularly gut wrenching as the Bengals were seeking to keep pace at the top of the Big Sky with Montana and Portland State, and had the game well in hand before the collapse.

The game started out strong for the Bengals as Michelle Grohs hit a 3 pointer and a layup off of one of her several early rebounds, and Devin Diehl hit a 3 pointer at around the fifteen minute mark to put the Bengals up 10-4. After trading baskets for a few minutes, ISU's Kaylynn Fager entered the game and proceeded to light up the night with 4 unanswered 3 pointers in a matter of less than four minutes, topped off with a 3 pointer by Andrea Lightfoot and the Bengals were up 33-12 with no sign of the turbulence that lay ahead.

Then after a media timeout, Northern Arizona came storming back, the momentum greatly aided by 3 straight steals by the Lumberjacks' Sade Cunningham on the way to a 12-2 run to end the half with Idaho State leading 35-24

The second half began where the first left off as Northern Arizona would proceed to outscore the Bengals 18-1 in a mere three minutes to go up 42-36, during a stretch where Idaho State was outrebounded 5-0 and committed 3 turnovers, highlighting both defensive and offensive woes.

Then Natalie Doma stepped up her game with 4 jump shots and several free throws, while both Andrea Videbeck and Devin Diehl added 3 pointers and the Bengals were up 55-52 with nine minutes left in the game.

Northern Arizona would then break the game open, outscoring Idaho State 19-4 during a stretch where the Bengals missed several 3-point shots and free throws, while Northern Arizona would outrebound Idaho State 9-2 and shoot 7 of 8 from the floor with 3 for 3 at the free throw line to go up 70-59 with three and a half minutes left. The Bengals couldn't recover and the Lumberjacks would go on to win 82-67.

For the Bengals, Natalie Doma scored 25 points with 12 rebounds and 3 blocked shots, but would also miss 6 free throws on the night. Kaylynn Fager had 12 points on her four 3 pointers, Andrea Lightfoot made 11 points, 6 rebounds and 2 assists, Devin Diehl scored 6 points and Michelle Grohs would rack up 5 points with 8 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 blocked shots to highlight the Bengal effort. The Lumberjacks had 10 steals on Idaho State's 18 turnovers and outrebounded the Bengals 46-39.

Idaho State moved to 4-2 in the Big Sky, a game behind Montana, Portland State, and a streaking Northern Colorado who won their 4th game in a row to tie for the lead.

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