ISU Bengal

Issue date: 2/27/08 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Alisha Hatch Oana Iacovlta, # 21, shoots for ISU against Portland State on Valentine's Day.

The ISU women's basketball team found themselves on familiar ground when they faced the Montana Grizzlies Saturday night. That familiar ground is the history of losing in Missoula where, for all intents and purposes Montana clinched the regular season title over the Bengals 76-54 in front of more than 5,000 screaming fans.

Knuckling down and paying the $5 to catch the game streaming over the internet, I was treated to an exciting first half. Montana jumped out to a 10-4 lead, only to have the Bengals, led by Andrea Lightfoot, outscore the Grizzlies 14-2 to go up by six. Then Montana settled down and outscored the Bengals 18-7 to go up by five points with just a couple of minutes left. The two teams traded scores, and at the half Idaho State was down 35-30.

The second half opened up with a 19-8 Montana run that put them up 54-38. From that point on, the Bengals could not gain any momentum. Natalie Doma got into foul trouble early in the second half with her third and fourth fouls in a matter of minutes, but she stayed in the game. Doma struggled throughout the night offensively making only four out of 16 shots for 12 points with nine rebounds. Andrea Lightfoot led all scorers with 26 points, and Jenna Brown scored six points to highlight the Bengal effort.

While Montana certainly won this game offensively and played adequate defense, Idaho State was hampered by Doma's off night and the overall lack of offensive impact by Devin Diehl, Bianca Cheever, Michelle Grohs and Oana Iacovita. While Lightfoot and Doma often drive the play of the Bengals and lead the way, it seems that the team's greatest successes are when one or more of these other players also make their statement on the floor. When it's a team game, the Bengals shine all around. When they fall back too heavily on the play of Doma and Lightfoot, it is a sign that things aren't working so well.

The Bengals host their next three games at home in Reed Gymnasium, beginning Thursday night against Sacramento State at 7 p.m., followed by a Saturday night game against Northern Arizona at 7 p.m.

While title hopes may have dimmed, if Idaho State should win out, and Portland State loses any game, then Idaho State will secure a second place finish and a bye in the first round of the Big Sky Tournament. It's time for the home crowd to come out and support the team.

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