RENO, Nev. (March 11, 2016) – The excitement of college basketball is built on upsets, and the Idaho State Bengals apparently got the memo.
The Bengals entered the 2016 Big Sky Basketball Championships as the ninth seed on the women’s side, a road that is fraught with adversity if a team wants to advance to Saturday’s conference title game. Idaho State got past Northern Colorado in Monday’s opening round, before upsetting top-seed Montana State in Wednesday’s quarterfinal- a win that made national news for a Juliet Jones buzzer-beater.
Add another upset to the Bengals’ totals, as Idaho State upset fourth-seeded North Dakota in Friday’s semifinal action, 69-54. With the win, Idaho State advances to the conference title game for the first time since 2012, when the Bengals went on to the NCAA tournament.
Idaho State limited North Dakota to a 26.8 shooting percentage (15-of-56), and a three-point percentage of 18.2 (2-of-11) percent. Additionally, the Bengals forced 15 turnovers in the win.
The Bengals led after the first quarter, 21-11, while outscoring North Dakota, 34-18, in the paint. Additionally, Idaho State scored 14 points off second-chance opportunities, while gaining 21 bench points.
Idaho State had three players finish in double-figures, with Apiphany Woods leading the Bengals with 15 points. Tressa Lyman, a two-sport star for Idaho State, contributed nine points and 15 rebounds.
Leah Szabla led North Dakota with 18 points.
The Bengals advance to the Big Sky Conference tournament championship for the first time since 2012, and the fifth time in program history. The Bengals, as a No. 9 seed, are the lowest seed to ever advance to the championship. Idaho State carries a 3-1 record in the Big Sky tournament championship game.