Weber State University Athletics
Weber State University
Idaho State
'Cats defeat Bengals 63-57
2/8/2015 12:03:00 AM | Women's Basketball
OGDEN, Utah – Weber State University's women's basketball team endured a long battle against Idaho State but came out on top 63-57 Saturday afternoon.
“We wanted to protect our home court,” Head Coach Bethann Ord said. “We really worked on tightening the little things. We weren't going to leave anything to chance. We knocked down shots and played together. People stepped up big and executed and it was what we needed to win tonight.”
The first half of play was back and forth. The Bengals went on an 11-2 run that gave them a six point lead. That was Idaho State's biggest lead of the game. The Wildcats responded with a 14-4 run that lead them to a 28-24 lead at half-time.
The second half the Wildcats lead by 13 with four minutes to go. Idaho State came back with an 8-1 run that cut the deficit to six points. The Bengals couldn't push through and take the lead and Weber State claimed the 63-57 win.
“That was a battle,” senior Carlee Lough said. “I'm just so proud of our team. There were times where we could have folded and let them keep coming on their run. We battled back and got stops.”
Lough led the Wildcats with a career high of 20 points. Jalen Carpenter also scored in double digits for the 15th time this season and earned her seventh double double on the year with 12 points and 12 rebounds. Junior Tinisha Toussaint also stepped up big for the Wildcats pulling down 7 rebounds.
Weber State shot 35.8 percent from the field, 44.4 percent from the three and 80.8 percent from the free throw line. Weber State outrebounded the Idaho State 42-27 with 24 offensive boards. Weber State had 22 turnovers to Idaho State's 14.
“It was a great team effort today,” Ord said. “Our upper classman really did a terrific job tonight. The team kept the composure the entire game, especially at the end. They battled hard.”
Idaho State had two players in double figures, Apiphany Woods had 16 points and Grace Kenyon had 13. The Bengals shot 40 percent from the field, 25 percent from the three and 62.5 percent from the free throw line.
The Wildcats are now 5-6 in Big Sky Conference and 10-12 overall on the season. Weber State will continue Big Sky play by hitting the road to Southern Utah on Thursday February 12 at 7 p.m. and Northern Arizona Saturday February 14 at 2 p.m.
