ISU vs. Northern Colorado preview

One basketball team trying to build momentum before embarking on a three-game road trip takes on another attempting to dispel any rumors it can’t win anywhere but at home.

Idaho State (11-8, 6-4 Big Sky) has two nights left in Reed Gym before taking of to face Southern Utah, Montana State and Montana.

Its first game is against Northern Colorado (9-9, 6-3) tonight, a program that’s undefeated in Greeley, Colo., but 1-9 on the road.

One of its victims at home came Jan. 5 when the Bears beat ISU 71-63. For Northern Colorado that win severed a four-game losing streak to the Bengals and served as a little bit of retribution following last season’s three-point loss in the Big Sky Championship.

And it threw Idaho State in a hole it has been battling out of since.

“We got off to a rough start, and I think we’re trying to dig ourselves out of a hole right now,” said ISU head coach Seton Sobolewski. “But we’re moving in the right direction. I think we’re playing pretty good basketball.”

Since losing to the Bears and falling to 1-3 in the conference, the Bengals have won five of their last six — the lone loss last Thursday to Big Sky co-leader Montana.

But the hole ISU tripped into was as deep as a well. The Bengals are in fifth place and if the Big Sky championship is still within reach, it starts with beating the Bears.

Motivation will not be an issue.

“I’m really competitive, so just thinking back (to the loss), it makes me mad,” said Lindsey Reed, the Bengals’ second-leading scorer. “I think we’re all like that. ... Everyone is excited for these two games, just to get some revenge.”

Revenge, however, is no easy task against Northern Colorado, which allows a league-low 55.8 points per game. And while the Bears have struggled to find any wins on the road this season, Sobolewski says it’s just been a matter of bad luck.

“It seems like there’s always been some different issue,” he said. “Someone got in foul trouble, someone had an off night or something happened. There’s no consistent problem from what I see or reason why they haven’t won on the road.”

Still, though, in conference action, the Bears are averaging nearly 17 points more a game at home.

“They’re due,” Sobolewski said, “but hopefully they’re not due against us.”

Junior guard D’shara Strange — reigning defensive player of the year — leads the way for the Bears, averaging 13.2 points, 6.7 boards and 2.5 steals.

Strange is an absolute terror defensively for opposing point guards — ISU’s Kaela Oakes is 7-for-29 from the floor in her last four games against the Bears — and she’s an improving offensive threat, too.

“She’s gotten better every year,” said Kara Jenkins. “First year, she could get to the basket any time she wanted, but now she has a much better all-around game. She’s very, very skilled.”

Not only is Strange athletic, tenacious on defense and an improving offensive threat, the Fountain Colo., native is 5-foot-10 and part of a tall starting five the Bears take the floor with.

And Strange isn’t the Bears only offensive threat. Senior forward Lauren Oosdyke is the Big Sky player of the week after averaging 22.5 points in Northern Colorado’s two home wins.

In UNC’s nine league games, Oosdyke is shooting 48 percent from the field and averaging nearly 16 points a night. And she’s a major competitor on the floor.

“She presents the challenge of, can you out last a player who wants it just as much as you?” Jenkins said. “She’s definitely one of the big competitors in the conference.”

Oosdyke’s fiery play is a fair approximation of the type of game the Bengals and Bears will have, because while it’s not exactly like looking in the mirror for both programs, it’s something close.

“They’re a lot similar to us,” Sobolewski said. “They do emphasize defense and rebounding. They can be up tempo if you give it to them. If they have the opportunity to run, if they get a good steal, they’ll go. They’ve got a great point guard who can find people or score herself. We are a (very) similar (teams).”

Tipoff is 7 p.m. in Reed Gym. The winner has a chance to remain near the top with the Big Sky leaders. The loser starts digging.

Big Sky Rankings — We’re halfway there

It’s the midway point and we’re halfway to ... to, well, we have no idea do we?

The Montana State Bobcats were hotter than the Super Bowl’s media day lights, until running into a fired up and angry Idaho State squad.


Eastern Washington began its Big Sky schedule by winning in Pocatello before knocking off Montana in Cheney. But then the Eagles lost three straight, including back-to-back 15-point losses at Northern Arizona and Sacramento State.
Since then, though, EWU has the longest winning streak in the conference, putting it one game behind our co-leaders, MSU and UM.

Heck, even Weber State showed some life in a comeback loss at home against the Lady Griz.

I guess all we really know is that the final month or so of the regular season is going to be a wild one.

Without further ado.

1. Montana 14-5, 8-2
Last week: No. 2
The Lady Griz are back to No. 1 after hitting the pavement and beating Idaho State 57-52 and Weber State 61-53.


Now that I’ve seen Montana in person, I couldn’t be more impressed. Senior post Katie Baker  — averaging 13.4 points, seventh in the conference — is an impossible matchup. She’s got a great turnaround jumper with a high release — absolutely unguardable.

And any coach would love to have Montana’s turnover margin (plus 10, fifth in the country). So how exactly did the Lady Griz let Weber State hang around before pulling away late? You’ve got me. It’s basketball.

2. Montana State 14-5, 8-2
Last week: No. 1
Montana State waxed Weber State by 30 and then lost to Idaho State 63-55, both on the road.

Baker from Montana relies on precision post moves and a smooth jumper when she’s working in the post. Montana State’s Rachel Semansky is pretty much the polar opposite.

She’s a true bruiser who, despite a 6-foot frame, attacks the rim and bullies her way up for layups. Against the Bengals, though, the senior was held to 4-for-10 from the field for eight points, about six below her average.

This week, MSU falls to No. 2 below Montana (MSU beat UM 58-49 Jan. 19) simply because, up close, I was more impressed with the Lady Griz than the Bobcats.

3. Eastern Washington 11-8, 7-3
Last week: No. 3
In its only game of the weekend, Eastern Washington beat Southern Utah 79-70 in Cheney.

The Thunderbirds outrebounded Eastern 44-25 in the game, but the Eagles finished 25-of-26 from the free throw line and scored 24 points off 19 SUU turnovers to help pull away.

The victory kept the Eagles only a game back from the Big Sky’s co-leaders. This week, Eastern travels to Montana State Thursday and Montana Saturday.

It’s the toughest roadtrip in the league (one EWU swept last season), and could go a long way in determining the Big Sky regular season champion.

4. Idaho State 11-8, 6-4
Last week: No. 4
It showed some real moxie for Idaho State to beat Montana State 63-55 after losing to Montana 57-52.

If the Bengals had won both games, there would have been a three-way tie for second in the conference. But if ISU hadn’t taken care of MSU then Idaho State would have been three games back from the co-leaders with 10 games left.

In other words, a split wasn’t a disaster, far from it.

And it should be noted that Ashleigh Vella and Kaela Oakes combined for 68 points on 46 percent shooting over the two games. Vella’s 13 second-half points against Montana State, in particular, were absolutely crucial.

5. Northern Colorado 9-9, 6-3
Last week: No. 5
At home, Northern Colorado beat up Northern Arizona 69-54 and Sacramento State 79-63.

The Bears’ Lauren Oosdyke was big both nights, scoring 24 against the Lumberjacks and 21 in the Hornets’ win, all while shooting 68 percent from the field.

The victory over Sacramento State was particularly impressive. Before the Hornets finished the game on a 13-0 run, the Bears had built a 75-44 second-half lead.

And it wasn’t just Oosdyke torturing Sac. State. Junior do-everything D’Shara Strange eclipsed the 1,000 point threshold while scoring 18 points, pulling down five rebounds and dishing five assists in 31 minutes.

The Bears beat ISU earlier in the season and have fewer conference losses, so why not move UNC up? Because a 1-9 road record (including a 1-3 record away from Greeley in conference) is a weak spot Northern Colorado hasn’t proven it can overcome.

The Bears and Bengals clash this Thursday. We’ll know more after by then.

6. Sacramento State 10-8, 5-4
Last week: No. 6
As previously mentioned, Sacramento State lost to Northern Colorado 79-63, but the Hornets beat North Dakota 79-77 two days prior.

The Hornets can score — evidence, see: No. 1 scoring offense in the Big Sky at 71.9 points a game — but Sacramento State’s defense, although it is hectic, allows 72 a night.

One has to figure that, at some point, Sacramento State’s defense — or lack thereof — will be its undoing.

7. Southern Utah 10-9, 4-5
Last week: No. 7
On a Northwest road trip, Southern Utah beat Portland State 70-68 in overtime and then fell at Eastern Washington 79-70.

The T-Birds have dropped three of four and now play Sacramento State and Northern Arizona on the road. If SUU can at least get a split of those two games then it can look at a four-game home-stand in the middle of February to find some wins.

As an aside, can someone, anyone tell me what a Thunderbird is? Honestly, I've gone to the Internet and done some research. As far as I can tell a Thunderbird is either a “supernatural” bird of power and strength, a car or a plane. I’m not sure which is worse.

8. Portland State 9-10, 3-7
Last week: No. 8
Portland State lost to Southern Utah by two in overtime and then had an entire week to think about it before traveling to Montana Thursday.

The Vikings’ loss to the mythical birds from Southern Utah was especially painful considering PSU coughed up an eight-point lead with just over a minute left in overtime.

The trip through Montana takes on added importance if the Vikings want to reach the postseason (the top seven teams advance to the Big Sky tournament).

9. North Dakota 8-11, 3-7
Last week: No. 10
Mascot-less North Dakota lost 79-77 to Sacramento State and then snapped a five-game losing streak with a 70-50 whipping of Northern Arizona.

North Dakota is 5-0 when it has less than 16 turnovers a game. The problem for UND is that it averages nearly 21 a night.

Much like Portland State, if North Dakota hopes to reach the Big Sky tournament then the next couple of week are crucial.

After facing the sacrificial Wildcat known as Weber State Thursday, UND takes on ISU in Pocatello and then Montana State and Montana back in frigid Grand Forks.

10. Northern Arizona 4-14, 3-6
Last week: No. 9
The Lumberjacks lost by 15 at Northern Colorado and 20 at North Dakota.

In both games, NAU fell behind by double digits at half, down 32-19 at Northern Colorado and 41-17 to North Dakota. Not good when on the road.

Three of the Lumberjack’s next four are away from Flagstaff. It’s not time to permanently stick NAU in the bottom at No. 10, but that day may be fast approaching.

11. Weber State 0-19, 0-10
Last week: No. 11
Weber State lost to Montana State 67-37, and then in the surprise of the week kept it close against Montana in a 61-53 defeat.

Montana nearly screwed it all up before a late 8-0 run put the Wildcats away for good, ensuring “The March to History” can continue. WSU has now lost 38 straight. Seven more and we’ve got a new record for awfulness in Big Sky women’s basketball.

ISU vs. Montana State preview

It’s a true test of character.

The Idaho State women went all in against the Montana Grizzlies Thursday night, but the Lady Griz — behind an unlikely hero — overcame the Bengals 57-52.

Now the Montana State Bobcats come calling less than 48 hours later.

And burying the pain of a five-point loss to the Grizzlies is easier said than done.

“Right now, you’ve just got to shake it off,” said Kaela Oakes, who along with Ashleigh Vella scored in double figures against Montana. “That’s what (head coach Seton Sobolewski) keeps emphasizing to us.”

But a gutting loss to a conference rival that dropped the Bengals to 10-8 overall and 5-4 in the Big Sky — squarely in the middle of the pack —  is a difficult thing to accept and move on from.

If there is a team, though, that can grab ISU’s attention, it’s Montana State.

MSU — winners of its last seven — are true road warriors. The Cats are 8-1 on the road and 5-0 away from Bozeman in conference.

It’s a dynamic offensive squad, averaging 66.5 points with a 41.3 field-goal percentage (third and second in the league, respectively).

Senior Rachel Semansky, a 6-foot post, is fifth in the conference averaging 13.9 points a game. After her 5-for-7 effort in the Cats’ 67-37 demolition of Weber State Thursday, Semansky is converting 59.1 percent of her field goal attempts — fifth in the nation.

“It’s phenomenal she’s shooting almost 60 percent from the field,” Sobolewski said. “That’s incredible. ... She’s going to be a handful.”

And Semansky isn’t the only scoring threat for the dynamic and diverse Bobcats. Sophomore Kalli Durham chips in 12.7 a game and Ashley Brumwell, a junior, adds 10.4 a night.

Durham is particularly deadly from the perimeter.

“Durham will shoot it from deep and not think twice about any shot,” Sobolewski said. “She’s not shy at all.”

Against Clemson Nov. 23, a 58-52 Bobcat victory, Durham had a season-high 23 points, and at Eastern Washington Jan. 5, the 5-foot-7 guard bombed away 10 times from the 3-point line.

Montana State, however, has proven it’s more than a fluid, effective offensive unit. This season, the Cats are playing defense.

“They’ve probably been paying attention to the history,” Sobolewski said. “The best defensive team in the conference, or one of the best defensive teams in the conference, have won it the last two, three years. I think they’re making that adjustment.”

By holding opponents to 34.5 percent shooting from the field — best in the Big Sky — and snatching the second-most steals a contest, the Cats have been a juggernaut on both ends of the floor.

Like D’Shara Strange at Northern Colorado, MSU’s senior guard Latisha Adams, at 5 foot 9, uses her size and athleticism to bully opposing guards.

“She’ll pick you up full court, but where she’s really dangerous is in transition offensively,” Sobolewski said. “She’s really good at getting to the basket. She’s a big strong point guard so it’s a tough matchup for someone like Kaela Oakes who’s only 5 foot 5.”

The Cats roll out tough matchups all over the floor for Idaho State to pick up, but it’s the second contest of a four-game homestand. Win and the Bengals are in position to remain in the top-half of a deep conference.

In other words, it’s an opportunity to bounce back big from a bitterly disappointing loss.

“If we can get this ‘W,’ it’ll keep us in the top,” Oakes said. “We really need to work towards that.”

Here comes Montana; ISU takes on the Griz in Reed Gym

Mission accomplished.

Even if it was powered on half a can of chicken noodle soup and eight crackers.

But now the real work starts.

Off a week-long road trip that started in Ogden, swung by Sacramento and ended in Flagstaff, the Idaho State women are back in Pocatello.

And while a four-game Bengal winning streak has ISU back in the top half of the conference — and back in the hunt for the Big Sky’s No. 1 seed in the postseason tournament — the opportunity to truly announce itself as the league’s top team starts Thursday night versus the Montana Grizzlies.

About that soup, though.

Senior Kaela Oakes had an unfortunate run in with chicken-fried steak the night before Saturday’s game against Northern Arizona. Food poisoning sapped 5-foot-5 guard of her fluids and energy, and by gametime all she had forced down was the soup and crackers.

“I was trying to get water and Gatorade in me, but it was just so hard with my stomach all jumbled,” Oakes said. “I played as much as I could. It was definitely hard. I felt like I was going to pass out in the second half.”

Oakes isn’t ready to call it her signature flu game (a la Michael Jordan), instead, she’d rather forget the 1-for-9 shooting performance and focus on how the Bengals fought for a 52-48 victory over the Lumberjacks.

Down four at the break, ISU struggled to find buckets the final 20 minutes — shooting 26 percent in the second half — but NAU could only manage 15 points against the stingy orange and black defense.

“The NAU game was a little ugly,” Oakes said. “It was the end of the week and the end of the road trip, but we grinded through it and got the W. That brought us a little more confidence.”

About that work coming up. To survive Montana Thursday and Montana State Saturday, the Bengals will need all their confidence within easy reach.

Montana (12-5, 6-2) is the Big Sky’s No. 2 team, one game behind the Bobcats.

The Lady Griz are coming off a 78-point outburst at Southern Utah last Monday where UM rained in 12 3-pointers.

Senior guard Kenzie De Boer scored 27 points in a mere 25 minutes in the victory.

"De Boer couldn’t miss,” said ISU head coach Seton Sobolewski. “She just could not miss, whether it was a three, a layup, a pullup, a free throw, ... she was on fire. She was absolutely on fire.”

De Boer is Montana’s leading scorer, averaging 14.4 points a game. Right behind her is senior forward Katie Baker (13.1 points a night).

In conference action, the duo’s numbers jump to 16.5 points a game for Baker and 15.6 for De Boer. The two have contributed 47 percent of Montana’s points in the Big Sky.

But the Lady Griz’s depth extends beyond De Boer and Baker.

No starter averages more than 26 minutes and 10 players are on the court at least 13 minutes a night. It’s very much a typical Lady Griz team the Big Sky conference has come to know so well under head coach Robin Selvig — now in his 35th year in Missoula.

“They’re disciplined,” Sobolewski said. “They are simple and they execute, and they master all the little parts of the game, like rebounding, good help defense. All the little stuff they’ve mastered, and it adds up to being important stuff.”

Montana is outscoring its opponents by 8.9 points a contest (best in the conference) while averaging a league-low 12.3 turnovers a game.

And the Lady Griz are big with three starters 6 foot or taller and another three off the bench that stand at least 6 feet.

“We really, really need to box out,” Oakes said. “That’s going to be a big thing for us.”

Ultimately, the matchup seems destined for a defensive brawl. The Bengals give up 56 points a game and the Lady Griz allow 56.6, two of the Big Sky’s top three marks.

Until last year no one on the Bengal roster had beaten Montana. Sobolewski is 2-8 all time against Montana, with both victories coming a year ago.   

"It’s still hard to have confidence like we had last year just because this conference is so easily spread this year,” Oakes said. “But I definitely think we’re getting ready to get back, ... and we want to kill them.”

When ISU won all three of its road games last week, it was mission accomplished. But now the next campaign in a season full of them begins.

Idaho State and Montana tipoff at 7 p.m.

NOTES: Kaela Oakes is 15 points away from reaching a 1,000 for her career at Idaho State. When she reaches the milestone, Oakes will be the 16th player in the program’s history, joining teammate Ashleigh Vella, who reached the 1,000 point mark Nov. 20 against Boise State. ... Junior Cydney Horton has 99 blocks in her career. She will be the sixth Bengal to reach the 100 block plateau. Currently, Horton is sixth in ISU history in career blocks.

Big Sky Rankings — Now it gets serious

Eight games into the conference schedule and we officially have a frontrunner.

The Montana State Bobcats are streaking. Winners of six straight, including four on the road, the Bobcats are 7-1 and one game clear of second-place Montana.

Whether MSU can put any distance between itself and everyone else in the Big Sky depends heavily on Saturday’s matchup with Idaho State in Reed Gym.

But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. First, the rankings. Remember, don’t fret over a ranking too high or low. The list is fluid and not set in stone like Lance Armstrong’s ruined reputation.

Without further ado.
   
1. Montana State 13-4, 7-1
Last week: No. 2
The Cats traveled to Southern Utah and won 65-59 and then beat Montana 58-49 in Missoula.

If, indeed, Montana State is the best team in the Big Sky — and we have a long way to go before that answer is known — then how good is Division II Montana State-Billings?

You know, the team that beat the Cats 57-54 in Bozeman Dec. 29, the precursor that rocketed MSU onto its current winning streak (I can’t let that loss go. It’s astounding to me. Basketball never ceases to amaze.).
   
2. Montana 12-5, 6-2
Last week: No. 1
Montana fell at home for only the second time this season, a 58-49 setback to Montana State. Then the Griz traveled to Cedar City, Utah, and banged home 12 3-pointers to beat Southern Utah 78-63 Monday.

In the beatdown of the Thunderbirds, senior Kenzie De Boer hit nine of her 12 shots, including 5-of-7 3-point attempts for 27 points in 25 minutes.

Now the question becomes can Montana — which entering the SUU matchup averages 5.1 3-pointers a game — carry its electric-hot shooting to Reed Gym Thursday night against ISU?

3. Eastern Washington 10-8, 6-3
Last week: No. 7
The Eagles make a big jump in the rankings after beating North Dakota 75-72 and Northern Colorado 63-38 in Cheney, and then knocking out Portland State 68-56 in Portland Monday night.

Eastern is a little like Tony Romo: you never know what you’re getting week from week. After starting Big Sky action with three straight wins — most notably upsetting ISU on the road and Montana at home — EWU lost its next three.

But the squad responded with three big wins in the past week. Some of the credit has to go to redshirt freshman Hayley Hodgins. In her first career start against Northern Colorado, she finished 7-of-7 from the floor and had a career-high 17 points.

And it wasn’t just the one game. She had 16 against North Dakota and 22 against Portland State. In fact, Hodgins has set new career highs in points scored in three consecutive games.

Where has she been all season? Two regular rotation players for EWU — sophomore Melissa Williams and junior Laura Hughes — were hurt and that provided an opening for Hodgins.

4. Idaho State 10-7, 5-3
Last week: No. 5
On the road, ISU beat Sacramento State 62-52 and Northern Arizona 52-48.

At the end of a long few days (Idaho State started its week-long road trip at Weber State Jan. 14), the Bengals were down four at half to NAU. There were 470 people at the game and Kaela Oakes had food poisoning the night before.

Idaho State had excuses to lay down and drop a conference game on the road. But instead, the Bengals held Northern Arizona to 19 percent shooting in the second half, and Amy Patton, the Big Sky’s leading scorer, had 8 points for the night — a season low.

And it all sets up a big week for ISU with the league’s top two teams, Montana and Montana State, visiting Reed Gym.
   
5. Northern Colorado 7-9, 4-3
Last week: No. 4
The Bears beat Portland State 67-42 on the road and then fell to Eastern Washington 63-38.

Against Eastern, Northern Colorado was 0-for-22 from beyond the 3-point line. That’s really an astounding number, right?

And while the Bears were shooting from the field with the finesse of Shaq during his heyday, the Eagles nailed seven 3-pointers of their own (sound familiar Bengal fans?) to pull off the win.

So take loathsome shooting from one team, add EWU’s shot-making ability and Northern Colorado has now lost three of its last four.

But the Bears are back at home this week — where they’ve yet to lose — welcoming Northern Arizona and Sacramento State.
   
6. Sacramento State 9-7, 4-3
Last week: No. 3
Sacramento State suffered its first loss at home in “The Nest” to Idaho State (62-52). After scoring 52 points, 20 below their average, the Hornets whooped wretched Weber State 103-60.

Against Weber, Sacramento State led by 34 at half and by as much as 48 before the final buzzer mercifully put a stop to the massacre.

7. Southern Utah 9-8, 3-4
Last week: No. 6
Despite losing to Montana State (65-59) and Montana (78-63) at home, the Thunderbirds (I’m not joking here, seriously, what is a Thunderbird?) only drop one spot.

What’s really hurting SUU is its turnovers. The T-Birds are averaging a league-worst 21 a game. Against UM — a contest Southern Utah led 34-33 at half — 25 SUU turnovers led to 24 Grizzly points.

At 3-4, SUU is tied for seventh and now the Thunderbirds play their next four games on the road, starting with Portland State Thursday and Eastern Washington Saturday.
       
8. Portland State 9-9, 3-6
Last week: No. 9
In Portland, the Vikings lost to Northern Colorado 67-42, and then PSU beat North Dakota 73-66 before losing to Eastern Washington 68-56.

Portland State started conference play a disappointing 2-4 but it was heading into a four-game homestand with a chance to rescue some of its preseason promise.

But losses to the Bears and Eagles leave PSU three games below .500 in the Big Sky, and that stretch at home is about to end with only Southern Utah traveling to Portland Thursday.

After that, PSU travels to Montana to play the Cats and Grizzlies. In fact, after the SUU game Thursday, the Vikings finish with six of their last 10 games on the road.

That’s a tough draw for a club currently looking at the postseason tournament from the outside, as of today.

9. Northern Arizona 4-12, 3-4
Last week: No. 10
At home, Northern Arizona clubbed Weber State 76-55 and lost to the Bengals 52-48.

For ISU fans, players and coaches, the four-point escape from last Saturday was a grinding, gritty victory. But for the Lumberjacks, it had to feel like a lost opportunity.

NAU had the halftime lead, the homecourt advantage and momentum, but was unable to finish off Idaho State. The loss could prove to be devastating because now Northern Arizona hits the pavement to play five of its next six on the road.
   
10. North Dakota 7-10, 2-6
Last week: No. 8
Mascot-less North Dakota fell to Eastern Washington 75-72 and Portland State 73-66 on the road.

As a reminder of the depth in the Big Sky this season, 10th-ranked UND beat Utah. I’ll repeat myself. A team that’s 2-6 in the Big Sky, and has lost its last four, beat Pac-12 member Utah.

I don’t care that Utah is 1-5 in its own conference, it speaks to the idea that almost any team can beat anyone else every single night.

11. Weber State 0-17, 0-8
Last week: No. 11
Weber State fell at Northern Arizona by 21 and to Sacramento State by 43.

In this week’s “The March to History” watch, the Wildcats move ever so closer to setting the Big Sky’s all-time losing streak, possibly usurping Sacramento State’s 44 straight defeats.

Dating back to Dec. 15, 2011, WSU has now lost 36 straight.

ISU women vs. NAU preview

The stage is set.

The Idaho State Bengal women took a faceplant into a hard reality around the around the holidays, losing four straight and falling to 1-3 in the Big Sky.

Perhaps it was time to drop dreams of defending its championship and instead focus on reaching the postseason tournament (the top seven advance from the regular season)?

Well, the Bengals have won their last three, including two on the road, and have answered emphatically that, yes, any lofty preseason goal is still within reach.

After playing 13 scoreless minutes (shooting 0-for-3 from the field and finishing with three turnovers) at Weber State last Monday, junior Lindsey Reed had a game-high 19 points to help ISU beat Sacramento State 62-52 at The Nest Thursday night.

It was the Hornets’ first loss at home this year. The 52 points was a season low for Sacramento State and 19 below its season average.

And not only did Reed contribute in a big way but Kaela Oakes scored in double figures for the second night in a row, hitting 8-of-9 free throws on her way to 14 points. Cydney Horton entered off the bench and nearly had a double-double with 12 points and nine boards.

Following the game, head coach Seton Sobolewski said it was a night when everyone had their moments.

But, ultimately, it was the defense that’s pushed the Bengals over the top. Sacramento State shot 34 percent, Weber State (Monday’s win) was 17-of-56 from the floor and Southern Utah (last Thursday) was held to 31 percent in the first half while ISU built a 23-point, first-half lead.

Now the Bengals have moved to a fourth-place tie at 4-3 with Eastern Washington — the team that stared the Bengals’ four-game slide Dec. 22 in Reed Gym.

But the losses have faded because if Idaho State can end its road trip with a win tonight in Flagstaff, Ariz., against the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks, then the Bengals start a four-game home stand with momentum starting Thursday with Montana.

But first things first, the Lumberjacks (4-11, 3-3) are a dangerous opponent.

NAU began its Big Sky schedule with an overtime loss at Montana and a 17-point loss at Montana State.

But over the past 16 days, the Lumberjacks have won three of four.

Much of the improvement for NAU has come since junior Amanda Frost returned from a preseason injury against Southern Utah.

Since Frost’s return, she’s averaged 14.8 points a game and helped add a one-two scoring punch along with senior Amy Patton.

Patton, of course, is the conference’s leading scorer. The 5-foot-10 guard is averaging 20.6 points and 8.5 rebounds a night. Earlier this season, the Tempe, Ariz., native had 41 against Bradley.

Her low output of the year (10 points) was Jan. 12 against Portland State, a one-point Lumberjack defeat. Last season, Patton averaged 11.5 points and six rebounds against ISU.

More than anything, though, Northern Arizona’s revitalization is spearheaded by its first-year head coach Sue Darling, who has the Lumberjacks — a 9-20 team from a year ago — playing with great effort and confidence.

Idaho State and Northern Arizona tipoff at 6:35 p.m. Listen to the game live on 91.1 KISU or watch on Fox Sports Arizona on tape delay at 11 p.m.

Big Sky rankings — No nights off

If there’s an early theme emerging six games into the conference season it’s one surrounding parity.

There are 10 solid to good basketball teams in the Big Sky and each night anyone can lose. Eastern Washington jumped out to a 3-0 conference record but now its mired in a three-game losing streak. Idaho State seemed to lose itself on a road trip in North Dakota and Northern Colorado, but now the Bengals are back to .500.

The point is simply this. Right now, Montana and Montana State sit atop the conference with identical 5-1 records, but each has played a majority of its Big Sky games at home. After knocking heads Saturday, each goes on the road. Following those respective trips, we’ll have a better idea if one can truly take the pole position.

Without further ado.

1. Montana 11-4, 5-1
Last week: No. 3
The Lady Griz improved to 8-1 at home by blasting North Dakota 77-45, knocking off Northern Colorado 56-42.

After the two big wins, Montana now has the Big Sky’s top scoring margin, outscoring opponents by an average of 9.6 points a game. Perhaps more impressively, the Lady Griz protect the ball better than just about anyone else in the country. Only Villanova averages less turnovers a game than Montana.
   
2. Montana State 11-4, 5-1
Last week: No. 4
Montana State dumped Northern Colorado 65-58 and North Dakota 64-49 at home.

The Bobcats showed once again why road trips through “The Treasure State” are so notoriously difficult. The Bears were undefeated in conference until losing by seven to the Bobcats and 14 to Montana, and North Dakota had won three in a row before losing to MSU and UM by an average of 23.5 points a game.

Whenever Montana State and Montana clash on the hardwood clash it’s a heated matchup, but Saturday’s clash is taken to another level considering the winner will stand with a Big Sky-best 6-1 record.

For now, the Lady Griz are No. 1 in these rankings because Montana doesn’t have a blemish on its schedule like MSU’s loss to Montana State-Billings Dec. 29.

3. Sacramento State 8-6, 3-2
Last week: No. 8
The Hornets remained undefeated at home for the season beating Portland State 81-77 and Eastern Washington 85-70.

In no way do I feel Sacramento State is the Big Sky’s third-best team, but the Hornets have a better conference win — 60-54 win over MSU Dec. 20 — than either Northern Colorado or Idaho State to this point.

So, for now, the Hornets take a big jump from No. 8 to No. 3. Sac State wouldn’t be here if not for the play of Fantasia Hilliard, a native of Sacramento. The sophomore guard earned Co-Big Sky player of the week honors after netting 34 points and 16 assists in the Hornets two wins.

Like I said, I’m not a full believer in Sacramento State as a top-tier Big Sky team. But if the Hornets can beat ISU Thursday and then go on the road next week and beat North Dakota and Northern Colorado, they’d have me convinced.

4. Northern Colorado 6-8, 3-2   
Last week: No. 1
Northern Colorado drops three spots after losing to Montana State 65-58 and Montana 56-42 on the road.

Undoubtedly, the Bears have one of the conference’s best defenses, holding opponents to a Big Sky low 55.9 points a game.

But do the Bears have enough offense to beat quality teams on the road? Against MSU, Northern Colorado shot 36 percent from the floor. At Montana the field goal percentage dropped to 31.6.

5. Idaho State 8-7, 3-3
Last week: No. 7
The defending champs beat Southern Utah 80-71 in Reed Gym and then traveled to Ogden to clobber Weber State 69-45.


After fouling out of five games in a row, senior Ashleigh Vella avoided fouls like the Charlotte Bobcats evade winning and stayed on the floor for 34 minutes against the Thunderbirds and 28 in the blowout of the Wildcats.


And her value is priceless for the Bengals. She averaged 16 points, five assists and 4.5 boards in the wins. Oh, and Vella only picked up three fouls total.


If she can stay on the floor against Sacramento State Thursday and Northern Arizona Saturday then ISU will have a great opportunity to win.

(And it wouldn’t hurt if the Bengals’ 3-point shooting could keep pace with the 18-of-37 performance from the previous two games, either.)

6. Southern Utah 9-6, 3-2
Last week: No. 5
The Thunderbirds — seriously, what in the world is a Thunderbird? — lost in Pocatello to ISU 80-71 and then beat Weber State 74-61 in Ogden.

As a general baseline rule, most coaches go into a two-game conference road trip hopeful to get both wins, but satisfied with a split.

Southern Utah did just that but the T-Birds have to be kicking themselves for going down 41-18 to the Bengals in the first half. That hole was just too big to climb out of even after outscoring Idaho State by 14 in the final 20 minutes.

Going purely off records, SUU should be a couple notches higher than this spot, but all the teams ahead of the Thunderbirds have either beaten them head to head or have I just think are better.

But the T-Birds have a great opportunity to prove themselves when Montana State and Montana come to visit this week.
   
7. Eastern Washington 7-8, 3-3
Last week: No. 2
The Eagles tumble down to No. 7 because EWU traveled south and lost to Northern Arizona 83-68 and Sacramento State 85-70.

Eastern faded badly in the second half of both games, giving up 50 points to NAU and 42 to Sacramento State.

After give up 83 and 85 points, the Eagles’ scoring defense drops to seventh in the league. But the negative trajectory Eastern is currently flying can quickly flip 180 degrees if it can defend home court against North Dakota and Northern Colorado.

8. North Dakota 7-8, 2-4
Last week: No. 6
Mascot-less North Dakota has had an interesting few weeks. After dropping its first two conference games, UND traveled to Salt Lake City and knocked off Utah. Then North Dakota ground out a win over ISU before beating up on woeful Weber State.

That three-game winning steak was great momentum heading into the Montana road trip. But after getting walloped by 32 and 15 points, UND finds itself searching for answers on the road again, this time at Eastern Washington and Portland State.

Welcome to the Big Sky.
   
9. Portland State 8-7, 2-4
Last week: No. 9
On the road, Portland State lost to Sacramento State 81-77 and then beat Northern Arizona 60-59.

Heading into last week’s games, the Vikings were a disappointing 1-3 in the conference, and after letting an 11-point lead slip away against the Hornets it took great mental toughness to come back and beat NAU in Flagstaff.

PSU’s Courtney VanBrocklin is now the Big Sky’s second-leading scorer with 16.1 points a game. She’s shooting 45 percent from the field while playing a team-high 33 minutes a game.
   
10. Northern Arizona 3-11, 2-3
Last week: No. 10
In Flagstaff, Ariz., the Lumberjacks beat Eastern Washington 83-68 and lost to Portland State 60-59.

I’m tempted to slide Northern Arizona up a spot but the Lumberjacks fumbled away a seven-point lead against the Vikings with less than three minutes to play. Of course, part of the credit goes to PSU for the grit to fight back, but NAU missed a golden opportunity to finish off an opponent at home.

On the bright side, Northern Arizona hosts Weber State Thursday and senior Amy Patton’s scoring average (20.5 points a game) is 16th highest in the nation.

11. Weber State 0-15, 0-6
Last week: No. 11
At home, the Wildcats lost to Southern Utah 74-61 and Idaho State 69-45. The losing steak stretches to 34 for Weber State.

And now that WSU is a mere 10 defeats away from tying Sacramento State’s Big Sky record of 44, it’s time to initiate “The March to History,” because, honestly, who isn’t rooting for this to happen?

If things go right, Weber State arrives in Pocatello Feb. 21 with a chance to tie the Hornets’ run of downright awfulness.

Hard work begins to pay off for the ISU women

When the five seniors and six juniors on Idaho State’s women’s team look back at their careers, it’s a win that could fade in memory.

Or is the 80-71 victory over the Thunderbirds from Cedar City Thursday night a harbinger of things to come, a so called turning point in a season that had temporarily careened off the rails?

Head coach Seton Sobolewski refused to call the matchup against Southern Utah a must win — fair enough considering we’ve yet to reach the mid-point of January — but it was unquestionably important.

Since arriving back in Pocatello off the loss at Northern Colorado, ISU had practiced as hard as any other time this season.

“It wasn’t easy for us to lose four games in a row,” said senior Abyee Maracigan, the leading scorer Thursday with 21. “So I think as a team, after the Northern Colorado loss, we dug deep.

“We had two or three hour practices this week. They were long and they were gritty. We got after each other. It was the best practices I think we’ve had in a while.”

The extra work parlayed into a 41-18 blitzing of the visiting Thunderbirds in the first 20 minutes.

The Bengals did nearly everything right, out rebounding the T-Birds 25-15, shooting 42 percent to SUU’s 31 and ending the half on a 33-10 run.

Now, granted, for Idaho State the opening 20 minutes was smooth and easy going as Alabama’s demolition of Notre Dame, and the second half was something of an up and down affair where the Thunderbirds ensured a much closer final score.

Give some credit to Southern Utah’s coaching staff and players. Nine players were on the floor for at least 14 minutes, and two T-Birds came off the bench to spur the comeback with 23 points.

But remember those long, grueling practices Maracigan talked about? The effort exerted for Thursday night’s game began to take a toll.

“We practiced really hard the last two days,” Sobolewski said. “Probably harder than we should have, especially (Wednesday), just trying to get us to play at a certain level again. And I think that showed in the second half.”

The arduous practice schedule is not an excuse, just a fact, and nothing about the final winning margin of nine should take away from the positive aspects of the victory.

Like how Ashleigh Vella avoided foul trouble and played a team-high 34 minutes. Her value on the court as a leader, shooter and ballhandler makes Vella one of the Big Sky’s toughest matchups.

Another major takeaway was the Bengals’ ability to knock down open looks. ISU’s final field goal percentage of 46 is the third highest of the season. Under Sobolewski, when Idaho State shoots better than 45 percent it’s 26-3.

And on a night when the Bengals improved to 2-3 in the Big Sky, the last undefeated, Northern Colorado, went down at Montana State and Eastern Washington lost for the second time. Suddenly, the road back to the top seems far less daunting.

But while the big picture and speculation is fun for fans and journalists, it’s utterly worthless for Sobolewski and the Bengals.

After a four-game losing streak, all energy was focused on Thursday night, beating the Thunderbirds and finding a way to replicate the kind of success the championship team a year ago found.

“We’re starting with a clean slate and getting back to our roots and our habits of being a defensive team,” said Kara Jenkins. “We’re trying to fix things and work our way back up.”

The next step up is Monday at 0-13 Weber State.

Big Sky rankings — Just a skosh late

Due to time constraints, I bring you an abbreviated version of this week’s Big Sky rankings.

1. Northern Colorado 6-6, 3-0
Last week: No. 3
In a two-game home stand, the UNC Bears beat Weber State like a dirty rug 69-48 and held off Idaho State late 71-63.

The Bears have yet to play a conference game away from home where they’ve won nine straight, but this week UNC travels to Bozeman Thursday and Missoula Saturday. If D'shara Strange and Lauren Oosdyke can pull off two wins then they will have made a loud and clear statement that the team to beat in the Big Sky resides in Greeley, Colo.

2. Eastern Washington 7-6, 3-1
Last week: No. 1
The Eagles defeated Montana 58-56 in Cheney and fell to Montana State 73-60 two days later.

But EWU falls no lower than the second spot because conference wins at Idaho State and over Montana are impressive. What happened against the Cats? In the second half, Montana State hit 17 of its 28 field goal attempts and the Eagles shot just 26 percent from the floor, resulting in a 45-30 second-half beat down.

3. Montana 9-4, 3-1
Last week: No. 2
Winning on the road is tough so after the Lady Griz lost to EWU 58-56 in Cheney, Montana head coach Robin Selvig must have been pleased after his team traveled to Portland two days later and beat PSU 70-55.

Montana, 6-1 in Missoula this season, hosts North Dakota tonight (Thursday) and Northern Colorado (Saturday) in a key two-game stretch.

4. Montana State 9-4, 3-1
Last week: No. 9

The Bobcats leap up five spots this week because beating Portland State 81-74 and Eastern 73-60 on the road is unquestionably impressive.

MSU’s Rachel Semansky earned Co-Big Sky player of the week honors averaging 21 points and 6.5 rebounds in the victories. And Kallie Durham, the Cats’ starting point guard who had missed the previous four games, returned against Portland State following a leg injury. In her absence, Montana State was 1-3. With her in the lineup, the Bobcats are 8-1.

5. Southern Utah 8-5, 2-1
Last week: No. 5   

The Thunderbirds lost to Northern Arizona 71-61 at home and then rebounded for a 79-71 victory over Sacramento State.

The home loss to NAU isn’t good but the T-birds have won six of their last seven, so they retain the fifth spot for the second week in a row. And North Dakota’s victories over Utah and Idaho State make Southern Utah’s Dec. 20 six-point victory in Grand Forks look better and better.

6. North Dakota 7-6, 2-2
Last week: No. 7
Mascot-less UND’s start in the Big Sky was less than stellar after dropping its first two conference games, and head coach Travis Brewster was suspended for a game after criticizing officials.

But now North Dakota has a three-game winning streak following a 64-59 victory over Idaho State and a 74-49 whitewash of Weber State in the freezing cold of Grand Forks, N.D.

7. Idaho State 6-7, 1-3
Last week: No. 4
The Bengals continue to slide down the rankings. Losses at North Dakota (64-59) and Northern Colorado (71-63) accelerated the slide this week.

For Idaho State to find any semblance of the club that was 14-2 in the Big Sky one year ago, the Bengals have to find a way to beat Southern Utah tonight (Thursday, Jan. 10), because a three-game road trip starting at Weber State, stopping by at Northern Arizona and finishing at Sacramento State awaits ISU next.

On the bright side, those are some of the weaker teams in the conference. If Idaho State finds a way to reverse its negative momentum it could be 5-3 heading into a four-game homestand starting against Montana Jan. 24.

8. Sacramento State 6-6, 1-2
Last week: No. 6
In its only game of last week, Sacramento State lost at Southern Utah 79-71.

If the Hornets are going to make a push in the conference it starts now with four games in Sacramento over the next nine days. Those opponents include Portland State, Eastern Washington, ISU and Weber State.

Realistically, the Hornets had better win at least two.

9. Portland State 7-6, 1-3
Last week: No. 8
At home, the Vikings lost to Montana State 81-74 and Montana 70-55.

I write the same thing every week, but the fact PSU is No. 9 in these rankings is a testament to the Big Sky’s abundance of talent and depth.

Interestingly, the Vikings and Bengals are the two front-runners in “most disappointing” teams four games into conference action, but unlike Idaho State, Portland State attempts to right the ship on the road this week at Sacramento State and Northern Arizona.

10. Northern Arizona 2-10, 1-2
Last week: No. 10
In an impressive road win, the Lumberjacks beat Southern Utah 71-61. The victory snapped a four-game losing streak and senior guard Amy Patton — the Big Sky’s leading scorer at 21.2 points a game — broke the program’s all-time scoring mark midway through the first half.

And perhaps even more importantly for NAU basketball fans, Amanda Frost returned from an injury suffered before the start of the season. In her 2012-13 debut the junior notched 27 points in 36 minutes. Suddenly, the Lumberjacks appear dangerous.

11. Weber State 0-13, 0-4
Last week: No. 11
The Wildcats miserable season continued with a 69-48 loss to Northern Colorado and a 73-49 defeat to North Dakota. The Wildcats’ scoring margin of -23.5 is 342 in the country (hint: 343 teams play Division I women’s basketball).

Is something wrong with the ISU women? Probably not

In three Big Sky games, the Idaho State women have lost as many contests as all of last season when the Bengals didn’t suffer a second conference loss until Feb. 23.

But now after Thursday night’s 64-59 setback to North Dakota in Grand Forks, ISU sits at 1-2 in the Big Sky, 6-6 overall and losers of its last three. And with Northern Colorado — the preseason No. 2 pick by both the media and coaches — as the next opponent in Greeley, Colo., the prospect of another loss is real.

With nearly the entire roster back — including heady point guard Kaela Oakes, the versatile Ashleigh Vella and the fearless Lindsey Reed — this season, the Bengals were sure to equalize or even surpass any standard set before.

Right?

Yet there they are in eighth place.

Why?

Is it a dearth of shooting? In losses to Eastern Washington and North Dakota, the Bengals field goal percentage was 28.6 and 35.5 percent, respectively. In the 13-point win over Portland State, ISU converted a season-high 48.9 percent of its field goal attempts as a team.

So in that small, very small sample size one could simply point to a lack of shooting for Idaho State’s shortcomings. But for the season, the Bengals have a 36.8 field goal percentage. In 2011-12, that mark was 38.2 percent.

That slight drop in efficiency roughly translates to one less field goal made per game for ISU, not exactly a dramatic drop off.

Are the early season struggles somehow related to the loss of Chelsea Pickering? Pickering wasn’t only the Bengals’ leading scorer last season. It was her leadership on the floor and the way she could nail a timely 3-pointer when ISU desperately needed a boost. She made plays.

But I’m not sure head coach Seton Sobolewski hasn’t figured out a way to fill the void Pickering left behind. Kara Jenkins, Reed, Cydney Horton, Abyee Maracigan and Jessa Jeppesen have all upped their scoring averages.

And right now, Idaho State is averaging 60.5 points a game. That’s down from 62 a year ago. But its flawed to directly compare the numbers because the average from 2011-12 includes 32 games and an entire campaign in the Big Sky where this year’s average is over 12 games, many of which were against schools from the Big 12, the Big Ten and the Pac-12.

So while Idaho State hasn’t exactly shot well in the Big Sky up to this point, it’s too easy to point to field goal percentages.

Here are a couple thoughts to consider, though.

Kaela Oakes’ shooting touch is off. For the season, Oakes is 32-for-111 from the floor (28.8 percent). Last season she hit on 38 percent of her attempts.

Perhaps she’s having to play too many minutes. Since going 5-for-11 from the field against Portland State, Oakes is a combined 6-for-28 in the Bengals’ last three games, and she’s doing it while playing nearly the entire 40 minutes.

And while Oakes’ shooting stroke has been floundering, Vella has been an absolute foul magnet, fouling out of ISU’s last four games. For the season now, Vella has been disqualified from half of Idaho State’s games. She fouled out five times last year and only twice against Big Sky opponents.

Part of the blame falls to Vella. At times Sobolewski has let her remain on the floor while still in foul trouble hopeful that she’ll avoid another. Recently, she hasn’t.

And part of the foul dilemma is just bad luck. Make no mistake, those fouls are killer. When she picks up a third in the first half or a fourth with 15 minutes to play, it affects the way Vella can attack the basket offensively or how aggressively she can dive for loose balls.

Any player who relies on touch and rhythm for their offense is jolted from any sense of normalcy when consistently saddled with multiple fouls.

And, really, small things like Vella’s fouls and Oakes’ poor shooting can be a big part of the difference between a win and a loss.

Maybe that’s the real reason why the Bengals are 1-2 right now instead of the assumed 3-0. Last season was a magical, spectacular season. A lot of things have to go right for any team to win the regular season title by a complete three games like Idaho State did.

No matter how hard ISU prepared for this year, the journey back to the top was always going to have bumps along the road.

The conference is absolutely loaded right now. The same night Idaho State fell to North Dakota, Montana State — off a loss to a Division II opponent — beat Portland State on the road. A 1-10 Northern Arizona team traveled to 7-4 Southern Utah and knocked off the Thunderbirds. And Eastern Washington held on for a two-point win over Montana.

The difference between the Big Sky’s best team — whomever that may be — and the seventh or eighth isn’t vast. On any night, every team in the conference — Weber State notwithstanding — is susceptible to losing.

Let’s put concern over the ISU women to the side for the moment because, folks, Oakes is a gamer. She’ll find a way to improve her shooting efficiency. Vella will figure out how not to foul out every night and Sobolewski — there’s not a better coach in the Big Sky — will coax every single ounce of effort possible from his players.

There’s nothing wrong with the Bengal women. They’re on the road in the middle of conference action fighting, scrapping and clawing for everything they can get.

Strap yourselves in ISU fans because the flight through this season may not fly smoothly like the last, but it might end up as a lot more fun.

Big Sky rankings — New Years version

    My New Year’s resolution is to put together the perfect set of rankings.
    With that impossible set of criteria laid out, I figure there’s no better way to start 2013 then with a complete failure.
    This week’s rankings incorporate more of the non-conference results. For example, North Dakota — No. 9 last week — moves up to No. 7 because it receives major points for bouncing back from two conferences losses and beating Utah in Salt Lake City.
    And Southern Utah takes a big leap up because, well, shoot, because the Thunderbirds are 7-4 and averaging 71 points a game.
    Remember, don’t fret over a ranking too high or low. The list is fluid and just about any team is bound to have its ups and downs like a Cowboys fan watching Dallas attempt to make its way into the playoffs.
    Without further ado.

1. Eastern Washington 6-5, 2-0
    Last Week: No. 1
    Beat Warner Pacific 58-47 at home.
    Warner Pacific who? That’s the Knights, an NAIA school out of Portland, Ore. Not an impressive win — at half it was a 25-all tie — but the lackluster performance can be somewhat overlooked considering there was a reported attendance of 202.
    Anyway, Eastern retains the No. 1 spot for at least another week and they do so in no small part because of Lexie Nelson’s brilliance. Against the Knights, in 31 minutes, Nelson has 19 points, four rebounds and three assists. She’s now the third-leading scorer in the Big Sky.
    Here’s the question for Eastern, though. Can it protect its home court when Montana (Jan. 3) and Montana State (Jan. 5) come to visit?

2. Montana 8-3, 2-0
    Last week: No. 2 
    The Lady Griz were off.
    Montana hasn’t played anywhere else other than the friendly, to them, confines of Dahlberg Arena since Nov. 25. They’re 6-1 at home with the lone loss to Wyoming Dec. 6. But 10 of their next 18 are on the road, starting with Eastern in Cheney, Thursday, and then Portland State Saturday.

3. Northern Colorado 4-6, 1-0       
    Last week: No. 5   
    The Bears waxed Johnson & Wales to a tune of 102-33. Stunning stat from the game: Northern Colorado outrebounded Johnson & Wales 71-25. The Bears receive no bonus points from feasting on a cupcake of such epic proportion, but they move up from the fifth spot because of ISU’s loss. And Sacramento State’s only Big Sky win (over Montana State) is looking weaker after the Bobcats lost to Montana State-Billings.

4. Idaho State 6-5, 1-1
    Last week: No. 3 
    ISU lost to Arizona State 60-53 on the road.
    Where, oh where to put the Bengals. Once again, Idaho State played well on the road, nearly upsetting a team from one of the major conferences (it was 46-46 with five minutes to play). But the Sun Devils closed with a 14-7 run to pull away late.   
    Ultimately, it’s Idaho State’s second-straight loss and the Bengals will have to recover on the road at North Dakota Thursday and then at Northern Colorado Saturday.
    As always, the Bengals will rely on the Big Sky’s top-ranked scoring defense (54.6 points per game).

5. Southern Utah 7-4, 1-0
    Last week: No. 8 
    The Thunderbirds beat Utah Valley 66-49. Is Southern Utah for real? The T-Birds average 71 points a contest (best in the conference), and still play a little defense (only ISU has a better field-goal percentage defense). Throw in the fact that Southern Utah leads the Big Sky in rebounding margin, and they may continue to climb these rankings (which I’m sure is all their concerned with).
   
6. Sacramento State 6-5, 1-1
    Last week: No. 4 
    In the best game of the week, the Hornets beat UC Davis 66-65 in overtime. Following a go-ahead 3-pointer by the Aggies, Sacramento State’s Alle Moreno dropped in a runner from the lane with one second remaining to nab the victory.
    So why in the world do the Hornets drop two spots after winning? First, their lone conference win over Montana State is looking less impressive. Second, while the Hornets are second in the conference in scoring, they’re one of the worst defensive teams in the country, allowing 72 points a game (that’s 318th in the nation).
    More than anything, Sacramento State dropping is a testament to the quality and depth of the Big Sky. We’ll know if Sacramento State is any good by the night of Jan. 17, because the Hornets next four opponents includes Southern Utah, Portland State, Eastern Washington and Idaho State.

7. North Dakota 5-6, 0-2
    Last week: No. 9 
    Mascot-less North Dakota traveled to Utah and beat the Utes 62-56.
    OK, I’ll be honest. When I heard the score, the first thing I did was look up Utah’s record, assuming it was well under .500. Well, it’s not. The Utes entered the game 9-1.
    So what’s the recipe for North Dakota to pull off the upset? Hold the Utes to 33.8 percent shooting from the floor, including 1-of-16 from the field, while simultaneously limiting turnovers (10 for the game), shoot 47.6 percent in the second half and outscore Utah 18-9 from the free throw line.
    And NAU’s Madi Buck — Co-Big Sky player of the week — finished with 18 points, six rebounds and five blocks.

8. Portland State 7-4, 1-1
    Last week: No. 7 
    Portland State beat Portland 64-61.  Like Sacramento State, the Vikings drop in the rankings despite winning, but North Dakota’s victory over 9-2 Utah is better than Portland State’s over 5-8 Portland.
    And, really, these rankings will shake themselves out now that we’re into Big Sky action full time starting this week.
    For a moment, let’s focus on Courtne VanBrocklin. In 40 minutes, against the Pilots, she had 18 points, seven rebounds, six assists, one steal and one block. 

9. Montana State 7-4, 1-1
      Last week: No. 6 
      Losing to Sacramento State at home is excusable, especially without leading scorer Kalli Durham. The Bobcats seemed to recover with a by-the-book, 17-point win over Northern Arizona two days later. But losing to Montana State-Billings, a Division II team, at home, is flat out embarrassing. Shaking salt over the open wound, it was an exhibition game for MSU-B — meaning it wouldn’t count on its schedule — but it certainly did for the Cats.
    Now Montana State is 1-2 without Durham, who was leading the Cats with 13.8 points a game, compared to 6-2 when she was in the starting lineup.

10. Northern Arizona 1-10, 0-2
     Last week: No. 10 
     NAU took an extended holiday break.
    Are you a Lumberjacks’ fan and looking for a bright spot during a 1-10 season? Then cherish Amy Patton who is the nation’s 12th leading scorer at 21.5 points per game.

11. Weber State 0-11, 0-2
      Last week: No. 11           
      Mercifully, for Wildcat fans, Weber State took a week off from losing.