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.