ISU, UM, NC, SAC Win Conference Games
Idaho State, Montana, Northern Colorado and Sacramento State all won Big Sky Conference women’s basketball games Thursday night.
Idaho State defeated Northern Arizona 67-46. With the win, ISU clinched a spot in the Big Sky Conference Championship March 14-16.
Montana defeated Southern Utah 70-54, Northern Colorado defeated Eastern Washington 67-66 and Sacramento State defeated Weber State 63-57.
Conference play will continue on Saturday starting at 12 p.m. Central when North Dakota hosts Eastern Washington. At 2:05 p.m Mountain, Portland State will travel to Northern Colorado and Sacramento State and Idaho State will tip off in in Pocatello, Idaho. At 3:05 p.m. Mountain, Montana State will host Montana. That game can be seen on Max Media. At 8:05 p.m. Mountain, Northern Arizona will travel to Weber State.
Idaho State 67, Northern Arizona 46: ISU was led by Kaela Oakes, who had 18 points, Jessa Jeppesen added 13 points, and Ashleigh Vella recorded 11 points. Jeppesen and Abyee Maracigan led on the boards with seven.
NAU was led by Amanda Frost, who had 11 points, and was the only Lumberjack player to score double-digits. Aubrey Davis led on the boards with seven.
Montana 70, Southern Utah 54: UM was led by Kenzie De Boer, who had 18 points, and Shanae Gilham added 11 points. Jordan Sullivan and Alyssa Smith led on the boards with seven a piece.
SUU was led by Carli Moreland, who had 12 points, and Andrea Jones and Desiree Jackson both added 11 points. Moreland and Lori Parkinson led on the boards with seven.
Northern Colorado 67, Eastern Washington 66: With 58 seconds left in the game, EWU had a five-point lead before a jumper from Stephanie Lee cut the lead. A turnover by EWU lead to a jumper by D’shara Strange to cut the lead to one with 31 seconds left.
Another turnover by EWU and a jumper by Strange again gave NC the win. The Bears were led by D’shara Strange, who had 21 points and Stephanie Lee added 19 points. Lindsay Mallon and Lauren Oosdyke both added 10 points. Strange led on the boards with six.
EWU was led by Aubrey Ashenfelter, who had 15 points, Kylie Huerta added 14 points, Laura Hughes recorded 13 points, and Carrie Ojeda added 10. Melissa Williams led on the boards with six.
The Eagles shot 53 percent from the floor to NC’s 43 percent. EWU added 20 rebounds, while the Bears had 11 steals and five blocks.
Sacramento State 63, Weber State 57: Weber State broke the Big Sky Conference record for consecutive losses with 45. SAC held the record of 44 set from 2000-03.
SAC was led by Kylie Kuhns, who recorded a double-double with 21 points and 20 rebounds. Megan Kritscher added 13 rebounds and five blocks. Mallorie Franco and Fantasia Hilliard both added 10 points.
Kylie Kuhns broke the Big Sky Conference career rebound record of 1,174 set from 2004-08 by Natalie Doma of Idaho State. Kuhns now has 1,178 career rebounds.
WSU was led by Kia Rhodes, who had 15 points, and Desiree Ramos added nine points. Kalie Matthews led on the boards with 15.
WSU shot 31.8 percent from the floor to SAC’s 41.2 percent. The Hornets shot 7.7 percent from the 3-point line (1-13 shooting).