(Phoenix, AZ) In a game that was more or less thrown together in the last 72 hours, the Big Sky Conference Bengals from Idaho State (12-1) came into the arena with a post season feel to the game. Just like, “win and advance” in the tournament, this was good test for the Antelopes (9-2) having to “play on the fly.”
Both teams came out shooting well to start the game. At the first media time out, GCU had a slight 10-8 lead with 4:07 left in the opening quarter on 4-5 shooting while ISU countered with 4-7 from the field.
With just over three minutes left to go in the first quarter, Coach Molly Miller brought the heat and with a three quarter court trapping defense.
With February soon approaching, its the time that most teams will show some new wrinkles in their game plan.
Katie Scott sustained a left ankle injury in the waning seconds of the first quarter. It looked like she may have come down in the foot of one of the Bengal players.
The Bengal’s Callie Bourne sank seventeen foot jumper at the buzzer to tie the score at 12-12 at the end of the quarter.
GCU’s point guard Taylor Caldwell led the Lopes with six points with forward Karla Balaguer adding four points.
Both teams had eight of their twelve points in the paint in the opening quarter.
Both trams exchanged 4-0 runs but then with under seven minutes left, GCU shorting went cold as the Bengals went up 27-17 midway through the second quarter.
Scott came back into the action after the ankle injury due to GCU going over five minutes without a basket. The Antelopes had only scored five points in the quarter and training 33-17.
Finally the scorning drought ended for the Antelopes when Ny’dajah Jackson scored a layup off a steal by Tianna Brown.
The second quarter was owned by the Bengals as they went on a 17-2 run to take a commanding lead at the half 33-19.
Caldwell still led the Lopes with six points but was shut out in the second quarter.
Bengals Dora Goles canned a three and the lead went to fifteen 36-21 and quickly to seventeen with a layup hoop by Delaney Moore.
Tianna Brown faked a three point attempt and blew by her defender to score and was fouled completing the three point play 39-28.
Idaho State’s Coach Seton Sobolewski was whistled for a technical foul after giving the lead official at earful.
Idaho State’s ability to move and cut without the ball gave the Antelopes fits the entire game.
The inability for Canyon to covert threes made them a one demential team having putting a up a goose egg 0-11 from beyond the arc at that point in the contest.
The third quarter ended with the Lopes still losing ground and an ISU 13-4 run to extend their lead 52-34.
Canyon’s coach Miller knew she was in for difficult game from the Boise Bengals but it put things in perspective to where her squad stood. It also highlighted what is needed going forward into the final month of the regular season.
Laura Piera who was hampered all game with foul problems picked up her fourth with 9;09 left in the game and sent her back to the bench yet another time.
ISU’s Caoch Sobolewski called a quick time out at the 7:50 mark just to keep his team focused after a quick three point spurt by the Lopes.
Taylor Caldwell hit GCU’s first three pointer at 7:03 mark and the Lopes were within ten 52-42 courtesy of a 8-0 run in the middle of the quarter. Scott was fouled but the free throw shooting woes continued to hamper their comeback hitting only 7-15.
Consequently, the Bengals went cold from the charity stripe going 1-8 in the final quater.
Canyon cut the lead to nine 53-44 in their last gasp comeback forcing another Bengal timeout.
Piera hit a timely three off a second offensive possession to bring the Lopes within three 53-47.
Both teams had scoreless possessions until Goles hit a pair of free throws to stop GCU’s run and an eight point lead 55-47.
GCU showed more resilience in the final minute cutting it back to a two possession deficit 58-52 and 60-54, but with such large deficits to overcome, the gas tank finally ran dry as the Bengals won a hard fought contest 62-54.
The main takeaways for the Antelopes were the injury to Katie Scott in the second quarter and the frigid outside shooting on hitting 2-21 from three point land.
The Bengals owned the glass with a 46-31 advantage. Their cutting style of offense was more prevalent in fist half with good adjustments made by the Lopes coaching staff in the later part of the game.
GCU got back in the game due in large to pressure defense and forcing 24 Bengal turnovers.
If the Antelopes can tighten up on the boards, work on their perimeter shooting and getting better production from their bench, they should make some noise in the post season.
Molly Miller has done a remarkable job in her first year with GCU and from here on out, great things are bound to happen.
Monday February 1st is Canyon’s next game against Tarleton University at the Arena.
GCU sits now at 9-3 overall and 1-1 in he WAC with Cal Baptist way out in front with a 6-0 conference record.
