North Dakota State
2-3
Idaho State
2-5
| Team | 1 | 2 | F |
|---|---|---|---|
| Idaho State | 27 | 28 | 55 |
| North Dakota State | 32 | 36 | 68 |
11/29/2008 7:15:00 PM | Women's Basketball
LOS ANGELES, Calif.--Abby Plucker scored 19 points to lead a trio of players in double-figures as North Dakota State University defeated Idaho State University 68-55 in the consolation game of the LMU Ayres Hotels Thanksgiving Tournament played Saturday, Nov. 29, at Gersten Pavillion. Plucker was named to the all-tournament team.
North Dakota State (2-3) opens Summit League play with Centenary College at 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, at the Bison Sports Arena.
NDSU led by as many as nine points midway in the second half, but Idaho State (2-5) kept close behind the play of Oana Iacovita, who finished with 13 points and 14 rebounds.
The Bengals trimmed the lead to three on several occasions, the last time pulling to within 48-45 on an Iacovita jumper with 7:30 remaining.
However, Nicole Vigil hit a three-pointer the next trip down the floor. Vigil then found an open Ashley Samuelson for an easy two. Vigil scored nine points, grabbed five rebounds and dished out four assists in her first extended outing of the season.
Inger Hodgson, Whitney Trecker, Vigil and Plucker each hit important free throws down the stretch. Plucker scored off a pass from Vigil and off her own steal to seal the win in the game's final seconds. Hodgson scored 13 points including a career-high trio of three-pointers, five assists and three steals. Penley netted 10 points.
Neither team could pull away in the first half. The score was tied on six occasions and changed hands twice.
Idaho State (2-4) led 25-24 on a Michelle Grohs jumper with 5:27 left. Grohs scored 10 points of her team-high 16 points in the first half.
On the next possession Vigil hit a running jumper from the left wing to put North Dakota State ahead 26-25 to start a mini 6-0 run. Samuelson rebounded in a missed shot, Hodgson found Penley inside and the Bison extended the advantage to 30-25.
A pair of Plucker free throws put NDSU up 32-27 at halftime.
North Dakota State shot 54.5 percent from the field in the first half and 49 percent overall compared to 43.1 percent for the Bengals. Idaho State made 6 of 11 from the three-point stripe.
The Bison outrebounded Idaho State 32-30.
