News Story - Idaho State Journal

BOISE -- Marisa Stotler did not have a great first half Wednesday against Idaho State.

The Boise State sophomore forward had two points in four minutes of play, but even more noticeable to head coach Gordy Presnell was her lack of inspired defense.

Stotler turned it around on both ends, leading a late Bronco surge for a 65-58 nonconference win over the Bengals.

"She was on her heels and got beat a few times in a row for layups," Presnell said. "I told her, 'You can't give up more than you make.' We sat her for a bit and to her credit, she really got fired up and played a heck of a game after halftime."

In the second half, Stotler notched 12 points and was pivotal in erasing an Idaho State (3-7) lead in the second half. The Broncos (5-5) held a 13-point lead in the first half at one point but saw it disappear in the first few minutes of the final frame.

The Bengals held their last lead with 11:02 to play on a Cara Lambert jumper to make it 47-45. From that point on, Stotler had 10 points, five rebounds and three steals.

"You have to give Boise credit," Idaho State coach Seton Sobolewski said. "They got the ball where they needed to. Stotler made some tough shots and was the hot hand for them."

Boise State came storming out of the gate, taking a 20-7 lead 7:18 into the game, but Idaho State came right back to go into the half, cutting the advantage to 34-30. The Bengals scored the first four points of the second half and never let the Broncos lead by more than four until the final three minutes.

After a Verity Peets layup got the Bengals within 57-55 with 2:59 to play, Stotler hit a pair of free throws seven seconds later and a jumper with 1:19 to stretch the lead to 61-55, putting the Bengals away.

"We've struggled with having big gaps where we couldn't score and we're looking for someone to step up, and Marisa certainly answered," Presnell said.

During the Broncos' big push in the final 11 minutes, they forced the Bengals into nine turnovers, while giving it up five times themselves. Idaho State committed 21 turnovers overall, which Boise State converted into 19 points.

"There were some critical possessions where we turned the ball over," Sobolewski said.

Idaho State played without the services of regular start Chelsea Pickering, who injured her ankle Monday in practice.

Sobolewski said Pickering again will be a game-time decision when the Bengals play at Utah Valley on Saturday.

This document was originally published online on Thursday, December 11, 2008

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