OGDEN, Utah – The Idaho State women's basketball team has been selected to defend its Big Sky Conference title in both the coaches and media polls.
The Bengals finished with 97 points and eight first-place votes in the coaches poll while the team earned 154 total points with eight first-place votes in the media poll.
Northern Colorado finished second in the coaches poll with 88 points and one first-place vote while Montana took third with 77 points and two first-place votes. Montana State finished fourth with 72 points, Portland State took fifth with 63 points and North Dakota placed sixth with 53 points. Sacramento State (50), Eastern Washington (40), Northern Arizona (28), Weber State (17) and Southern Utah rounded out the poll.
The media poll was very similar with ISU, Northern Colorado, Montana and Montana State taking the first four spots. North Dakota was selected fifth and Sacramento finished sixth. Portland State, Eastern Washington, Northern Arizona, Southern Utah and Weber State rounded out the poll.
“These polls don't change our mentality,” ISU Head Coach
Seton Sobolewski said. “We don't get over-excited about the polls. They can be fun and it's always interesting to see what people are thinking but it doesn't impact how we are going to approach the upcoming season.”
Last season, Idaho State finished 14-2 in Big Sky action and hosted the Big Sky Tournament as the regular season champion. The Bengals won the tournament after defeating Sacramento State in the semifinal and Northern Colorado in the final, sending the Bengals to the NCAA Tournament for the third time in program history and the first time since 2007.
ISU lost starter
Chelsea Pickering but returns
Kaela Oakes,
Ashleigh Vella,
Lindsey Reed and
Cydney Horton. Oakes was named first team all-conference while Vella was named honorable mention. Reed and Vella were named to the all-tournament team.
The 2012-13 basketball season starts November 9 and conference action begins December 20. The Big Sky Women's Basketball Championship is slated for March 14-16 and will be hosted by the regular season-champion.
We Are Your Bengals
Coaches Poll
Team Points
1. Idaho State 97 (8)
2. Northern Colorado 88 (1)
3. Montana 77 (2)
4. Montana State 72
5. Portland State 63
6. North Dakota 53
7. Sacramento State 50
8. Eastern Washington 40
9. Northern Arizona 28
10. Weber State 17
11. Southern Utah 13
Media Poll
Team Points
1. Idaho State 154 (8)
2. Northern Colorado 146 (4)
3. Montana 135 (3)
4. Montana State 127
5. North Dakota 95
6. Sacramento State 83
7. Portland State 78
8. Eastern Washington 65
9. Northern Arizona 53
10. Southern Utah 26
11. Weber State 25
