by Zachary Knecht
Featured Image: Photo by Weber State Athletics
Idaho State Weber State Preview
After their first conference win, the Weber State Wildcats will stay home to take on the Idaho State Bengals Saturday. The contest will kick off the second half of conference play for the two teams, both looking to put together something meaningful.
Weber State enters play 5-16 with a 1-8 Big Sky record, securing their first victory against the Eastern Washington Eagles in their last matchup; Idaho State comes in 8-12, dropping six consecutive games and finding themselves at 3-6 in the conference with their last win being in their last duel against the Wildcats.
Previous Matchup
In their previous battle, the Wildcats were on the road against the Bengals, falling 65-52 to the hands of Idaho State. Though the score looks one-sided, the game was a battle until the final minutes, and we can see something similar Saturday. Weber State finally snapped their 12-game losing streak, while Idaho State’s continued to six, so these are two desperate teams looking to scrounge something together to attempt to revive their seasons.
Who to Watch
For the Wildcats, keep an eye out for Daryn Hickok and Vicky Parra. Hickok was the team’s leading scorer in their last game against the Bengals and has been a reliable scorer all season for an offense that needs everything it can get. Look for her to exceed her 15-point total from the January 7 duel.
Vicky Parra can be a threat to this offense. While her scoring role has been diminished over time, the junior forward had an efficient eight points on four of seven shooting from the field the last time they played the Bengals. Her defensive abilities will play a great role in the contest, but her scoring ability may be a game-changer.
For Idaho State, watch out for Laura Bello and Callie Bourne. The two wreaked havoc on the Wildcats last time, ending their days with a double-double each. There were no answers for their 37 combined points, but this will need to change for Weber State to pull out a second consecutive victory.
Needed Improvement
The ‘Cats need to rebound better in this one. The lack of boards from this roster was a decisive factor in their defeat. Both teams struggled to produce offensively, as they have all season, but a 47-31 rebounding deficit sealed Weber State’s fate. The more rebounds these teams get, the more chances they will have at the basket. This is much needed, with the Wildcats averaging 59.6 PPG and Idaho State averaging 56.6.
Game Time
The ‘Cats will host the Bengals at the Dee Events Center at 12:00 pm MST, looking to string another win together.
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