Basketball can be a frustrating game.

The Idaho State women’s team knows that word all too well after a 51-50 overtime loss at Northern Illinois on Friday afternoon in the first-ever meeting between the two programs.

Why was so it frustrating?

Just look at the numbers. ISU held the Huskies to 17 points below their scoring average, took 19 more shots, scored 15 second-chance points, held NIU to 6-of-27 (22.2%) in the second half and overtime, forced 25 turnovers and scored 20 points off of them.

Yet, the Bengals still lost the game. Why?

Primarily because of the issues that have impacted them often over the past few seasons. Namely an inability to consistently generate offense, as well as fatigue.

After a first quarter that only saw the Bengals trailing 15-14, they went into another one of their scoring funks. Idaho State was outscored 19-6 in the second quarter, going just 2-of-15 (13.3%) in the period.

It all them to the Bengals going into the break down 34-20.

The deficit grew to as much as 16 points before NIU started to implode and the Bengals turned up the defense. Two 3-point shots and a pair of free throws, helped Idaho State outscore Northern Illinois 14-8 in the third quarter and get back in the game.

Then in the fourth quarter, NIU couldn’t make a basket, shooting an abysmal 1-of-13. And ISU took full advantage, tying up the game at the end of regulation at 45 all.

But the Bengals couldn’t hit enough shots or get to the free throw line enough to actually take a decent lead in the extra period. They had their chances, as the Huskies, in addition to the awful shooting, turned the ball over four times. But the Bengals shot 5-of-17 in the quarter.

Then in the overtime, ISU’s shooting completely went away as fatigue came into play. The Bengals went 1-of-10 in the five-minute extra period, five of those shots were air balls − a sure sign the players were tired and a 16-point second-half deficit was just a little too much to overcome.

Yet, even with everything going against them, the Bengals still had two chances to win it at the end.

With nine seconds left, Idaho State’s Sophia Covello fouled Alecia Doyle, an 84% free throw shooter.

Doyle missed not one, but both free throws. The rebound was grabbed by Maria Dias, who had been the Bengals best player in recent weeks and was coming off a 26-point game in the win over Missouri Kansas City. She raced down the court, cut down the baseline and put up a short jump shot, which missed everything.

In the scramble for the ball, she got it back and with time expiring put up another short shot.

It somehow missed again.

When the clock hit zero, some of the Huskie players raised their hands in triumph while also likely breathing a sigh of relief.

“Great comeback by our team in the second half,” Idaho State head coach Seton Sobolewski said. “They played phenomenal defense. We have to make a few more shots.”

For the game, ISU shot 19-of-76 (25%) from the floor, while NIU went 20-of-57 (35%). The Bengals finished nonconference play at 5-6. Northern Illinois saw their record go to 5-5.

Halle Wright scored 16 points, including some key baskets down the stretch to lead ISU. Covello had 11 points and Dias nine. Kasey Spink went scoreless, but did contribute eight rebounds, seven steals and two assists. The seven steals were one off the program record.

For NIU, its all-conference player Brooke Stonebreaker had a double-double with 14 points and 13 rebounds.

ISU is now off on its holiday break. The Bengals report back for practice on Dec. 26 and get ready to start conference play with the preseason Big Sky favorite Northern Arizona on Jan. 2 at Reed Gym. Radio coverage on KISU-FM begins at 6:40 p.m., ESPN+ coverage joins at the top of the hour.