POCATELLO — It took one January matchup before Idaho State found out this month will not be as smooth as December when it went 5-0.

The Bengals lost 61-46 to rival Weber State in their conference opener Saturday at Reed Gym. It was the second loss of the season to a non-power conference school and first home loss for the Bengals (7-5, 0-1 Big Sky Conference).

Idaho State’s mistakes were spread across all four quarters, with the final period being the boiling point. The Bengals tallied a game-high 10 fourth quarter turnovers, which led to a two-point deficit ballooning to 15 by the game’s conclusion.

The 30 turnovers given up over the course of the game took a toll on the Bengals. Idaho State appeared glassy eyed near the end, unready to receive passes or defend plays deployed by Weber State’s offense. Senior Apiphany Woods, inbounding at one point, had to yell at her immobile teammates to get open.

“We got a little negative with ourselves and a little frustrated, and it kind of snowballed from there,” said ISU coach Seton Sobolewski. “I definitely think it’s an us issue. And not to take away from Weber because they did a great job.”

Idaho State performed well enough on defense, holding the Wildcats to a 31.9 field goal percentage. Deploying a defense of the opposite nature of the Wildcats, the Bengals packed it in and forced WSU to try to get around them or settle for jumpers.

But the difference was that Weber State launched 22 more shots than Idaho State, which was 40.4 percent from the field on 19 of 47 shooting.

The matchup lost by ISU is just the start of an 18-game conference slate that continues Thursday at Northern Colorado. The Bengals may not face another conference team that draws their weaknesses out quite like the Wildcats, who were 17th in points allowed and 68th in steals per game entering the day.

First-year Bengal Brooke Blair did not handle the pressuring defense well. The starting point guard accumulated 10 turnovers and five assists. Her peers at the point did not fare better though, adding four more turnovers without tallying an assist.

After the game, the ISU players were not available to the media. Sobolewski said they should rebound. They just have to come together and remain positive.

“We’ve got to realize this is one game,” Sobolewski said. “The good thing about all of this is these are fixable mistakes.”

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