Jeni Guertin sat on the Idaho State bench and waited for coach Seton Sobolewski to motion her into their Jan. 31 game against Weber State.

The freshman post waited. And waited.

On this night, she had to wait until 4.4 seconds remained in overtime before Sobolewski called her name, and that came only after three Bengals had fouled out, leaving them with just four other players.

"That was kind of embarrassing," Guertin said sheepishly. "What can you do?"

The best answer appears to be: Just wait for the next game. Guertin and fellow backup post Verity Peets have seen their respective playing time fluctuate dramatically in the past few games, with each taking turns serving as the Bengals' primary option off the bench.

But while the two, like any self-respecting player, surely wish to play more than four seconds in games, the fact remains that they have enjoyed more time on the court since sophomore post Cara Lambert was ruled ineligible for the spring semester. For that, they have no complaints, even if those minutes arrive in spurts.

"We're lucky to have the both of them," Sobolewski said. "It's nice to have a couple of different options."

Entering today's 3:05 p.m. game at Eastern Washington, Peets and Guertin are averaging 8.9 and 6.9 minutes per game, respectively, in Big Sky play.

But neither is guaranteed her average in any one contest. A week before the Weber State contest in which Peets played 18 minutes to Guertin's four seconds, a sick Peets played just a single minute to Guertin's eight against Sacramento State. A week following Weber State, Peets didn't once enter a game against Northern Colorado, while Guertin logged 11 minutes.

The ebbs and flows in their court time haven't come as a complete surprise to them. Peets has noticed Sobolewski often calls on her to defend posts who are quick and agile, while Guertin usually matches up against stronger, sturdier opponents. Sobolewski concurred with that breakdown.

"More time, as always, would be nice, but you have to think reasonable," Peets said. "I understand coach's methods."

Peets and Guertin have also found those ups and downs easier to swallow because they represent an improvement over not playing at all.

Lambert's steady development earned her the unofficial role as Idaho State's primary post reserve toward the end of nonconference play. Until the university declared Lambert ineligible before a road trip to Montana a month ago, Peets had logged a total of six minutes in Idaho State's previous five games, while Guertin hadn't even played in eight straight.

When the two backups did get in games, their appearances often came in trickles.

"It's definitely harder when you're in for only 40 seconds. You just run up and down the court twice," Guertin said. "If you can get in and get a rebound in 40 seconds, that's pretty good."

Guertin and Peets have been able to showcase more of their skills lately.

Sobolewski praised Guertin following the Northern Colorado win for sinking two crucial free throws late in the game, while he used similarly glowing words when commenting about Peets' five-point, seven-rebound showing against Weber State.

With Lambert out, Sobolewski has assured the two backups they no longer have to stress about auditioning for minutes. They will get their playing time, if not in one game, then the next.

That's an arrangement Peets and Guertin have no problems with.

"Coach said: 'Make the best of it,' and that's what I'm doing," Guertin said. "I'm not complaining at all. I think it's great that I'm getting time and gaining experience hopefully for next year."

Idaho State (7-16, 4-6 Big Sky) at Eastern Washington (10-14, 5-6)

When: 3:05 p.m. today

Where: Reese Court, Cheney, Wash.

Watch/Listen: www.bigskytv.org/91.1 FM (KISU)

What's at stake:

A season sweep over Eastern Washington.

Key matchup:

Eastern Washington post Julie Piper vs. Oana Iacovita. If Iacovita can contain the Eagles' top scorer and rebounder like she did in Idaho State's 71-54 win on Jan. 8 at Reed Gym, the Bengals should stand a good chance of winning.

Three things about the Eagles:

n The Eagles haven't finished higher than .500 in Big Sky play since posting an 8-6 mark in the 2004-2005 season.

n Eastern Washington ranks second in the conference with a 36.7 percent mark from 3-point range in Big Sky play. But the Eagles have allowed Big Sky opponents to hit 38.8 percent of their treys, the second-worst mark in the league.

n The Bengals should remind themselves not to foul Eagles junior Nicole Scott if the game stays close at the end. Scott has hit 88.9 percent of her free throws in Big Sky play, the second-highest mark in the league.

Happy ending if…

The Bengals hold their own on the boards. The Eagles hauled in 18 offensive rebounds the last time they met.

Sad ending if…

The Eagles' nine-player rotation tires out the Bengals and gets them in foul trouble.

Bottom line:

A win would inch Idaho State that much closer to clinching a spot in the Big Sky tournament.