kang@journalnet.com

Seton Sobolewski can't explain it.

For the second straight game, the Idaho State women's basketball team overcame a second-half deficit and tied the score with eight-plus minutes remaining only to unravel down the stretch. That formula led to a 76-65 loss at Utah Valley on Saturday three days after it doomed Idaho State to a 65-58 defeat at Boise State.

For now, the Bengals' late collapses remain a matter of speculation for Sobolewski, their coach.

"I don't know if we're getting nervous," Sobolewski said by cell phone. "I don't know if people are getting tight."

Idaho State (3-8) trailed by its largest margin at 42-30 early in the second half before tying the game at 52-52 with 8:09 remaining.

The Bengals fell victim to turnovers at this juncture of the game against Boise State, but it was cold shooting that did them in Saturday. They hit just four of their final 16 shots, with several misses coming from close range.

Utah Valley (4-5) capitalized with a 9-0 run, and Idaho State never got within five points again. Two-time All-American post Robyn Fairbanks, who finished with 19 points and 17 rebounds, chipped in two baskets during the final eight minutes of the game, but what hurt the Bengals more was forward Julie McMurray's 10 points during that span.

McMurray, who was averaging 18.4 points per game entering the contest, erupted for 30. She also grabbed 10 rebounds, seven of them on the offensive end. Sobolewski said her inside presence took the Bengals by surprise.

"She was having some big games, but we felt like we could contain her," Sobolewski said. "What was surprising about McMurray was what she did close to the basket."

Still, until the closing minutes - and even during that time - Idaho State did plenty that was praise-worthy. Senior post Michelle Grohs scored a team-high 16 points. Post Cara Lambert made her first-ever start and tied her career best with seven points. More importantly, she did a good job denying Fairbanks position down low and, subsequently, easy looks on the basket, Sobolewski said.

Freshman guard Sheila Adams scored seven points in the final 1:33 in an attempt to rally the Bengals and tallied a career-best 14.

Still, all that was undone by Idaho State's continuing tendency to fade late in games.

Besides nerves, fatigue also likely contributed to that trend. Without sophomore guard Chelsea Pickering, still out with a sprained ankle, Idaho State played essentially a six-player rotation. Point guard Jenna Brown spent all 40 minutes on the court for a second straight time.

While some might consider Idaho State's ability to keep games close under these circumstances somewhat laudable, Sobolewski doesn't.

"We're competitive, but that's definitely frustrating not to win," Sobolewski said. "You get sick of the moral victories. You want to get the 'W.'"

Utah Valley 76, Idaho State 65

Idaho State (3-8)

Oana Iacovita 4-11 0-4 8, Michelle Grohs 6-19 0-0 16, Cara Lambert 3-8 1-2 7, Jenna Brown 3-11 4-4 11, Devin Diehl 3-8 0-0 8, Sheila Adams 5-9 2-2 14, Verity Peets 0-0 1-2 1.

Utah Valley (4-5)

Julie McMurray 13-21 4-6 30, Blake Reynolds 1-3 0-0 2, Robyn Fairbanks 8-15 3-5 19, Sandy Wall 3-8 2-2 9, Asumi Nakayama 0-3 3-4 3, Hollie Beaman 0-1 0-1 0, Erika Newbold 1-1 0-3 2, Kayla Burningham 4-9 0-0 11.

Halftime - Utah Valley 39-28. 3-Point Goals - Idaho State 9-24 (Oana Iacovita 0-1, Michelle Grohs 4-7, Jenna Brown 1-5, Devin Diehl 2-6, Sheila Adams 2-5), Utah Valley 4-11 (Julie McMurray 0-3, Robyn Fairbanks 0-1, Sandy Wall 1-1, Hollie Beaman 0-1, Kayla Burningham 3-5). Rebounds - Idaho State 35 (Oana Iacovita 11), Utah Valley 43 (Fairbanks 17). Assists - Idaho State 13 (Sheila Adams 4), Utah Valley 21 (Asumi Nakayama 10). Fouled out - None. A - 530.