POCATELLO, Idaho (Interstat) — In a defensive struggle defined by ball security and rebounding, the Idaho State Bengals remained undefeated with a 61-49 victory over the UC Irvine Anteaters in a non-conference women’s basketball game Wednesday night at Holt Arena.

The Bengals improved to 3-0 on the young season, while the Anteaters fell to 1-2.

Idaho State’s defense was the story of the game, forcing UC Irvine into 22 turnovers while committing only eight themselves. The Bengals converted those miscues into 21 points and also dominated the interior, outscoring the Anteaters 32-16 in the paint and securing nine offensive rebounds to UC Irvine’s four. The Bengals also recorded 15 steals and 15 assists, showcasing a disruptive and cohesive defensive effort.

The game was decided early as Idaho State raced out to a 19-9 lead after the first quarter and extended the advantage to 37-24 by halftime. The Bengals’ lead grew to as many as 16 points in the second half before a late push by the Anteaters in the fourth quarter narrowed the final margin.

UC Irvine struggled to find any consistent offensive rhythm, scoring just eight points in the third quarter. While they shot an efficient 7 of 17 from three-point range and a perfect 8 of 8 from the free throw line, they were hampered by the high turnover count and managed only 17 field goals on 44 attempts overall.

Idaho State’s offensive attack was led by a balanced effort. Kacey Spink, a 5-foot-9 guard from Spokane, Washington, filled the stat sheet with eight points, nine rebounds and five assists in 27 minutes. Piper Carlson, a 6-foot-1 forward from Albertville, Minnesota, was a force inside, contributing 10 points, nine rebounds, two assists and a block.

Tasia Jordan of Melrose Park, Illinois, provided a scoring punch off the bench with a team-high 12 points and five rebounds. Sophia Covello added seven points and three assists, while Maeva Gauffrenet of Toucy, France, chipped in eight points.

For UC Irvine, Lauryn Madsen of Warden, Washington, led all scorers with 12 points, connecting on four three-pointers. Naomy Zonzon-Huyghe, from La Roche-Sur-Yon, France, added nine points and three rebounds. Jada Wynn of Yorba Linda, California, pulled down a team-high eight rebounds to go with five points, and Nohealani Stores of Redwood City, California, controlled the glass with nine rebounds in just 19 minutes of play.

Ameerah Grant, a 5-foot-4 guard from Brown Deer, Wisconsin, provided a spark for the Anteaters with seven points and four assists in her 12 minutes on the court.

The announced attendance at Holt Arena was 807.

The Bengals will look to continue their winning streak when they host South Dakota on Sunday. The Anteaters return to action Saturday at home against Northern Arizona.