MISSOULA, Mont. - Emily Faurholt scored a game-high 22 points, but the University of Idaho women's basketball dropped a tough game on the road to the University of Montana, 58-50.
"I am very proud of our players," Idaho head coach Mike Divilbiss said. "We competed very well on both ends of the floor and I am proud of the effort. In a game like this in a place like this you have to do everything perfect. We had a couple breakdowns that led to them being able to get away from us because Montana is a very good basketball team."
Faurholt shot 9-of-22 from the floor in the game and added nine rebounds to her point total. Leilani Mitchell, the only other Vandal player to score in double figures, finished with 16 points and totaled nine assists for the fourth-consecutive game.
The Vandals (3-6) began the game ice-cold as they made just eight baskets in the first half. Faurholt began the game with four points to take a 4-3 lead two minutes in, however Idaho missed its next 11 shots and Montana built a 14-4 advantage at the 13:53 mark. The Vandals fought to bring the score within one point at 17-16 with just under seven minutes remaining in the half, but the Grizzlies responded by building a 12 point advantage at halftime, 34-22.
The Vandals shot just 8-of-29 (.276) from the floor in the half. Faurholt had 11 points and Mitchell assisted on six of the eight baskets at intermission.
"We didn't shoot the ball well in the first half, but I felt we played well defensively and kept the game close enough for us to get back in it once the shots started to fall," Divilbiss said.
Faurholt began the second half with a 7-0 run to bring the Vandals within five points at 34-29. The teams went back and forth and the margin was again five points at the 10:31 mark when Montana led 45-40. The Vandals missed 3-of-4 free throws on the ensuing possession, but back-to-back Montana turnovers and a 3-pointer from Mitchell brought the Vandals to within one point at 45-44 with 9:15 left in the game. The shooting woes from the first half returned at that point and the Vandals missed their next 10 shots and a free throw as Montana built a 55-44 lead. The scoreless streak ended with a Karly Felton lay in with 1:39 remaining in the game, ending a 7:36 drought. The teams exchanged free throws over the final minutes and Faurholt hit a jumper late to bring the final margin to eight points.
The Vandals finished the game with a 40-38 rebounding advantage that included 16 offensive rebounds. Idaho failed to convert on its opportunities, however, as the team managed just eight second-chance points. Idaho committed 17 turnovers in the game while Montana grabbed 11 steals and blocked nine shots.
"We are disappointed to be 3-6, but we are not focused on our record right now. We are worried about the process we are in and the end result. This is a very good group of players who have a very bright future that I am excited to be a part of. I will always believe in this team," Divilbiss said.
The Vandals will now take some time off for the holidays before returning to Moscow for a home game versus Portland State, December 28. It will be just the third home game for Idaho this season and the first since November 30.
"We just went through the toughest stretch of schedule I have seen as a coach. Only the strong survive a schedule like we just went through and our team is going to come out with fire and with a drive that will help us through the rest of the season," Divilbiss said.
