GREENVILLE, N.C. - Emily Faurholt scored a game-high 24 points, but her basket at the buzzer was waived off and the University of Idaho women's basketball team fell just short in a 76-74 double overtime loss to Southern University at the Lady Pirate Invitational.

The Vandals (2-4) trailed the Jaguars (3-2) by two points with 11 seconds remaining in the second overtime of Sunday's consolation game and called a timeout to setup a play. The play went into motion and Faurholt banked a shot off the glass that would have sent the game into its third overtime, however it was left her hand just after the buzzer sounded and left Idaho with its fourth-consecutive tournament loss of the season.

"This was a very good battle that could have gone either way and I am very pleased with our players after this game," Idaho head coach Mike Divilbiss said. "They competed hard, they had good energy, and we had several players step up and contribute. Southern is a very talented team that is very quick and this was a high-level basketball game."

The Vandals grabbed the early lead in the game and eventually went up by as many as 11 points with the score 22-11 with 8:34 remaining in the half. Idaho held the advantage for the entire first half until Southern tied the game with two free-throws and the teams headed to the locker room deadlocked at 34-34.

The second half was a close battle as the teams earned nine lead changes and five ties. The final lead change came when Southern took a 51-50 advantage with 3:41 remaining. The Vandals tied the game on three occasions with 3-point shots and a Faurholt jumper with 26 seconds remaining tied the game at 61-61 and sent the game into overtime.

In the first overtime, Southern shot out to a six-point advantage, but back-to-back 3-pointers from Emily Halliday tied the game at 67-67 with 55 seconds remaining. The shots would prove huge for the Vandals as neither team scored in the final minute and the game went to its second overtime.

The second overtime began with Idaho taking a one-point lead on MacKenzie Flynn's free throw and then it was Southern's turn for back-to-back 3-pointers. Idaho trailed 73-68 with 4:02 remaining, but the Vandals scored the next six points, all on free throws, to take a 74-73 lead with 1:22 remaining. Halliday grabbed a steal for the Idaho defense, but then the Vandal offense committed a costly turnover on its next possession giving Southern the ball with 37 seconds remaining. Southern's Megan Berard hit what Divilbiss called a "highly contested" 3-pointer with 11 seconds remaining in the game, putting the Jaguars up for good at 76-74.

"This game will make our team stronger. We need to play a little smarter at times, but we'll overcome and be a better basketball team from games like this. I am disappointed for the players more than anything, but they will respond in the right way," Divilbiss said.

Faurholt and Jessica Summers each earned their first double-doubles of the season as Faurholt added 10 rebounds to her point total and Summers scored 11 points and grabbed 11 rebounds. Leilani Mitchell finished with 17 points and added nine assists and three steals despite fouling out early in the first overtime. Karly Felton also scored in double figures as she finished with 14 points and added five assists.

Idaho shot a season-high 17-of-21 (.810) from the free-throw line and outrebounded their opponent for the first time this season, 42-37.

The Vandals continue a five-game road trip with two games next week. The team travels to Utah Valley State, Thursday (Dec. 8), and to Idaho State, Saturday (Dec. 10).

"We may have bitten off more than we could chew with this schedule, but it will make us a better basketball team in February and March," Divilbiss said.

NOTE: Idaho last played a double-overtime game January 26, 1998, when the Vandals defeated Nevada 75-74.