MOSCOW, Idaho - For the first time this season, the University of Idaho women's basketball team found themselves on the positive end of a close game, surviving for a 54-51 win over Utah State.
The Vandals (7-8, 3-1), who have four losses this season by a combined eight points, earned their first back-to-back wins of the season with the victory. Utah State (1-13, 0-4) continues to struggle in its first season in the Western Athletic Conference and has now lost all seven road games this season.
"I am proud of our players because we ground one out," Idaho head coach Mike Divilbiss said. "Our teams know each other so well from being travel partners over the past two years in the Big West. We have played each other six times in the past three years and this kind of game is what happens. We start to know each other and what each other does and that results in a score like this and shooting percentages like this. Everyone has to work so much harder for every basket. There weren't a lot of open looks by anyone tonight."
The tempo of the game was altered by the 40 combined fouls called during the game. Idaho, who entered the week ranked 35th in the nation for lowest fouls per game (15.5) was whistled for 18 fouls, while Utah State earned 22 violations.
"I don't care how the game is called, as long as it is the same. If we are going to play touch-me-not, we just have not touch and adjust quicker. I have no beef with the officiating at all," Divilbiss said.
The game began with the teams exchanging baskets to earn a 4-4 tie at the 17:38 mark. Utah State took a 3-point lead of it's next possession before Idaho rallied for a 17-4 run over the next 9:04 to take a 21-11 lead at the 8:01 mark. Idaho stretched its lead to 14 points at 31-17 with 2:58 remaining, but the Vandals missed their next four shots and Utah State pulled with 31-24 with a 7-0 run to end the half.
Utah State began the second half as the aggressor, cutting Idaho's lead to 34-31 with 16:29 remaining. Idaho used seven-consecutive points to build its lead to 10 points at 41-31 at the 11:40 mark and the lead was back at 10 at the 10:42 mark with the score 43-33. Utah State cut the lead to six points with back-to-back baskets and Idaho responded with consecutive baskets to lead 47-37 with 5:36 remaining. Utah State fought back to cut the lead to five points at 48-43 with 2:36 remaining and Idaho would never get more than seven points ahead for the remainder of the contest. Leilani Mitchell connected on two free throws to put Idaho ahead by seven, but Taylor Richards responded with a jumper to bring Utah State to within 50-45 with 1:33 remaining. The Aggies had a chance to cut into the lead when they caused a turnover, but Ashley Rutledge missed the front end of a 1-and-1 and Mitchell found a wide open Karly Felton under the hoop for a lay in with 25 seconds remaining that put Idaho up 52-45 with just 25 seconds remaining. Rutledge connected on a 3-pointer after an offensive rebound to get within four, but Mitchell calmly sank both free throws to put Idaho up six with seven seconds remaining. Brittany Hagen nailed a 3-point shot with .03 on the clock for Utah State to cut the final score to 54-51.
Mitchell led all scorers with 19 points while Emily Faurholt finished with 18 points. Faurholt, who scored 15 points in the first half, was held scoreless after converting a 3-point play at the 17:14 mark of the second half. She picked up her fourth foul with 13:04 remaining in the game and played just 31 total minutes. Jordyn Bowen and Jessica Summers took over the post duties and combined for nine points with Faurholt on the bench.
"It was scary (to have Faurholt on the bench in foul trouble), but I was very impressed with Jessica and Jordyn," Divilbiss said. "Utah State made us work really hard to get the ball inside, but both of those players were really good inside while Emily was out. Nobody panicked, which was nice because we haven't had to play much without Emily. This will help us because it helps the other players to know we can still play and win without her and that is important."
The Vandals remain at home for a game Thursday (Jan. 19) versus Fresno State, but then hit the road for a contest at San Jose State (Jan. 21) Saturday. Both games begin at 7 p.m.
