MISSOULA, Mont. ?€“ The University of Idaho women?€™s basketball team fell, 68-45, to the University of Wyoming, in their first action at the University of Montana Holiday Classic.

?€œI thought we played very well, Wyoming is a very good team, they are a top-50 team in the country,?€ť Idaho coach Mike Divilbiss said. ?€œThe first half was back and forth. We did a better job taking care of the ball than we have been.?€ť

?€œWe are continuing to improve,?€ť Divilbiss said. ?€œWe shot the ball well in the first half, but we need to get more production out of our 4 spot. One of the things we are struggling with is we don?€™t sustain things for 40 minutes which is typical of young team. One run put the game away, the team cut into the lead and then Wyoming just got hot and pulled away. The score is not indicative of the game. ?€ť

Idaho opened the scoring when Liz Witte connected on a jumper with 17:58 to play. The Cowgirls scored the next five points capitalizing on a 3-pointer by Justyna Podziemska and a two point basket from Jodi Bolerjack. Katie Madison pulled the Vandals back to within a point making the score, 5-4. Bolerjack added a 3-pointer of her own pushing the Cowgirls lead to 8-4. Madison added a lay up to cut the lead to, 8-6. Hannah Wells tied the game and capped the games first burst of scoring with a jumper.

A 12-3 run helped the Cowgirls push to a, 24-14, lead. Podziemska had five points and two assists during the run for Wyoming.

Idaho turned the tables on Wyoming late in the half as the Vandals went on a 10-4 run to close the gap from, 32-17, to, 36-27, at the half. Sara Dennehy had five of the Vandals 10 points in the run. Lindsey Koppen added a 3-pointer during that stretch. Madison also scored during the run as she chipped in two free throws.

Wyoming opened the second half hot going on a 16-7 run to open the frame and push their lead to, 52-34. The Cowgirls rode Elizabeth Dissen?€™s hot hand at the outset as she had five points during the stretch. The Cowgirls kept the pressure up and wrapped up the game outscoring Idaho, 32-18, in the second half.

The Vandals will meet the loser of the Canisius Montana game in tomorrow?€™s consolation match up. Tip off is set for 4:00 p.m., PST.