SEATTLE ? The Idaho (0-5) women inched closer to their first victory of the season on Sunday, but late free-throw shooting by Weber State (2-3) kept the game out of reach as the Vandals dropped the consolation game of the Husky Classic, 56-48.
In a game that had six lead changes and nine ties, the Vandals were within two points at 48-46 with just 2:51 to go in the game, but Weber State made its free throws down the stretch and Idaho couldn't get anything to fall. The Wildcats hit eight of 10 free throws over the final three minutes to preserve their lead, while Idaho hit just one of six shots from the field during that time.
“We're starting to grow up,” Idaho head coach Mike Divilbiss said. “We've got some people starting to take some responsibility. There are kids who are starting to understand the maturity and toughness that it takes to compete.”
Two days after playing a Washington squad that was big and very physical inside, the Vandals looked a little hesitant at times to finish near the basket, even though Weber State wasn't quite as imposing.
“We missed some really makeable shots in the first half,” Divilbiss said. “We had girls going to the basket and looking for where they were going to get hit instead of finishing the shot.”
True freshmen Rachele Kloke and Alana Curtis both had career games for Idaho, as Kloke poured in a team-leading 14 points, along with three steals, two rebounds and a block, while Curtis contributed 11 points, three rebounds, three assists and a steal.
“We've got some freshmen who are growing up,” Divilbiss said.
Kloke scored Idaho's first seven points and gave the Vandals a 7-4 lead at the 13:29 mark, but the team slipped into a drought and didn't score again for more than seven minutes as Weber State extended a lead to 12-7 before Alana Curtis ended Idaho's scoreless streak at the 6:19 mark.
After Curtis' basket, it took the Vandals two more minutes to put in another, and they trailed 17-12 after a jumper by Hannah Wells at the 4:03 mark. The Vandals came alive over the final eight minutes of the half, led by eight points from Curtis, and outscored Weber State 13-8 to send the game into the half at a 25-25 tie.
Fouls and free throws once again hurt the Vandals. Idaho had 26 fouls to Weber State's 14, which led to 33 free throws and 24 points for the Wildcats. Idaho was just five-of-six from the free throw line for the game. The Vandals held Weber State to just .277 shooting from the floor from the floor, while hitting .328 of their own shots.
Hannah Wells was solid for Idaho off the bench with a season-high 12 points to go along with a pair of assists and a pair of rebounds in 30 minutes of play.
“Hannah Wells had a good game not just because she scored some points but because she played really well defensively and played really aggressively,” Divilbiss said.
Idaho's post game, which had been the shining spot for the team in its first three games, was quiet for the second straight game. Sophomore Katie Madison was held to a career-low three points with nine rebounds, with a pair of assists and a steal, while freshman Yinka Olorunnife scored eight with 10 rebounds.
While Madison, who led Idaho and the Western Athletic Conference last season with 19.1 points per game, hasn't been the offensive force that she was last year, Divilbiss said she's still contributing in other ways.
“[Madison] is doing a great job of making fan passes and extending the ball out,” Divilbiss said. “Every time she gets the ball, she's got three people on her.
“People are just looking at points with her, but she's starting to do other things. Her points will come.”
Idaho entered the game with its post players averaging 34.3 points per game, while its wings were averaging just 16.5. This time, the tables were turned, as Idaho's wings contributed 26 and the posts put in just 11. Curtis had 11 points from the guard spot.
Turnovers plagued Idaho once again, as 22 Vandal giveaways led to 15 points for the Wildcats and even though Idaho out-rebounded Weber State 40-37, the Wildcats held a 16-7 advantage in second-chance points.
Forward Sara Tuomi paced Weber State with solid game of her own. Tuomi had 24 points, six rebounds, five steals and three assists for the Wildcats, while Akiah Hunter pitched in 11 points and three rebounds.
After three straight games out on the road, Idaho will return to the Palouse for a Wednesday matchup against the 1-4 Washington State Cougars in an away game just a few miles down the road from campus at Pullman, Wash. The game starts at 7 p.m. Pacific Time.
