MOSCOW, Idaho - Katie Madison scored 28 points for the University of Idaho women's basketball team, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Utah State Aggies. Utah State edged Idaho, 57-53, Saturday night at the Cowan Spectrum.
With the loss Idaho falls to 5-18 overall and 2-10 in the Western Athletic Conference. Utah State improves to 9-13 overall and 5-5 in the WAC.
"I don't want the program built around one kid, but Katie plays very consistently for a freshman," Idaho coach Mike Divilbiss said. "You almost start to expect a double-double from her every night and she is a freshman."
In addition to her game-high 28 points, Madison had a game-high 10 rebounds.
"We had more shots than they did," Divilbiss said. "We took better care of the ball than they did. We did a better job on the offensive boards than they did. We just couldn't make a basket when we needed one."
Idaho jumped out to an early 12-4 lead in the game's first three minutes. Madison had two layups in the opening stretch. Charlotte Otero also got on the scoreboard early with a 3-point basket from the corner.
"Let's be realistic - our two freshmen are our point guard and our post. I have always believed that is where you build a program," Divilbiss said. "We have a post that is a legitimate threat in the box and can rebound. The things she needs to improve are mostly within the system, and also knowing where the double is coming from, but she is already pretty good at that. Charlotte needs to be more of a threat offensively, but she is leading the league in assists."
The Aggies didn't fold their tents under the Vandals' onslaught and began to claw back into the game. A jumper from Jamelah Brown at the 10:34 mark of the first half made the Vandal lead 17-11. Brown's jumper began an Aggie run, which saw Idaho held scoreless from the floor until there were just 16 seconds left in the half. Madison hit a layup at the 16 second mark to cut the Aggie lead to 27-23 - where it would stand as the teams headed to halftime.
From Brown's jumper through the end of the half Utah State outscored Idaho 16-6.
Idaho's shooting struggles continued into the second half and the Vandals were held scoreless from the floor until Hannah Wells hit a layup with 15:40 left in the game.
Madison had 16 of her points in the second half but the Vandals couldn't overcome the Aggies' four-point advantage.
Idaho returns to action when it faces Louisiana Tech at Ruston, La., next Saturday. Tip off is set for 5 p.m. PST.
