Idaho's 5-1 record is its best start to a season since the Vandals started 7-0 in 2003-04. CSU Bakersfield falls to 6-1 on the year with the loss.

Idaho shot 45.3 percent (24-of-53) for the game and hit 38.5 percent (5-of-13) of its 3-point shots.

"Right now we're making really good decisions with the ball," Idaho coach Jon Newlee said. "Our players are shot-ready when they get the ball. Everybody is a threat, as long as we continue to be unselfish and share the ball our offense will click."

The Vandal defense came up big once again, as Idaho held CSU Bakersfield to just 27.1 percent (19-of-70) for the game and 20.0 percent (5-of-25) from long range. Nine blocked shots for the Vandals helped keep CSU Bakersfield's shooting percentage down, as senior Yinka Olurnnife turned away four Roadrunner shots, and freshman Ashley Walters blocked three.

"Defensively we did a good job of getting to their shooters," Newlee said. "(Associate head coach) Gavin (Petersen) did a great job of scouting and getting a defensive plan for them, and our players are executing the game plan defensively.  We took away their transition game, and that's a big part of their game, that's how they beat Oregon."

The Vandals had 18 assists on their 24 made baskets, and dominated the glass with a 53-37 advantage in rebounds. Idaho's 24 turnovers led to 17 points for the Roadrunners.

Idaho took a 15-point lead into the locker room at halftime, leading 36-21 at the break. That lead would balloon all the way to 22 points midway through the second half at 51-29 after Keri Arendse hit a 3-pointer. But Bakersfield chipped away at the lead, getting the deficit down to just six points with seven and a half minutes to play, at 55-49. A quick 6-1 mini run put the Vandals back up by 11 at 61-50, but the Roadrunners would still not go away. CSU Bakersfield hit a 3-pointer with 25 seconds left to pull within six once more, but the Vandals connected on four free throws down the stretch to seal the win.

"We didn't handle their pressure as well in the second half, that's why they made their run," Newlee said.

Five Vandal players reached double-figures in scoring, led by 13 off the bench from freshman Alyssa Charlston, who also contributed with a team-high eight rebounds. Arendse made her first start of the season one day after pouring in a career-high 18 points, and she followed that up with 12 points, eight rebounds, two assists and a block. Rachele Kloke scored 12 points for the Vandals as well, and added six rebounds and six assists. Olorunnife and Derisa Taleni each finished with 11 points in the game, and Olorunnife added seven rebounds to go along with her four blocks, and Taleni finished with eight boards for Idaho. Idaho shot 16-of-22 from the free throw line, led by Taleni, who hit 7-of-8.

The Vandals wrap up their five-game road trip with a visit to Wyoming to face the Cowgirls on Dec. 4. Idaho returns to Moscow to take on Montana on Dec. 8.