PORTLAND -- The Idaho women's basketball team connected on 17-of-18 free throws, including 7-of-8 in the final three minutes to fend off Portland's late rally and seal a 71-66 road victory at the Chiles Center on Thursday night.

The Vandals were led by a 15-point, 18-rebound performance from Yinka Olorunnife, who notched her sixth double-double of the season, and added seven steals and three assists. Olorunnife drew a crucial charging foul on Portland's ReZina Teclemariam with 1:26 to play with Idaho leading just 63-61. On the ensuing possesion she connected on a layup to give the Vandals a four-point lead to help clinch the win.

Rachele Kloke scored a season-high 26 points by hitting 10-of-14 shots from the field and all six of her free throw attempts. Keri Arendse and Derisa Taleni each scored eight points, while Bianca Cheever, seeing her first action since Nov. 20, had six points on 2-of-4 shooting from 3-point distance.

Idaho shot 41.1 precent (23-of-56) from the field, including 8-of-16 from 3-point range. Idaho out-rebounded Portland 42-32, including 12-10 on the offensive end, and held the Pilots to 36.5 percnet (23-of-63) shooting and 10-of-31 from 3-point distance.

"To get that momentum going into conference play is huge," Idaho coach Jon Newlee said. "Especially a tight, physical road win in a knock-down drag-out game, like the WAC is going to be. I thought this was good preparation for us."

The Vandals snap a three-game losing streak, and improve to 7-5 on the season, while Portland drops to 9-6 on the year.

The Pilots were led by 13 points from Teclemariam, and also got 12 from Cassandra Brown and 11 from Natalie Day.

Idaho opens up Western Athletic Conference play on Jan. 6 at Nevada in a nationally telvised (ESPNU) game, before returning home to take on Fresno State on Jan. 10.