MOSCOW, Idaho - The Idaho women's basketball team beat Hawai'i 74-59 in front of a home crowd at the Cowan Spectrum.
This win was huge for Idaho in regards to the Western Athletic Conference standings as it moved to 4-6 in the WAC and 6-17 overall.
"This was a huge win for us," coach Jon Newlee said. "We needed this win on our home floor against a team we thought we could beat."
Junior Yinka Olorunnife led Idaho with her 15th career double-double. Her 25 points tied a career high and her 14 rebounds were a season high for the team.
"I think I like the number 25," said Olorunnife.
Idaho came into the game looking to pound the ball inside and the strategy paid off as the Vandals had a 32-24 advantage in points in the paint.
"We came into the game knowing that we were quicker than they were inside, and they were forced to foul," Newlee said.
Idaho used its quickness and explosiveness off the dribble to get to the free throw line. The Vandals shot 29 free throws converting 22 of them for a .759 percentage.
Junior Rachele Kloke scored 19 points for the Vandals on 8-of-17 shooting; many of her shots coming on drives to the hole as Idaho attacked the basket relentlessly throughout the game.
Senior point guard Charlotte Otero chipped in six points, two rebounds, and four assists, while playing the full 40 minutes.
After losing to Hawai'i in its previous matchup, Idaho came out with fiery aggression. The Vandals led 19-9 with just over 10 minutes left in the first half.
Idaho's defense forced the Rainbow Wahine into 13 first-half turnovers on its way to 20 for the game.
Hawai'i answered as it cut the lead to five going into halftime then opened the second half with a 9-0 run to take a 34-30 lead.
"We were just dead in that stretch, but I thought our bench came in and really jump-started the offense," Newlee said.
Idaho answered with a 20-5 run over the next 5:34, the team's biggest run against a WAC opponent this year, during which the Vandals were 8-of-10 from the floor.
Hawai'i would cut the deficit to eight points with 3:48 left in the game, but a great hustle play by Otero sealed the game. Otero dove on a loose ball and fed a cutting Shaena Kuehu, who finished with 12 points, for a layup that pushed the lead back to double digits.
"That play should be on ESPN's Top 10," Newlee said.
Idaho shot .375 percent for the game while Hawai'i shot .462. The Vandals made up for this difference in rebounding and second-chance points.
Idaho pulled down a season-high 45 rebounds while holding the Rainbow Wahine to 32. The Vandals also scored a season-high 21 second-chance points.
Idaho takes on Boise State at the Taco Bell Arena at Boise Wednesday. This game looms large for the Vandals as they are locked in a tie with the Broncos for fifth in the WAC.
"That game will be a war, a battle, as it always is," said Newlee.
Idaho hopes to have the support of the Vandal Nation down in Boise as fans of the Vandals are expected to show up and cheer on the women as they play the annual rivalry game.
- - By Aaron Hoisington, Idaho media relations
