MOSCOW, Idaho - Idaho senior Charlotte Otero saved her best for last in Wednesday night's Senior Night game against Louisiana Tech, but the Lady Techsters spoiled the evening after an early second-half swoon by the Vandals in a 63-56 Idaho loss.
Otero scored a career-high 18 points on 7-of-9 shooting, with six assists, four rebounds and two steals to lead Idaho in her final home game as a Vandal.
"I think she was the best player on the floor - both teams," Idaho head coach Jon Newlee said of Otero. "She played with a lot of heart, a lot of energy, made her shots, handled the ball and got assists, got some steals - she was all over the place."
Poor shot selection and crucial mistakes by Idaho helped key a 15-2 LTU run midway through the period that put the Lady Techsters up by an insurmountable 22 points at 56-34 with just seven minutes remaining.
"We're not a team that can play one-on-one basketball, and there were some people playing one-on-one basketball and trying to attack the best defender, I think, in the WAC in (LTU junior Adrienne) Johnson," Newlee said.
Johnson scored 23 points on 11-of-18 shooting, along with three blocks, two steals and six rebounds. She shouldered the offensive load after the Vandals got reigning Western Athletic Conference Player of the Year Shanavia Dowdell into early foul trouble.
Despite falling behind by a 22-point margin, the Vandals didn't give up. Led by their senior four-year starter, Idaho went on a 20-5 run to close the game down to 61-54 at the 1:57 mark, but the rally came up short and the Vandals got no closer in the final two minutes of the game.
Louisiana Tech shot 47.5 percent from the floor and out-rebounded Idaho 43-35. Idaho forced 18 LTU turnovers, but converted those into just 13 points. Idaho held the Lady Techsters to just nine offensive rebounds and seven second-chance points, outscored LTU 6-2 on the fast break and dished a WAC season-high 16 assists.
The Vandals hit just 34.8 percent from the floor and 22.8 percent from 3-point range. While free throws were key in the team's strong performance earlier this year at Louisiana Tech, the Vandals only made six trips to the stripe on Wednesday for just three points.
Junior Yinka Olorunnife earned her 17th career double-double with 11 points and 14 rebounds, along with three steals and one block. Junior Bianca Cheever added eight points, while sophomore Shaena Kuehu scored seven after missing much of the first half because of a knock to the head she received will drawing a charge early in the game.
Otero said that, while the loss hurts, she is still proud of the way her path has gone at Idaho, as she helped lead a struggling team from the bottom of the standings, through a coaching change, and into last year's break-out third-place finish.
"I have been through a lot at Idaho," Otero said with a deep breath after the game. "The first two years, and then the coaching change and learning a new system, but I'm glad I've had the chance to go out the way I have.
"I'm just glad to be a part of the Idaho history."
The loss moves Idaho to 9-19 overall and 7-8 in WAC play, while Louisiana Tech moves to 20-7 overall and 11-4 in the WAC. Idaho is now in a three-way tie New Mexico State and Boise State for fourth in the standings.
Otero and the Vandal women are still fighting for the fourth seed at the WAC Tournament, which they could accomplish with a win on Saturday. A loss could send Idaho into Reno as low as sixth.
Idaho tips off at Nevada on Saturday at 2 p.m. (PST).
