RENO, Nev. - Rachele Kloke poured in 26 points as Charlotte Otero added 18 and Bianca Cheever chipped in 15 as the University of Idaho women's basketball team toppled Nevada, 69-62, in Western Athletic Conference play at the Lawlor Events Center.

Saturday's victory gives the Vandals an 8-8 mark in the conference and likely secures the fourth seed into next week's league tournament. They wrap up the regular season at 10-19 overall after winning six of their last nine. Nevada is 16-13 overall and 10-6 in the WAC.

Coach Jon Newlee said lessons taught after last Wednesday's home loss to Louisiana Tech were put in play by the Vandals and the result was a workmanlike effort that led to a strong start and consistency for most of the 40 minutes.

"We played well," Newlee said. "We definitely played well. We didn't have that typical some-part-of-the-game slump where it all goes bad. It was nice."

The Vandals, who led from the 17:41 mark of the first half, did face a serious late-game run by the Wolf Pack. After leading by as many as 12, Idaho's lead dwindled to one, 56-55, on Marissa Hammond's jumper with 6:23 to play. Instead of fretting, the Vandals answered with a 3 by Yinka Olorunnife with 6:06 to play and two free throws by Kloke at the 5:37 mark to go back up by six, 61-55.

By the time Otero dropped in two free throws for a seven-point lead with 1:07 to play, the outcome no longer was in doubt.

"They took the lessons from that Louisiana Tech game and applied them," Newlee said. "They understood where things when wrong. They understood that if we follow the game plan, we can be pretty good. They see if they go their own way, we can be pretty bad."

The keys, to that end, Newlee said, were sharing the ball and making good decisions when they shot the ball. Winning the rebounding battle (35-33), helped, too.

"We shared the basketball," Newlee said. "Everyone was trusting each other with the ball. Defensively, we stuck to our game plan and did a good job."

Otero and Shaena Kuehu had five assists each and as the Vandals managed 40 percent from the field and drilled 13 of 16 free throws (81.3 percent). Idaho had just 10 turnovers for the game while making away with 10 steals - four by Olorunnife.

Idaho opens WAC Tournament play Wednesday at the Lawlor Center.