SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Yinka Olorunnife went off for a career high 34 points and added 13 rebounds, but the rest of the Vandals hit just 9-of-35 shots from the field as the Idaho women's basketball team fell to San Jose State 63-61 in Western Athletic Conference action in San Jose on Thursday.

Idaho (9-7, 2-2 WAC) committed 18 turnovers in the game, hit just 4-of-18 3-point attempts, and went 19-for-28 from the free throw line. San Jose State's numbers weren't much better, shooting 39.6 percent from the field, with 18 turnovers as well, but the Spartans (1-16, 1-3 WAC), went 20-for-24 from the free throw line and hit 5-of-11 3-pointers. The Vandals held a 34-33 edge in rebounding.

“They (SJSU) almost beat New Mexico State here in week one,” Idaho coach Jon Newlee said. “This was the same type of game we saw on film, and credit to them, they hit their shots when they had to, and we came up a little short.”

Olorunnife topped her previous career high of 25 points by going 10-for-19 from the field, including 1-of-3 from long range, and added 13 free throws on 18 attempts. It was her eight double-double of the season. But Idaho needed help, and Derisa Taleni was the only other Vandal to score in double figures, finishing with 10 points, four rebounds and three assists. Seniors Rachele Kloke and Bianca Cheever each had six points in the game, Keri Arendse and Jessica Graham had two each, and Ganeaya Rogers had one.

The Vandals found themselves down in the early going, trailing by as many as 10 points in the first half at 13-3. But Idaho rallied to tie the score at 17-17, and went into halftime traling just 25-24.

“We came out flat with no energy,” Newlee said. “We talked about not looking past these guys and start talking about Boise State. We talked about not overlooking a team like this, we lost here last year. I guess it's on me, I didn't have them ready to play.”

Idaho raced out to an eight point, 39-31 lead six minutes into the second half, and looked like it had taken control of the game. But San Jose State went on a 9-2 run to pull within 41-40, and kept the momentum, building a 49-45 lead with five minutes to play.

The game seesawed over the next three minutes, and was tied 54-54 with two minutes to play when the Spartans took the lead for good on a jumper from AJ Newton with 1:47 to play.

San Jose State led by five with only 18 seconds left, but Idaho refused to give up. Cheever hit her second 3-pointer of the game with 12 seconds left to pull the Vandals within two. After two SJSU free throws put the Spartans up by four with 10 seconds remaining, Olorunnife hit a long two-pointer to pull Idaho with two one more time. San Jose State committed a turnover on the ensuing inbounds play, giving the Vandals the ball with three seconds left trailing by just two. Derisa Taleni lost control of the ball on her way to the basket, as time expired before the Vandals could get a shot up, leaving Idaho two points short of their tenth win of the season.

The Vandals return to action when they host Boise State in the Cowan Spectrum on Saturday, Jan. 22. That game tips off at 4 p.m., and is the first of a men's-women's doubleheader, with the Vandal men hosting the Broncos at 7:05 p.m.