GRAND FORKS, N.D. - The Idaho women's basketball team hit the road for the first time this season and came out on the losing end of an 84-54 game against North Dakota in Grand Forks, N.D.
Idaho falls to 1-1 with the loss, while the Fighting Sioux improve to 1-1 on the season with the victory.
The Vandals failed to take care of the basketball and gave up too many offensive rebounds, a devastating combination as the Fighting Sioux outscored Idaho a combined 48-13 in second-chance points and points off turnovers. On top of all that, the Vandals hit just 3-of-18 (.167) 3-pointers and 15-of-26 free throws (.577) in the game.
Idaho senior Ganeaya Rogers and freshman Stacey Barr scored in double figures for the second straight game, as Rogers finished with a team-high 11 points on 4-of-5 shooting, with her lone miss coming from long range. Barr scored 10 points but needed 12 shots to get them, and went 2-of-9 from 3-point range. Sophomore Alyssa Charlston finished with eight points, six rebounds and four steals for Idaho, and senior Keri Arendse had seven points and three assists for the Vandals.
Sophomore Ashley Walters made her first career start and finished with four points and two rebounds. Freshman Tayler Weiks played 19 minutes and went 2-of-3 from the field including 1-of-2 from 3-point range to finish with six points for the Vandals.
An early 15-4 North Dakota run gave the Fighting Sioux a 20-7 lead. Idaho cut that lead down to nine at 20-11 but after Charnay Morthershed hit a 3-pointer to put the Fighting Sioux up 23-11 with 9:33 remaining in the first half, North Dakota would lead by double-digits the rest of the way.
Idaho hit 18-of-49 (.367) shots in the game while North Dakota went 28-of-69 (40.6) from the field. The Fighting Sioux owned a 50-31 advantage on the glass, a number that includes a 23-11 edge on the offensive side. Idaho committed 19 turnovers, while North Dakota gave up 13.
Madi Buck led the way for North Dakota, finishing with 17 points and 12 rebounds. Alyssa Wall had 12 points and six boards for the Sioux and Katie Houdek finished with nine points.
The Vandals, however, will get two chances at redemption, as Idaho and North Dakota will meet at the Lady Griz Holiday Classic in Missoula, Mont., on Dec. 29, and a third time in the Cowan Spectrum on Jan. 3.
Idaho returns to action on Thursday, Nov. 17, when Gonzaga visits Memorial Gym for a 6 p.m. tip off. That game will be Student Night in Memorial Gym, and all Idaho students will get free pizza and a Vandal pennant, while the first 200 students will get an Idaho rally towel as well.
