MOSCOW, Idaho - The Idaho women's basketball team started a little different than they have in any other game this season, on the court and the scoreboard. Coach Jon Newlee used a new starting five, consisting of two freshmen, two sophomores and a senior and the Vandals responded with a 13-0 run to open the game against Seattle University. But in the end it was rebounding and turnovers that haunted the Vandals as the Redhawks took an 80-72 victory in the Cowan Spectrum in Idaho's non-conference finale.

The Vandals (5-11) held Seattle (9-6) without a point for the first 4:48, and the Redhawks missed their first 13 shots as Idaho built its lead to 17-2 seven minutes into the game. But Seattle chipped away and would take the lead on two occasions before Idaho took a 42-41 advantage into halftime.

"We got off to a great start tonight," Newlee said. "We're real happy with that from an offensive and defensive standpoint. I thought we kept their transition game in check for a while, and that was the key to getting the lead."

The Vandals put on a season-best shooting display, hitting 50 percent (27-of-54) of their shots, including 10-of-27 from 3-point range. But, the Redhawks had 15 more field goal attempts than Idaho, in part because of 22 Seattle offensive rebounds and 20 Vandal turnovers. The Redhawks capitalized to outscore Idaho 27-5 in second-chance points and 18-13 off turnovers.

"What lost us the basketball game tonight, was giving up 22 offensive rebounds and turning the ball over 20 times," Newlee said. "The problem with a team like this is when you turn it over they make you pay when you turn it over up top. You don't just turn it over. We turn it over and they get layups and that kills us."

Seattle shot 40.6 percent from the field for the game, hitting 28-of-69 shots. The Redhawks also hit 18-of-25 free throws, while Idaho went 8-of-13 from the free throw line.

Reigning Western Athletic Conference Player of the Week Alyssa Charlston scored 26 points on 10-of-11 shooting and added four rebounds, four assists, two steals and a block in the game. Her 90.9 field goal percentage is tied for the fourth highest in a single game in Idaho history.

"Offensively I feel more confident," Charlston said after the game. "I'm taking more shots that I need to be taking and getting more comfortable with our offense. The way our offense is designed is to be constantly moving because we don't have a size advantage against most teams, we have a quickness advantage."

Idaho freshman Tayler Weiks made the first start of her career and poured in a career-high 15 points on 6-of-12 shooting. Fellow freshman Stacey Barr, starting for the third time this season, scored a career-high 21 points, aided by a 5-of-10 3-point shooting performance. It was the second time this season Barr has made five 3's in a game.

With Charlston and Barr each scoring more than 20 points, it was Idaho's first game with a pair of 20-point scorers since March 10, 2010 when Yinka Olorunnife scored 23 points and Shaena Kuehu added 22 against New Mexico State in the WAC tournament.

"I thought Alyssa played well, and I thought Stacey really came out and played well too," Newlee said of his 20-point scorers. "Stacey's shot selection was better for the most part tonight, and that's what she needs to do, take good shots and get in her rhythm, and when she's in her rhythm she's a pretty good shooter. Alyssa is doing a great job of going inside for us right now, and that's what we keep encouraging her to do, shoot the basketball when she's open. She just keeps getting better and better as the season's gone along, and that's what I expect from her and it's great to see."

The Vandals led by four at 67-63 with 6:43 to play in the game, but Seattle went on a 10-0 run to take a lead it would not relinquish. Seattle scored five of its 10 points in the run on their second chance, and three off of three Idaho turnovers in that span.

"Boxing out and rebounding on defense has been a consistent problem for us and we can no longer use the excuse that we're young or that we haven't played enough games, because preseason is over now," Charlston said. "We have to get more physical and we have to have pride in rebounding."

Idaho will shift its attention to WAC play as the Vandals get the conference season started with a trip to Louisiana Tech (Jan. 12) and New Mexico State (Jan. 14). Idaho's first home WAC game is Jan. 19 against Nevada.