HONOLULU - An 18-point second half deficit wasn't enough to stop the Idaho women's basketball team from picking up its first Western Athletic Conference win of the season, as the Vandals clawed all the way back to beat Hawai'i 69-61 in Honolulu on Thursday night.
Idaho improves to 6-16 on the season and 1-5 in the WAC with the win. The victory snapped an eight-game losing streak for Idaho, and was also the team's first road victory of the season. Hawai'i falls to 8-13 and 3-3 in the WAC with the loss.
"When we got down 18 it was time to sink or swim and see what we're actually made of," Idaho coach Jon Newlee said after the game. "That's one of the best comebacks I've ever been a part of, with everything going against us and we just kept fighting and fighting, I'm so proud of my team right now."
Idaho senior Keri Arendse had career-highs with 19 points and 10 rebounds, collecting her first career double-double as a Vandal. Arendse went 8-of-16 from the field and 3-of-9 from 3-point range in the game, and scored 17 of her 19 points in the second half.
"I thought her drives really got her going and she knocked down a couple 3's," Newlee said of Arendse's performance. "I love the emotion, they played with heart and emotion on the road a long way from home and we just hung together."
Senior Ganeaya Rogers finished with 14 points and a career-high seven assists. Sophomore Alyssa Charlston was one rebound shy of a double-double as she finished with 14 points and nine rebounds. Sophomore Ashley Walters scored a season-high eight points on 4-of-4 shooting and added a pair of rebounds and three blocks. Krissy Karr finished with four assists and three points. Her only field goal of the game was a crucial one, as her 3-pointer with 7:18 left capped Idaho's 26-5 run and gave Idaho its first lead since 11:11 in the first half.
The Vandals won despite giving up a monster rebounding advantage to Hawai'i. The Rainbow Wahine grabbed 58 rebounds while Idaho finished with 40. UH collected 30 of its 58 boards on the offensive end which led to a 25-6 advantage in second chance points. But The Vandals committed a season-low seven turnovers and outscored Hawai'i 43-24 after halftime.
The Vandals held Hawai'i to just 26.9 percent shooting (21-of-78) while they shot 45.2 percent from the field and hit 8-of-22 3-pointers. Idaho outscored the Rainbow Wahine 32-18 in the paint.
The Rainbow Wahine led by 18, 46-28, with 17:20 to play in the second half before freshman Tayler Weiks buried a 3-pointer that sparked a 26-5 run that lasted nearly 10 minutes and gave the Vandals 54-53 lead. Hawai'i tied the game at 54-all with six minutes remaining, but Arendse knocked down a 3-pointer with 5:25 to play that put the Vandals on top for good.
"It should be a springboard," Newlee said of the potential momentum from the win. "To get on the road and get this big win here it's great for everybody."
Idaho will wrap up its road trip with a visit to San Jose to face the Spartans on Saturday at 8:30 p.m.
