MOSCOW, Idaho—The Idaho women's basketball team opened the 2014-15 home slate with a 58-52 setback on Saturday afternoon against San Diego. Senior Stacey Barr led all players with a season-high 22 points, but the Vandals could not overcome a late push by the Toreros in the home-opener.
Down 55-52 with 14 seconds on the clock Barr got a look from three to tie the game. Sophia Ederaine extended her arm to block the Aussie's shot. San Diego gathered the rebound forcing Idaho to foul. The Toreros finished the game on a 6-0 run, not allowing an Idaho field goal in the final 1:33.
“We had them,” head coach Jon Newlee commented. “This game was ours. There are no moral victories—but to play as hard as we did for so long—and not come away with a victory is hard. I feel like we deserved to win this basketball game, but the little things cost us.”
The Vandals opened the second half with a 31-25 lead. Barr and Ali Forde, making her 2014-15 debut, hit the first two baskets of the half to go up by eight. San Diego put together a 19-5 run over the next 6:39 to gain a four-point advantage at 44-40 with 11:33 left in the half. Back-to-back baskets from Geraldine McCorkell and Connie Ballestero tied the game at 47, and a Barr layup gave the Vandals a 49-47 lead with 5:50 to play. San Diego got four quick points to regain the lead with 1:33 remaining. Christina Salvatore drove the lane for a layup, drawing a foul on the way. Her old-fashioned three-point play tied the game at 52, but Idaho was unable to complete the comeback.
San Diego (3-0) used 16 second-chance points in the second half, in part to its 12 offensive rebounds. The Vandals got pushed around down low, recording just nine defensive rebounds in the final 20 minutes. The Toreros outrebounded Idaho 40-35 for the game.
“We lost our intensity in the box out, Newlee said. “We only gave up five offensive boards in the first half and then 12 in the second. That was a killer for us. They were bigger and stronger and every spot, but we need to battle and get physical.”
Idaho (1-2) shot 38.5 percent from the field in the game's first 20 minutes with Barr totaling 16 of her 22 points. Salvatore drilled two key three-pointers, including one at the 8:54 mark to cut the Torero lead to 15-14. San Diego led the first 13:30 of the half. Barr hit her lone three-pointer of the game to claim the lead at 22-21. The Vandals closed the last 6:45 on a 12-7 run, with Barr leading the way with 10 points in the run. Forde recorded the lone non-Barr basket to close the half.
Barr closed Saturday leading the team in points and rebounds with 13, good for her 19th career double-double. Salvatore finished the afternoon with 12 points, shooting 3-of-4 from long range. Ballestero added six points and three assists, while Karlee Wilson totaled five points and one assist.
The Silver and Gold return to action on Tuesday, when they take on the Wyoming Cowgirls. First tip from Laramie is set for 6 p.m. PT. The game will be broadcast on the Mountain West Network.
Notes:
The Vandals have now hit a three-point basket in their last 202 games…Barr has hit 200 shots beyond the arch in her career, five shy of second all-time…Salvatore moves to 188 three-point field goals for her career (3rd all-time)…Idaho is 0-2 this season in light uniforms (white/silver).
