SEATTLE—The Idaho Vandals improved to 3-2 on the season following its 65-50 win over Seattle U at the Connolly Center on Saturday. The Vandals got offense from nine different players with Christina Salvatore leading the way with a team-high 15 points.
Idaho used a 38-point performance in the second half to cruise to its fifth-straight win over its former Western Athletic Conference rival. The Vandals held a 27-19 lead after the first 20 minutes of play. Idaho made just 12 field goals in the opening half, holding Seattle U to a 7-for-25 performance.
The Silver and Gold turned up the heat in the second half, starting on an 11-2 run in the first 2:34 to gain a 17-point advantage at 38-21. Sophomore Brooke Reilly got Idaho's offensive push started, getting to the free throw line and following up with an inside layup. Ali Forde, Stacey Barr, and Connie Ballestero all scored quick baskets before the media timeout.
“I was not real happy with our offensive flow in the first half,” head coach Jon Newlee said. “We talked at halftime about making some adjustments and I thought we came out and played more like the team at Wyoming in the second half.”
Seattle U (1-4) cut the Idaho lead to 15 with 15:07 to play. A Reilly jumper put the lead back at 17 on the next Vandal possession. Both sides went scoreless over the next few possessions, before Reilly converted on a pair of free-throws to give Idaho a 19-point lead, its largest of the game, with 13:34 to play. She finished the game with 10 points and eight rebounds in her 21 minutes.
“[Brooke's] second half really led to us getting going,” Newlee added. “I told her at halftime 'let's go.' We needed to get some more boards and I thought she did a great job of that. She was really active down low today and it was key for us.”
Clair Metoyer's three with 2:22 to play brought Seattle U to within 13 at 61-48. Idaho would not let the Redhawks record another field goal down the stretch. Defensively, Idaho outrebounded Seattle U by seven, 46-39. The Vandals forced 19 turnovers that led to 12 Idaho points.
Ballestero and Karlee Wilson combined for 17 points and eight assists running the point on Saturday. Wilson scored a career-best nine points in 22 minutes off the bench. Ballestero get her offensive game going, shooting 4-of-6 from the field. Wilson, all of 5'4'', recorded seven rebounds, also a career-high. Barr recorded 13 points from her two-guard position. The Aussie standout also totaled eight rebounds.
“The play from our guards was great,” Newlee stated. “I like seeing the scoring between Connie and Karlee. It is almost like having another scorer out there. Connie shot with confidence and I like to see her do that. It is a nice luxury to be able to play them both [Ballestero and Wilson] together, they are kind of my two-headed point guard monster.”
Wilma Afungo led the scoring for the Redhawks with nine points. Saturday was the first game of the season where the Vandals did not allow an opponent to reach double figures. Seattle U shot 25.0 percent as a team, compared to Idaho's 41.9 percent.
The Vandals have five days to prepare for their next game. Idaho will travel to Oregon State on Dec. 4 to take on the 19th ranked Beavers. That game is an early start with an 11 a.m. scheduled tip.
