SEATTLE—One thing is for certain when Idaho and Seattle U meet on the hardwood. It is going to be close. The Vandals and Redhawks played in another nail-biter in Friday's season opener. Sophomore
Mikayla Ferenz scored a game-high 22 points, helping Idaho overcome a five-point fourth-quarter deficit.
Idaho (1-0) trailed 61-56 with 4:05 to play in the 4th quarter.
Geraldine McCorkell began Idaho's comeback, cutting the Redhawk lead to three. A Ferenz jumper brought Idaho within one, 61-60, with 2:30 to play. She came up big again on Idaho's next possession sinking a go-ahead 3 with 1:56 on the clock, capping a 7-0 Vandal run. Seattle U got the lead back, 64-63, before a pair of Ferenz free throws put Idaho back on top by one with 27 seconds to go.
Junior
Brooke Reilly, returning to action after sitting out all last season, came up with one of the game's biggest plays in the closing seconds. She forced a Seattle U turnover with 18 seconds to go. She would convert both her free throws to hand Idaho a 67-64 lead. Wilson hit one final free throw to ice the game with four seconds on the clock, helping Idaho close the final 3:51 on a 12-3 run.
"I loved the way we stayed tough," head coach
Jon Newlee said after the game. "Things were not going our way. We were not shooting well tonight and I know we can do better. Hats off to Seattle U. They just kept making shots. I thought we played like a championship team in those last five minutes."
The Vandals gained their largest lead of the night early on in the first quarter. McCorkell hit her only 3 of the night to give Idaho an eight point lead, 17-9, with 3:09 left in the quarter. Seattle U hit a pair of buzzer beaters to end the first and second quarter, forcing a 34-34 tie at the half.
"Our team has been through a lot of close games," Newlee added. "Karlee made some key free throws and Mikayla made some big shots. I am proud of the team for sticking to the game plan and not giving up. It is just our first game. We have a lot of work to put in and a long way to go."
Ferenz hit a 3 for the Vandals to get Idaho back out in front at the start of the third. Senior
Agueda Trujillo added a jumper to put Idaho up by five, 39-34, in the first 2:08 of the quarter. Another 5-0 run by the Redhawks tied the game at 39. Idaho built up a 51-46 lead off a pair of Wilson free throws, with 1:39 remaining in the quarter. Seattle U pushed back with another basket before the buzzer, closing the quarter with Idaho up 52-50.
Ferenz led all scorers with 22 points. She hit four three's in the game. McCorkell added 14 points on 6-of-10 shooting.
Taylor Pierce totaled 12 points in her team-leading 33 minutes. Wilson converted 5-of-6 free throws, helping her to nine points to go with her six assists and five rebounds.
The Vandals scored 21 points off of Seattle U's 21 turnovers. Seattle U won on the boards, outrebounding Idaho 36-28.
Idaho is back in action on Monday at Cal State Fullerton. Fans can stay up-to-date on all things Idaho women's basketball by following the team on twitter, @VandalsWBB.
