LARAMIE, Wyo.—Idaho's dynamic duo, dubbed the "Splash Sisters," powered the Vandals to a huge 74-71 win over Wyoming on Friday. The sophomore tandem of Mikayla Ferenz and Taylor Pierce led the Vandals with 48 combined points. Ferenz totaled a career-high 34 points, tying Yinka Olorunnife for 12th on Idaho's single-game scoring list.

"This win was huge for us," head coach Jon Newlee explained in the postgame. "We have come so close against some great teams early on. To come into this place [Arena Auditorium] and win with the altitude, the crowd and the way they [Wyoming] play at home. It was just an unbelievable performance. That was the Vandal team I was waiting to see."

Ferenz led the charge from the start. The Walla Walla, Wash., native, totaled 28 points through the first three quarters. Ferenz netted 12 of the Vandals' 14 points for in the third quarter, making up for the team's 0-for-5 start to the period. She finished 13-of-24 from the field and 3-of-7 from 3-point range, adding five rebounds in her 36 minutes.

Idaho (3-5) saw late heroics from Pierce and junior Geraldine McCorkell in fourth quarter. Pierce was 3-for-3 from behind the arc, scoring nine of her 14 points in five and half minute span. McCorkell converted a late inside basket to put the Vandals up by five, 70-65, with 1:37. Free throws from Karlee Wilson and Ferenz down the stretch helped cap a 27-point quarter, handing Wyoming its first home loss of the season.  

"I do not even know what to say about Mikayla's performance today," Newlee continued. "She was fantastic. It was one of the best individual efforts I have seen since I have been coaching at Idaho. She was great on both ends. She switched over to [Hailey] Ligocki in the fourth and shut her down. It was an amazing job tonight."

Idaho built a five-point lead in the opening quarter. Contributions from Wilson and Ferenz got the Vandals going early. The Cowgirls hit five three-pointers in the quarter, keeping the Vandals from breaking loose. McCorkell hit a pair of free throws to regain the lead, 12-10. Wyoming put together a 6-0 run to take a 21-17 lead into the second.

Wyoming (6-3) continued the run to open the third, hitting its sixth three of the game. The Cowgirls gained its largest lead of the night, 26-18, with 8:23 left in the quarter. Pierce, Ferenz and Sue Winger answered right back with a 9-0 run to retake a 27-26 lead. Wyoming retaliated with a 5-0 run to go back up by four. Idaho pushed back with a Ferenz 3-ball to get to within one at the half, 34-33.

The Silver and Gold shot 50.0 percent in the second half, including a 9-of-11 fourth quarter to secure its third consecutive win over Wyoming. The Vandals were 11-of-12 (91.7 percent) from the free-throw line, not missing a freebie in the second half. Idaho limited the Cowgirls to three 3-pointers in the second half, extinguishing their fiery start.  

The Vandals have struggled early this year on the glass, getting burned late in games. Idaho was slightly edged out in rebounds by Wyoming, 33-32. The win for the Vandals came in the second half, limiting the Cowgirls to 13 rebounds—three in the fourth quarter.

"That was the key to the game [rebounding]," Newlee added. "Specifically, in the third and fourth quarter. That is where it has really come back to bite us. Our team really took it to heart. We had a long talk [about rebounding] when we got back from Hawaii. I love the way our players responded."

Liv Roberts led the Cowgirls with 19 points.

Idaho will open the home schedule next Saturday, Dec. 17, against Central Washington. It will be the Vandals first game in front of a home crowd since its exhibition against Multnomah on Nov. 5.  
For more information on Idaho Athletics, visit GoVandals.com.  Fans can also follow Idaho women's basketball on Twitter, @VandalsWBB.

NOTES
Pierce moved into 10th all-time in program history with 107 career 3-pointers...Ferenz now is 12th in Idaho history with 99 career 3's...her 34 points are the most by a Vandal since Stacey Barr's 35 against New Mexico State in the WAC Tournament (3/14/14)...Bethany Krause got her first-career start...the win was No. 601 for the program.