ABILENE, Texas—The Vandals dropped their second consecutive game of the early season on Saturday. Idaho saw its 13-point lead slip away as Abilene Christian battled from behind for the 82-72 win.

How it Happened
Idaho (1-2) overcame a 10-point first quarter deficit early on in the first. The Vandals got caught with early turnovers, leading to a 16-16 Wildcat lead. Idaho was able to regroup and got to scoring. The Vandals closed the final 3:37 for the first on a 16-3 run, gaining a 22-19 lead.

The Idaho run carried over into the second, expanding to 32-9 by the 3:37 mark of the second quarter. Abilene Christian threw in five 3's in the second, cutting the Idaho lead down to single-digits, 43-34, at the half.  

ACU (3-0) cut the Idaho lead down to five, 51-46, in the first four minutes of the third quarter. Idaho went almost four minutes without hitting a basket, watching ACU narrow the lead down to 51-49.

Idaho's offensive slump continued to hamper the team in the fourth. The Vandals shot just 3-for-14 from the field. On the other hand, ACU could not miss. The Wildcats hit 9-of-13 in the quarter, outscoring Idaho 27-14 in the final 10 minutes.

Mikayla Ferenz and Geraldine McCorkell both hit season-highs in scoring. Ferenz finished the day with 27 points, while McCorkell put in 24.

Idaho was uncharacteristic from the free-throw line, finishing 16-for-26.

Turning Point
Idaho's success directly correlated with Ferenz's shooting. As she went, Idaho went. Ferenz opened the game with a 1-for-6- start. She ended up closing the first half 8-for-15, finishing with 18 of Idaho's 43 first-half points.

Ferenz got in foul trouble late in the third and fourth quarter. She was forced to the bench for the first time with 8:55 to play and ACU took advantage. The Wildcats on a 12-2 run with Ferenz on the bench, retaking a 69-63 lead. She fouled out of the game with Idaho trailing 75-65 with 3:47 to play.

Quotes
Head Coach Jon Newlee
On difference of the two halves
"The first half I thought we did a good job of attacking, getting to the free-throw line. Doing what we wanted to do. I thought we took some good shots. Defensively, we were keeping them off the free-throw line. They didn't have a free throw in the first half. Everything was going according to plan.

"Second half became a tale of two halves. Unfortunately, when you are on the road you have to be able to respond. I felt like we got a little rattled."

On Mikayla Ferenz's foul trouble
"That hurt us. I keep telling the team, 'You can't have bad fouls.' You cannot put yourself in the position for an official to decide things. She was and it happened. Hopefully, we learn from that and play better next week."

Notes
Vandals now 0-2 all-time against ACU…Idaho has now gone 297 consecutive games with a 3FGM…Taylor Pierce now has 194 career 3's (5th)…Ferenz remains in sixth with 181 career 3FGM.

Up Next
Idaho will travel to Northridge, Calif., for the Warner Center Marriott Thanksgiving Basketball Classic hosted by CSUN. Idaho will open on Nov. 24 against the Matadors. They will play either TCU or Arizona the next day.