POCATELLO, Idaho— An offense burst in the third quarter propelled the Vandals (4-6, 1-0 Big Sky) past in-state foe Idaho State (5-5, 0-1 Big Sky), 86-72, Saturday at Reed Gym in Pocatello. 

THE GAME
The Vandals and Idaho State stayed tight in the first quarter as the score went back-and-forth with Idaho ending the quarter on top, 16-11.
 
The second quarter was much of the same. The Vandals gained momentum as it started to hit shots from both inside and outside the three-point line. Shooting better from the three (62.5 percent) than the two (46.2 percent), the Vandals created a 34-30 lead going into the half.
 
It was the third quarter that determined the game as Idaho outscored the Bengals, 32-9. Idaho started the third quarter the way it ended the second, hot from behind the arc shooting an effective 66.7 percent (6-of-9) from beyond the arc and 75 percent (12-16) from the field. Idaho left the third quarter up 27 points, 66-39.
 
While the game slowed down a bit for the Vandals in the fourth, ISU rallied midway through the quarter outscoring Idaho 33-20, but the Bengals hole prove to be too deep to dig out of. The Vandals finished the game, 86-72.
 
THE NAME
Mikayla Ferenz led all-scorer posting 29 points with six rebounds while Taylor Pierce followed behind totaling 22 points. Freshman Gina Marxen contributed 14 points as she shot 4-of-6 from behind the arc. Pierce was 5-of-10, and Ferenz shot 3-of-7.
 
THE QUOTE—Jon Newlee
"I thought our kids really came out and played hard tonight. Idaho State was on a roll coming into this afternoon's game. They're an extremely talented basketball team. They play especially well at home, so it's nice to come in and play well."

" I thought we moved the ball well in that third quarter. We talked about the second quarter at halftime, we had to cut down the turnovers. We needed to get more ball movement and a better flow. I thought we did just that and that's how a couple players got hot."
 
BIG SKY ON DECK
Idaho continues its road trip as the team heads to Weber State for a New Year's Eve game on Monday at 1:00 p.m. (PDT).