RENO, Nev. – It was another record-setting day for the Vandals, as No. Idaho took down No. 6 Portland State, 102-99, on Friday afternoon in the Big Sky Tournament Semifinals in Reno. With the win, the Vandals advance to their second Championship game in the last three seasons. Idaho will take on top-seeded Northern Colorado for a shot at the NCAA Tournament.
How it Happened
Both offenses were hot all day, but the Vandals were hotter. Idaho connected on 16-of-31 from beyond the arc, including 9-of-13 in the second half.
Taylor Pierce was exceptional, setting a career-high with 31 points and nine 3's, tying the school and conference record and setting a new Big Sky Tournament record, passing teammate Mikayla Ferenz. Ferenz was outstanding as well, finishing with a near triple-double at 22 points, nine rebounds and 10 assists.
Four Vandals finished in double-figures. Geraldine McCorkell went 8-for-8 at the free-throw line, totaling 20 points. Isabelle Hadden recorded a career-high 18 points in her 14 minutes off the bench.
The Vandals shared the ball well all night, setting a Big Sky Tournament record with a season-high 31 assists, doing so on 36 made baskets. Allison Kirby recorded a career-best with nine assists.
The Vandals got early 3's from Ferenz and Pierce to help fuel a 15-5 start to the contest. The Vandals scored 30 points in the quarter, shooting 60 percent (12-20) from the field and 66.7 percent (4-6) from 3.
Portland State outscored Idaho 25-19 in the second, cutting the Vandal lead to 49-48 at the half.
Back-to-back 3's from Pierce opened the second half for the Vandals. The two sides went shot-for-shot throughout the second half. The Vikings threw together a 6-0 run to that tied the game at 69 late in the third.
Idaho used an 11-3 run in the fourth that put the Vandals up 90-79 with 4:29 to play. PSU answered with a 9-0 run that cut the Idaho advantage to one possession, 90-88, with 2:17 to go.
Pierce and Ferenz struck back with two key 3's to go back up by eight with just over a minute remaining. The team closed 6-for-6 from the free-throw line to secure the win.
Keys
Idaho's Splash Sisters answered the call, especially late. The duo was a combined 5-for-6 from 3 in the fourth quarter, totaling 19 of Idaho's 31 points. Ferenz handed out four of her 10 assists in the final quarter, helping four different players find the basket.
Quotes
Head coach Jon Newlee
Overall thoughts
"What a shootout. I loved our start. I thought that was the key to what we were doing. It built our confidence out there. We like playing against zones, there is no question about that. We came into the game with a lot of confidence. It was a matter of could we stop them? I wouldn't say we stopped them but we got the stops when we needed them."
On team's ability to step up
"It is so great as a coach to be able to have multiple weapons. Teams cannot just get on one person. Both of these guys [Taylor and Mikayla] are capable of hitting big shots. They have been doing it since they were freshmen. I have all the confidence in the world that one of these guys will knock it down at the end of games. It is a total team effort though. That is what I like."
Junior Taylor Pierce
On playing against a zone
"It is always exciting to play against a zone. At the same time, they have some pretty long guards that can get out and cover. It is just a matter of getting good looks and my teammates do a good job of getting me the ball.
Junior Mikayla Ferenz
On hitting late 3's
"Shooters shoot. That is what we always say. Taylor and I have short memories when it comes to shooting. If we miss one we forget about it. I saw an opportunity and luckily it went in."
Notes
Idaho's 16 3's are the second most in tournament history (19, Sac State, 2017)...Pierce is now at 130 3's on the season, eight behind Saint Francis' Jessica Kovatch for the NCAA lead...she now has 311 career 3's...Ferenz tied her career-high with 10 assists...Nejra Solo tied her career-high with three blocks...Idaho's 102 points set a season-high...the team went perfect (14-14) from the free-throw line for the first time this season.
