Box Score TAMPA, Fla. -The University of Idaho Vandals Women's Basketball Team fell to the University of South Florida Sunday afternoon, 67-64. Idaho led for over 37 minutes in the contest and by as many as ten points. However, a scoring drought in the final three-minutes of play of the Vandals saw the Bulls take the lead and the win. Despite the loss, four Vandals scored in double-figures including Lizzy Klinker who scored a team-high 15 points.

THE GAME

Idaho took the lead early over the Bulls 3-0 when Beyonce Bea drained a three-pointer to open the scoring. Bea's three began a 13-3 run by the Vandals, capped by a Lizzy Klinker jumper with 6:53 to go in the first. South Florida would outscore Idaho the rest of the way in the first on 13-10 run, however the Vandals still carried a 23-16 lead into the second period.


With 8:22 remaining in the second, Caitlyn Jones buried a three-pointer ending a South Florida 5-0 run to open the period, extending the Vandals lead to 26-21. South Florida again closed the period strong on a 10-7 run trimming Idaho's lead to just two, 33-31 at the half. The Vandals were lights out from beyond-the-arc in the first half, draining seven threes. The Bulls managed just two three-pointers in the first 20 minutes of play.
Just 15 seconds in to the third period, Bea again knocked down a three-pointer, extending Idaho's lead to 36-31 over the Bulls. After four minutes of battling back and forth. South Florida took the lead for the first time 43-42 following a layup from Shae Leverett. Less than 30 seconds later with 4:25 remaining in the period, Lizzy Klinker drained a three-pointer to re-take the lead for Idaho 45-43. The Vandals would hold a 52-50 lead over the Bulls at the end of the third period.
A pair of Hailey Christopher free-throws gave Idaho a 56-51 lead with 8:17 remaining in the game following a 4-0 run to open the final period. Idaho and South Florida battled in the fourth period. Lizzy Klinker put the Vandals up 64-59 following an And-1 play with 3:20 to go in the game. However, the Vandals were unable to score down the stretch as South Florida closed the game on an 8-0 run, winning 67-64.


THE NOTES

Idaho finished 29-61 from the field, shooting 39.3 percent from the floor. The Vandals made a season-high 11 three-pointers on 33.3 percent shooting from beyond-the-arc. Defensively, the Vandals held South Florida to just 35 percent from the floor and 25 percent from three. However the Bulls finished 19-25 from the free-throw line while the Vandals only attempted five shots from the charity stripe throughout the game.
South Florida outrebounded Idaho 51-30 including a 22-8 edge on the offensive glass.

The Vandals protected the ball well with only seven turnovers in the game compared to 12 by the Bulls. Idaho dished out 17 assists as a team led by Gina Marxen with a season-high eight assists.

There were three lead changes in the game and the Vandals led for over 37 minutes during the contest.

Four Vandals scored in double-digits. Lizzy Klinker led Idaho with 15 points followed by Beyonce Bea (12), Caitilyn Jones (11), and Isabelle Hadden (10).
 
THE QUOTES – Head Coach Jon Newlee

" I thought we battled all the way defensively, until a few breakdowns in the last three minutes."
"We lost the game on the glass. We just got hammered on the glass and the foul lane. That's where the game was lost."
"I loved our effort and the way we played the game, but we have to finish possessions with a board and we didn't do that enough tonight."
"We were dominating this game in stretches but they are so good. Jose Fernandez is a great coach and they are skilled at what they do and a very physical basketball team."
"I don't care if we are getting outrebounded, we have to out hustle. The early foul trouble really took a toll on us. "
"I though Izzy [Hadden] came in and did good for us on the glass, Caitie [Jones] came in and gave us a spark as well. They did a good job."
"We have to be better on the glass and be physical. We must do better with it. We need to, apparently, do a better job of not fouling."
 
THE NAME

Isabelle Hadden provided a spark off the bench for the Vandals. The senior totaled 10 points in 24 minutes of play on 4-9 shooting from the field. The Boise, Idaho native also dished out four assists and grabbed one rebounds. Hadden also recorded one block.

UP NEXT

Idaho will return home to Cowan-Spectrum arena Saturday Dec. 21^st to host Hawai'i at 2 p.m. The game will be the second home game of the season and first since Nov. 13^th.