BOISE, Idaho —  When it rains, it pours. Taylor Pierce ties career-high, and top-seeded Idaho defeats No. 8 Northern Arizona, 90-73, in the quarterfinals of the Big Sky Championship presented by My Place in CenturyLink Arena Tuesday afternoon.
 
Pierce goes for 31 points, tying career-high in points, with seven rebounds and four assists.  The league's MVP, Mikayla Ferenz, tallied 24 points. Freshman Gina Marxen set a new season-high of 9 assists while Lizzy Klinker and Natalie Klinker pulled down 13 and ten boards, respectively. All 11 Vandals saw action the quarterfinal win.
 
THE GAME
The Vandals trailed in a tightly contested first quarter where both teams held no more than a five-point lead. It was a tied game, 20-20, after the Lumberjacks connected on a short jumper. With 45 seconds left in the first quarter, an Idaho foul put NAU on the free throw line where they broke the tie, 21-20, to end the quarter.
 
Mid-way through the second quarter, Idaho put together a 7-0 run capped by a triple by Pierce before the media timeout. The Vandals continued its run to 10-0 to push the lead to double-figures, 43-29. Pierce dropped 25-points, just under half of the Vandals 56 points to end the second quarter. Idaho outscored NAU 36-15 and ended up with a 20-point advantage before heading into the locker room, 56-36.
 
From then on, Idaho had complete control of the game never losing its lead and taking the game 90-73. While the Splash Sisters combined for 55 points, it was Pierce who was the X-factor as she sank six three-points from behind the arc. Idaho dominated in the paint scoring 42 points down low and outrebounded the Lumberjacks 48-37. Both teams took care of the ball with Idaho giving up six turnovers to NAU's eight.

 
THE QUOTE—Jon Newlee, Mikayla Ferenz and Taylor Pierce
 
UP NEXT
The Vandals advance to the semifinals Wednesday, March 13 at 4:30PT/5:30 MT against the winner of No. 7 Montana State vs. No. 4 Portland State.