BOISE, Idaho — Idaho women's basketball ends their Big Sky tourney run in the semifinals after falling to Portland State, 75-59, Wednesday evening at CenturyLink Arena
 
Taylor Pierce and Mikayla Ferenz combined for 15 points on 6-of-29 shooting while Lizzy Klinker had a career night posting 21 points. Freshman Hailey Christopher also had a career night, adding 16 points and two blocks.
 
THE GAME
Idaho opened the quarter with a steal by Gina Marxen and a finish on the other end by Ferenz. A tight first quarter led to several lead changes until the Vikings created a four-point edge over the Vandals when Kylie Jimenez drilled one from behind the arc. After a two-minute drought, Ferenz found space from three-land to make it a one-point game, 11-10. Two more minutes passed, and the Vandals take a one-point lead to end the first quarter, 16-15.
 
Early in the second, an opened Christopher on the elbow shoots her shot to tie the ballgame 18-18. The Vikings answered back with a 7-0 run and increased the score 25-18. Christopher interrupts their run with another jumper, but the Vikings put together an 8-0 run as they led the Vandals 30-22 midway through the second. Maintaining its lead, Portland State left the half with a four-point advantage, 32-28.
 
Portland State used the majority of the quarter to gain an 11-point lead, which came deep into the quarter. Gina Marxen connected on a three-pointer with 27 seconds left on the clock to keep the deficit within reach, 50-42, as the Vandals headed into the final quarter.
 
Pushing its lead to 14 points with 2:30 second on the clock, the Vikings led the Vandals 65-51 late in the fourth. With the time against them, the Vandals game plan was to foul to stop the clock, but once Portland State was in the bonus, the team was able to run up the score holding the Vandals at bay. With the Splash Sisters out and the time winding down, Portland State did something they had not done since 2007, beat Idaho 75-59.
 
THE QUOTE—Jon Newlee, Mikayla Ferenz, Taylor Pierce