TUCSON, Ariz.— The Idaho women's basketball team once again played in front of a full house, but this time it was a sea of 6,000 inside the Mckale Center, as the Vandals concluded their season in a physical 68-60 loss against Arizona Thursday night.
 
While the Wildcats lead the whole game, Idaho stuck around until fourth quarter when a 9-0 run gave Arizona the room it needed to advance in the Women's National Invitation Tournament.
 
Taylor Pierce ended her collegiate career with six made threes on the night, adding to her NCAA single-season record of 154 made triples. She led the Vandals with 20 points. Mikayla Ferenz and Gina Marxen added 10 points apiece.
  
THE GAME
Ultimately, offensive rebounding led to the Vandals' downfall against a much bigger and longer Wildcats team. Idaho went toe-to-toe keeping up with Arizona despite trailing the entire first half. Idaho left the first quarter down, 19-16. The score tied at 19-19 but the Wildcats slowly built a 10-point lead to end the first 20 minutes of play, 36-26.
 
Idaho was looking to recreate Sunday's third quarter burst against Arizona, but the Wildcats used offensive rebounding to gain more possessions.  The third quarter was quiet for both teams until Ferenz put back-to-back three-points putting Idaho with in two-points with 2:47 left in the third. Arizona quickly answered with a 7-0 run that push the lead back to nine points.
 
The Wildcats put together a 9-0 run, putting the Vandals at 16-point disadvantaged early in the fourth quarter, 57-39. A rare three-pointer by freshman Hailey Christopher sparked the Vandals offense as the team chipped away at the Wildcats' lead. With 11 seconds left in regulation, Pierce connects from behind the arc making it a two-possession game, 66-60. In the end, free throws and time kept the Vandals from completing it's come from behind takeover.

THE QUOTE- Jon Newlee