BOZEMAN, Montana. -The University of Idaho Vandals Women's Basketball team (8-5, 3-1) handed Montana State (8-6, 4-1) its first Big Sky loss of the season Thursday night 69-68 in double-overtime. Junior Natalie Klinker scored the final five points for the Vandals including three crucial free-throws to win 69-68. Freshman Beyonce Bea led the Vandals with 26 points and eight boards while Gina Marxen chipped in 14.

THE GAME

After battling with the Bobcats in the first half, Beyonce Bea handed Idaho a 31-29 lead at halftime following a layup with 35 seconds remaining in the half.
To begin the third period, Champney Pulliam, who earned her first career start tonight, knocked down two huge three-pointers to give Idaho a 39-34 lead over Montana State, their largest of the game. The Bobcats responded with a 7-2 run over the next six minutes to take a 42-41 lead over Idaho at the 1:47 mark in the third period. Bea once again provided Idaho with a go-ahead bucket to lead 43-42 with 33 seconds left in the third. The Vandals carried the lead in to the fourth period.
Idaho struggled offensively to begin the fourth period. With 2:05 to go, down 54-48, Beyonce Bea drilled a three-pointer cutting Montana State's lead to 54-51. With 16 seconds remaining, following an offensive rebound from Gina Marxen, Bea sank her another three-pointer tying the game 54-54 and ultimately forcing overtime.  
In the first overtime period Montana State struck first to lead 57-54 with 4:03 remaining. However, Idaho matched each shot the Bobcats made in the period. Marxen tied the game 57-57 with 3:18 to go before Bea hit a layup to tie the game 59-59 at the 2:21 mark. With just 24 seconds left in the first overtime Gina Marxen drilled a three-pointer, tying the game 62-62 and forcing the second overtime.
Down 66-64 with 1:57 to go in the second overtime, Natalie Klinker scored through contact, tying the game 66-66. Klinker then converted the And-1 layup, giving the Vandals a 67-66 lead over Montana State. The Bobcats wouldn't go away, however, as Fallyn Freijie lifted Montana State over Idaho 68-67 with 1:16 to go. With 46 seconds remaining Klinker once again lifted the Vandals at the free-throw line, sinking to shots to give Idaho a 69-68 lead.
Idaho's defense would prove strong at the end as the Vandals held on to win 69-68 in Bozeman.


THE NOTES

Idaho finished 25-67 from the field, shooting 37 percent compared to just 27-79 and 34 percent from Montana State.
Idaho held Montana State from draining game-winning shots on three separate occasions in the game.
Idaho and Montana State each recorded eight steals and 12 assists in the game while the Bobcats edged the Vandals in turnovers 17-16.
The Bobcats held a 19-14 advantage on the offensive boards, however the Vandals scored 23 second chance points, compared to just 16 by Montana State.
THE QUOTES 

HEAD COACH JON NEWLEE

"What a game, there was a big shot after big shot for both teams, as well as big stops. I was really proud of our defensive effort. They had chances to win the game and we buckled down and finally got some rebounds. They were killing us on the boards, but we finally got some."
"I'm so proud of our team winning this game on the road and in this environment against the preseason favorites."
"Flashback to Seattle U game. I thought we had some open looks and Beyonce stepped up. I told her to stay aggressive and she had a heck of a game."
"Champ started the game and gave us a spark with two threes and I'm so proud of her effort and her to come through like she did."
"It was a total team effort the energy was great, and it was just a fantastic game all the way around and to do it here was great."
I'm so proud of Nat for hitting those free-throws, it was huge. There were so many huge plays down the stretch. Every play is so crucial, and you saw that tonight."
"They executed their plan and you got to give them credit, they have a great coaching staff and a veteran team and that's what makes this win so special"
 
BEYONCE BEA:
 
"We had to work tonight, and a lot of us had to push physically because they had a lot of height on us, but we pushed through."
"They had a lot of talented players and they are also experienced, so it was difficult to guard. It made us work hard, but I think we did a good job
"The overtime games will help us in the long run. Especially when you get to the tournament and it helps us learn how to stay calm and play under pressure."

THE NAME
Natalie Klinker returned to the court tonight after missing the last three games and came through huge for the Vandals in the end. Klinker scored all five of her points in the minute and a half on the second overtime. The junior knocked down two crucial free-throws to give Idaho the lead, and win, with 46 seconds left. Klinker also grabbed ten rebounds.

UP NEXT

Idaho will return to Moscow next week to face the Eastern Washington University Eagles Thursday, Jan. 16^th at 5:30 p.m.