Box Score MOSCOW, Idaho –The University of Idaho women's basketball team handed Idaho State their first Big Sky loss of the season, improving to 12-6 overall and 11-5 in conference play. The Vandals topped the Bengals (15-2, 11-1), 73-56 in Memorial Gym. Idaho outscored the visitors 43-16 in the second half, allowing just six points in the final period.
Gabi Harrington recorded her fourth consecutive 20-plus point game, leading all scorers with 25 points and 12 rebounds.
Beyonce Bea and
Gina Marxen also chipped in double-digits, scoring 14 and 13, respectively.
THE GAME
After giving up the first bucket,
Beyonce Bea caped a 7-0 run for the Vandals as they took a 7-4 lead with 7:30 to play. A jumper from
Gabi Harrington extended Idaho's lead to seven, 11-6. Idaho State outscored the Vandals the rest of the way in the period, taking a 22-18 lead. Harrington added a second-chance bucket in the final seconds, but the visitors led 22-20 after one.
Idaho's offense struggled in the second period as the Bengals took a 12-point lead, 34-22, with 4:04 to play in the period. The Vandals outscored Idaho State 8-6 in the final four minutes of the period. However, the Bengals held a 40-30 advantage at halftime.
Idaho flipped the script in the third period, holding the Bengals to just 10 points. A pair of free-throws from
Gabi Harrington capped an 8-0 run for the Vandals, cutting the lead to two, 40-38, in the first 3:57 of the third period. The Bengals responded with a 7-0 run, taking a 47-38 lead with 4:51 to go. A jumper from
Sydney Gandy cut the lead back to two, 45-47, after a 7-0 Idaho run. The Bengals added three more points, but a
Gina Marxen three-pointer in the final 47 seconds of the third put the Vandals down just two, 48-50, to enter the final period.
The fourth period was all Vandals. A layup in the paint from
Natalie Klinker, less than two minutes in, gave Idaho a 52-50 lead that they would not relinquish. A three-pointer from Harrington and an 'and one' from Marxen put the Vandals up 10, 64-54 with 4:04 to play, capping a 10-2 run. Idaho held the Bengals to just two points the rest of the way, cruising to a 73-56 win, winning the Battle of the Domes. Idaho outscored the Bengals 25-6 in the fourth period.
THE NAME
Gabi Harrington continued her offensive onslaught today, scoring more than 22 points for the third time this season. The graduate transfer added a game-high 25 points and 12 rebounds for her third double-double of the season. She was 57 percent from the field and 44 percent from three-point range. She also had one steal and one assist.
THE QUOTES Head Coach Jon Newlee
Gabi Harrington
THE NOTES
Along with Harrington's 25 points,
Beyonce Bea scored 14 and
Gina Marxen added 13. Marxen scored all 13 of her points in the second half, including 10 in the fourth period alone.
Idaho outrebounded the Bengals 41-38 on the glass, but the visitors held a 12-11 advantage in offensive rebounds. However, Idaho outscored the Bengals 12-7 in second chance points.
Idaho won the turnover battle, 12-11 and outscored the Bengals 16-11 in points off turnovers.
At halftime the Vandals were shooting 32 percent from the field and Idaho State was shooting 50 percent. The script completely flipped in the second half as Idaho shot 52.2 percent and Bengals shot 23.3 percent. For the game Idaho was 40 percent from the floor and 28 percent from three-point range while the Bengals were 37.5 percent from the floor and just 9.1 percent from three. Idaho State only made one three in the contest.
There were nine lead changes in the contest and the Bengals led for 24 minutes. Idaho led for 13:51 and their largest lead was 17.
The Vandals finished 19-26 from the free-throw line.
UP NEXT:
The Vandals will host Portland State on Thursday Feb. 18, at 6 p.m. in Memorial Gym.
