MOSCOW, Idaho –The University of Idaho women's basketball team defeated Portland State 86-63 in Memorial Gym. The Vandals improved to 13-6 overall and 12-3 in Big Sky play while the Vikings fell to 8-8 and 6-7. Beyonce Bea led the Vandals with 20 points and eight rebounds while also recording three blocks. As a team the Vandals totaled a season-high 22 assists, making 32 field-goals.
 
THE GAME
 
Idaho and Portland State opened the game tied, 2-2, just over two minutes in. A 6-0 run over the next two minutes gave the Vandals an 8-2 lead following a layup from Gabi Harrington. Idaho continued to pour on the points, jumping out to a 10-point lead following a jumper from Beyonce Bea at the 2:29 mark. The home side led 24-12 at the end of the first.

The Vandals extended their lead to 15 points, 31-16, midway through the second period after a three- pointer from Gina Marxen.  A three pointer from Janie King put the squad up 20, 38-18, with 1:18 to go. Bea added a pair of free-throws in the final seconds as the Vandals carried a 40-20 lead into halftime. 

Idaho continued their hot offensive outing in the third period, opening on an 8-0 run. A three-pointer from Marxen gave the Vandals a 48-20 lead less than two minutes in. Harrington converted a free-throw off an and-one opportunity, putting the Vandals up 31, 51-20, extending the run to 11-0 at the 7:01 mark. With one second remaining in the third, Harrington drilled a jumper to put the Vandals up 30, 66-36. Idaho scored a game-high 27 points in the third period.

With 5:55 remaining in the game Rylee Alexander gave the Vandals a 35-point lead, their largest of the game, 78-43. The Vikings went on to outscore the Vandals 27-20 in the fourth period. Idaho defeated Portland State in game one of the two game series 86-63.

THE NAME
 
Beyonce Bea recorded her fourth game with 20 or more points on the season and was two rebounds shy of a double-double with eight. The sophomore also notched three blocks, one steal and one assist. Bea was 8-of-15 from the floor for 53 percent.  
 
 
 THE QUOTES Beyonce Bea


 
 
THE NOTES
 
Behind Bea's 20 points Gabi Harrington and Sydney Gandy each scored in double-figures with 12 and 11, respectively. Gina Marxen led the Vandals with seven assists in the contest as Idaho totaled 22 assists as a team, the most since the 2019-20 season.

Idaho outrebounded Portland state 52-40 and 18-13 on the offensive glass.
 

The Vandals shot 47 percent from the field and 35 percent from three-point range while Portland State shot 34.8 percent and 19 percent.
 
 
UP NEXT:
 
The Vandals will travel to Portland, Oregon for game two of the series. Tip-off is set for 12 p.m., Saturday Feb. 20.