Box Score MOSCOW, Idaho –The University of Idaho women's basketball team improved to 11-5 overall and 10-2 in Big Sky play defeating Eastern Washington (6-11, 5-7) 85-56, Saturday for their fifth straight win. Idaho held a narrow 30-35 lead at halftime but outscored the Eagles 49-31 in the second half, including 27 points in the final period. Freshman
Sydney Gandy led the Vandals in scoring with a career-high 21 points.
Beyonce Bea notched a double-double scoring 19 points and grabbing 11 rebounds.
THE GAME
Eastern Washington led 2-0 to begin the game. At the 7:27 mark
Gabi Harrington gave Idaho a 4-2 lead on a fastbreak layup. 20 seconds later the graduate transfer added three more points to Idaho's lead and the Vandals led for the rest of the game. Another three pointer from Harrington put Idaho up 10-4 midway through the first period. Eastern Washington cut into Idaho's lead in the final minutes of the period, but the Vandals held a 17-13 lead at the end of the first.
EWU got within four points of the Vandals early in the second period. Five quick points from Harrington and Bea put the Vandals up nine, 25-16 at the 6:39 mark. Idaho controlled the period the rest of the way. A jumper from
Rylee Alexander put the Vandals up 15, 26-21, for their largest lead of the half with 1:32 to play. Idaho led 36-25 at the break.
The Vandals continued to build on their lead in the third period. A 15-0 run over three and half minutes late in the period put the Vandals up 20, 58-40. Sydney gandy scored seven of Idaho's 15 points during the run. The Eagles added a layup with 29 seconds to go, ending the run, but the Vandals held a 58-40 lead entering the fourth period.
The Vandals kept their foot on the gas in the final ten-minute period. An 18 point Vandal lead quickly became 32, just over five minutes into the third period. Gandy picked up where she left off in the third, scoring eight consecutive points in 67 seconds to put Idaho up 27, 69-42. A
Nina Carlson layup with 4:55 to go put the Vandals up 32 points, 80-48. The Vandals hit several free-throws down the stretch and went on to win, 85-56.
THE NAME
Sydney Gandy scored a career-high 21 points including 18 of which came in the second half. She finished 4-of-9 from three-point range. The freshman had two big scoring runs in the second half helping lift the Vandals to a victory. Gandy scored seven straight in the third and eight straight in the fourth, taking over. She also grabbed four rebounds, recorded two steals, and dished out one assist.
THE QUOTES Head Coach Jon Newlee
Sydney Gandy
THE NOTES
Sydney Gandy led a group of three players who scored in double-figures with 21 points.
Beyonce Bea added 19 and
Gabi Harrington chipped in 16.
The Vandals shot 43 percent from the field and 33 percent from three-point range, while the Eagles shot 40 percent from the field and 37 percent from three.
Idaho outrebounded the Eagles 45-29 overall and 17-5 on the offensive glass. Idaho outscored the visitors 27-2 in second chance points.
Beyonce Bea led the Vandals with 11 rebounds while Harrington chipped in eight.
Idaho won the turnover battle 15-23 and scored 34 points off turnovers.
61 of Idaho's 85 points came from turnovers and second chance points.
Idaho also finished 11-of-15 from the free-throw line.
UP NEXT:
The Vandals will host Idaho State, who sits at the top of the conference standings, in the Battle of the Domes, Thursday night at 6 p.m. in Memorial gym.
