LOGAN, Utah – The Vandal women's basketball team remained perfect on the road with a dominant 70-43 win over Utah State on Wednesday morning. Idaho (4-2) was led by three Vandals scoring in the double digits.
Amalie Langer led Idaho with a season-high 16 points followed by Sarah Schmitt and Asha Phillips with 10 points apiece. Schmitt was a catalyst for the offense, dishing a season-high eight assists, the most for any Vandal this season. 11 Vandals saw action, and all but one got points on the board. Defensively, the Vandals were sound denying the Aggies any points from beyond the arc, the first time Idaho has not allowed a three-pointer since 3/3/17 vs. Southern Utah.
Idaho came out hot in the first quarter taking and holding on to the lead only 3 minutes and 20 seconds in. Utah State opened up the scoring with a jumper, but five unanswered points from the Vandals turned the momentum around quickly. Kennedy Johnson led the court with seven points going 3-4 from the field and 1-2 from three-point. The Vandals held the Aggies to only nine points in the quarter.
The second quarter provided a larger cushion for Idaho as they went on a 9-0 scoring run in over five minutes. The scoring run featured a four-point turnaround as Johnson stepped up to the free throw line, making the first attempt and missing the second. Idaho scooped up the failed second attempt and converted the missed one-point into a three-pointer from Phillips. The Vandals held the Aggies to a game-low of eight points in the quarter and led 32-17 at the half.
The first half was a very productive 20 minutes for Idaho as they scored their largest margin all season. Johnson led the Vandals with eight points and five rebounds. Idaho shot 48.1% (13-27) from the field, 29.4% (5-17) from three, and 1-2 from free throw. Utah State struggled shooting 25% (7-28) from the field, 0-7 from three, and 75% (3-4) from free throw. Idaho returned to its roots this half, firing off the most three-point attempts in a single half this season.
In the third quarter, Langer and Aspen Caldwell went off scoring at a high rate. Langer scored 14 of her 16 total points, shooting perfectly (5-5 FG, 3-3 3PT, 1-1 FT). Caldwell scored all seven of her points going 4-4 from the free throw line as well as converting her first career three-point attempt. Idaho ended the quarter with twice as many points as Utah State (60-30).
As time winded down, Idaho's bench earned significant play time as the starting five started to come off one by one. Skylar Bea and Jenna Kilty entered and scored their first points since the season opener vs. Walla Walla (11/6). Kilty and Schmitt both led with one three-pointer each. The Vandals ended the half shooting 41.9% (13-31) from the field, 7-14 (50%) from three, and 5-5 from free throw.
Idaho improved to 3-0 away from home (2-0 away, 1-0 neutral) after today's win. The Vandals recorded their best shooting game against a Division I team this season from the field (44.8%) and from three (38.7%). Idaho registered their third 40-plus rebound game of the season after only five 40-plus games last season.
The Vandals have a quick turnaround this week as they come back home to host Texas A&M Commerce on Friday at 6:00 p.m. PST.
