FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – Four Vandals recorded points in double digits for the second game in a row as Idaho dropped Saturday's matchup to Northern Arizona, 87-78.
Beyonce Bea led the squad with 19 points, followed by
Tiana Johnson with 15,
Brooke Malone with a career-high of 14, and
Rosa Smith with 13.
Bea led the team with 19 points, 11 of which came in the final quarter. Malone had a career night, setting a new best with 14 points and tying her career-high of eight rebounds. Smith came off the bench and recorded eight assists. Johnson has been deadly from the three-point range, scoring all 15 points from the arc and 12 total in the last three games.
While the Vandals shot better in the game than the Lumberjacks, NAU was able to prevail off a successful first quarter. The Lumberjacks came out hot and could not miss. NAU went on a 10-0 run, leaving the Vandals down 12 points, the largest lead for NAU of the half. Idaho could not find the net, going through multiple two-minute scoring droughts in the first 10. NAU shot 63% from the field and 57% from three-point range while the Vandals shot 42% and 33%, respectively.
Sydney Gandy led the Vandals with five points.
Idaho managed to claw their way back into the game and decrease the deficit after a strong second quarter. Malone tallied nine points as the Vandals outscored NAU 20-15. Bea was limited to only two points, but the rest of the team picked up the slack with three points from Johnson and four from Smith. Idaho shot 50% from the field and over 42% from the three-point range while NAU struggled shooting 30% from the field and the arc. The Vandals brought the game back into a single-digit deficit of 39-33 as the halftime horn blew.
At the half, Smith led the team with seven points followed by Bea and Malone with six and Gandy with five. Malone and Phillips were forces at the glass, bringing down four rebounds apiece. NAU had the advantage in rebounds, 18-16 with six offensives to Idaho's two. The Vandals shot 45.8% (11-24) from the field in the first 20, while the Lumberjacks shot 44.4% (16-36). Idaho did not allow Northern Arizona any charity point attempts in the first half while the Vandals converted 7-9. Idaho's deficit was largely due to seven turnovers and seven points against off turnovers.
The Vandals continued to fight back after halftime, coming out on an 8-0 run, bringing the game within two points. Johnson drained four three-pointers in the quarter to give Idaho their first and largest lead of the game at 56-52. Malone continued to find the net, tallying five points as well. Idaho outscored NAU 29-24 in the quarter, shooting over 62% from the field. Smith created many chances and opportunities for the Vandals, recording four assists in the quarter. As the quarter ended, Northern Arizona regained the advantage with a one-point lead, 63-62.
The final quarter proved to be too big of a task for the Vandals as NAU held on to win the game. After three single-digit quarters, Bea exploded on the offense, knocking down 11 points for the Vandals. As the minutes winded down, the momentum shifted in favor of Northern Arizona as they managed the clock and picked up seven points from the free-throw line.
Idaho will be back home for one final time this season as they take on Idaho State and Weber State next weekend.
