GREELEY, Colo. – The Vandals women's basketball team broke their losing streak with a four-point win over Northern Colorado on Saturday afternoon. The Vandals limited the Bears, who were ranked No. 1 in the conference and No. 30 in the nation for scoring offense (77.8), to only 56 points.
Idaho improves to 10-9 overall and 3-4 in Big Sky play. Sarah Schmitt went off today, scoring a season-high 15 points including a 7-8 (87.5%) performance from the free throw line. Kennedy Johnson was right behind Schmitt with 14 points featuring 100% (3-3) from the free throw line. Asha Phillips led the team with seven rebounds as well as scoring 11 points overall. Skylar Bea came off the bench, recording a career-high two blocks and tied her career-high of six points.
Today's game was a tale of two halves, as the Vandals dominated the first half before going cold in the second. Idaho shot right out of the gate, going up 9-2 early in the first quarter. The Bears saw a score drought for over four minutes leading to a Vandal 9-0 run. The Bears only scored a season-low four points in the quarter, while Idaho surged to 21 points.
Idaho continued to tack on their lead in the second quarter, outscoring Northern Colorado 12-11. Of the Bears' 11 points, only two were from the field while the remaining nine were from the free throw line. On the other hand, Idaho continued to shoot 100% from three-point range, going 3-3 overall.
By the half-time intermission, Idaho led the Bears 33-15. The Vandals had one of their best halves so far this season in terms of shooting percentage, shooting 42.3% (11-26) from the field, 57.1% (4-7) from three and 7-7 from the free throw line. Meanwhile, the Bears put up dismal percentages at 12.5% (3-24) from the field, 0-10 from three-point range, and stayed alive going 9-12 (75%) from the charity stripe. Johnson led the court with 11 points missing only once from the field.
The third quarter proved to be a completely different story as the Bears clawed their way back into the game off a 16-0 run. Idaho could not convert, going scoreless for over five minutes. Thanks to the hefty lead at the half, the Vandals were able to keep a relatively comfortable lead as they squeaked out 11 points in the quarter. The Vandals shot 36.4% (4-11) from the field while Northern Colorado shot 53.8% (7-13).
In the final period, the game got chippy as both teams committed nine fouls. The Bears brought the game within two points at 56-45 off a three-pointer from Lilah Moore with just under a minute and a half to go. Schmitt drew two fouls in the final minute, converting on all four attempts to cushion the Vandals' lead. The Bears failed to create any quality chances as the final seconds winded down and Idaho walked away with a gutsy road conference win.
The second half proved to be more fruitful for Northern Colorado as they outscored Idaho 41-27. The Bears finally scored their first points from the three-point range in the final quarter while Idaho only scored two in the half.
Overall, Idaho shot 40% (18-45) from the field, 50% (6-12) from three, and 85.7% (18-21) from the free throw line while Northern Colorado shot 33.3% (15-45) from the field, 14.3% (2-14) from three and 82.8% (24-29) from the line. The Bears out-rebounded Idaho 32-30 and had 10 turnovers to Idaho's 12.
The Vandals return home to host the Montana schools and Sacramento State next weekend. Idaho will play three games in five days, first against Montana on 2/1 then Montana State on 2/3, and lastly, Sacramento State on 2/5.
