MOSCOW, Idaho – Four Vandals scored in double figures and the Idaho Vandal women never trailed as they topped Utah State 71-56 Sunday afternoon at the ICCU Arena in Moscow.
 
The Vandals scored first and led by double-digits (16-5) in the first quarter before the Aggies cut the lead to 16-10 after one. Utah State used a 7-0 run in the middle of the second quarter to tie the game at 27.
 
Sarah Brans hit a jumper with 31 seconds left in the first half to give the Vandals a 32-30 lead at the break.
 
The Vandals outscored the Aggies 23-13 in the third to take a 55-43 lead into the fourth. Utah State opened the fourth quarter with a 9-0 run to cut the Vandal lead to 55-51, but the Vandals pulled away down the stretch to earn the 15-point win.
 
Olivia Nelson recorded 20 points and five assists while Jennifer Aadland recorded her second double-double of the season, grabbing 14 points and 14 rebounds. Hope Hassmann added 12 points, and six assists and Brans added 11 points.
 
Idaho had just eight turnovers, a season low against DI competition. The Vandals also recorded 20 assists on 28 made shots.
 
The Vandals were 28-70 (40%) from the field and 9-26 (34.6%) from the three-point line. Idaho tallied 34 points in the paint and outrebounded the Aggies 48-42.
 
Idaho has now won seven games for the first time since the close of the 2019-20 season. The Vandals were on a seven-game winning streak after winning the semifinals of the Big Sky tournament before the championship game was canceled due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.
 
Idaho next plays UC Davis at 11 a.m. Wednesday at ICCU Arena, the final home game of the non-conference season. Nearly 1000 local elementary school kids will be in attendance at the Arena for the second annual kids game.