BOISE, Idaho - Idaho women's basketball's season came to a close Monday afternoon at Idaho Central Arena. The Vandals fell to the Montana Grizzlies in the quarterfinals of the 2024 Big Sky Tournament, 73-61.
Despite drilling their first two attempts, the Vandals struggled to find the bottom of the net shooting just 20 percent in the first quarter. It would be a different tale for the Lady Griz who shot 64.3 percent on a 9-of-14 clip jumping out to a 20-11 lead after the first ten minutes.
The Vandals seemed to climb the ladder cutting the deficit to three on a 15-9 run to open the second. But the Grizzlies couldn't be caught, holding a ten-point lead (36-26) at the break behind Gina Marxen's 12 first-half points. Kennedy Johnson led the Vandals with 11 points and five rebounds.Â
Montana kept their rhythm out of the locker room sinking six of their first six attempts and an 81.8 percent mark in the third. The Vandals were able to force four Grizzly turnovers but the shooting woes continued, completing just five field goals for eleven points and trailing 40-61 entering the final quarter.
The fourth would be Idaho's only quarter outscoring Montana with 21 on a 57.1 percent clip but the last chance effort would fall short.Â
The Grizzlies took control off the glass grabbing 38 rebounds to Idaho's 26. Idaho was unable to keep up with the Grizzlies' 50 percent mark from the field.Â
Key PerformersÂ
- Kennedy Johnson led all scorers with 24 points and came short of a double-double with nine boards.Â
- Sarah Schmitt recorded 14 points, three assists, and three rebounds.
- Sarah Brans added 11 for the Vandals with a team-high three three-pointers.Â
Noteworthy
- Johnson's 24 points are the most since Taylor Pierce's Idaho postseason record of 31 in a quarterfinal victory over Northern Arizona in 2019. The junior guard scored at least ten points in 22 games and at least 20 in four contests for Idaho in 2023-24.
- Johnson's 23 field goal attempts are tied for the most from a Vandal in a Big Sky Tournament contest. Gabi Harrington recorded 23 attempts in the quarterfinals against Northern Arizona in 2021.
- Kennedy Johnson, Asha Phillips, and Sarah Schmitt started in all 31 games for the Vandals in 2023-24.Â
- The Vandals' eight turnovers are tied for a season low (8, vs. Montana, 2/1/2024).
