FINAL SCORE: Idaho 84, Denver 54 
 
RECORDS: Idaho (8-2), Denver (3-6) 
 
IDAHO LEADERS: Kyra Gardner (16 points), Gardner (12 rebounds), Hope Hassmann and Mary McMorris (4 assists), Gardner (2 steals)
 
NOTABLES: 

• At 8-2, Idaho is off to its best start to a season since the 2003-04 season (9-1)
• By halftime, Kyra Gardner had nearly recorded a double-double with 11 points and nine rebounds
• Gardner recorded a new career high with 12 rebounds – previous high was nine against Southern Utah earlier this year
• Gardner's double-double is her first of her career and the third by a Vandal this season
• Mary McMorris scored a season-high 12 points
• This was the first time this season the Vandals have converted 10 or more three pointers this season, and the first time Idaho has shot over 50% from outside for a game. 

QUOTABLES

"Great bounce back win. I was not happy with our effort and lack of toughness in Wednesday's game. I thought the team responded really well today and played hard for the entirety of the game. We need to continue to get better as a team, and I think we did that today." - Arthur Moreira

DENVER, Colo. – The Idaho Vandals women's basketball team closed the Big Sky-Summit Challenge emphatically, blowing out the Denver Pioneers by a score of 84-54 in the Mile High City. 

It was the Pioneers who struck first, jumping out to a 5-2 lead in Denver's Hamilton Gymnasium, but that lead wouldn't last long. A Kyra Gardner layup gave Idaho a 6-5 lead and the Vandals would outrun Denver from that point on. With a combined 10 points from Gardner and Ella Uriarte, the Vandals led 16-10 after the first, Idaho closed the quarter on a 7-0 run that extended to 9-0 when Gardner layed it in for the first basket of the second period. 

Denver cut the lead to just three in the second, when the gap narrowed to 22-19, but Idaho responded with an 8-0 run, capped by a Niveya Henley layup, to give the Vandals some breathing room. At the half, Idaho led by nine and was led by Gardner who had one of the best halves of her career, putting up a line of 11 points, nine rebounds to tie her career high, two assists, and two steals. 

The second half was all Vandals all the time. Mary McMorris led the way for the Vandal attack, scoring seven points as Idaho outpaced Denver 25-15 in the third, and carried a comfortable 19-point advantage to the final quarter.

Hope Hassmann had a tremendous fourth quarter, putting up seven points, connecting on a three-pointer, grabbing three boards, and dishing out a pair of assists to pace the Vandals in the fourth, and the UI defense limited Denver to just 11 points as Idaho cruised to a 30-point victory to give the Big Sky Conference another point in the Big Sky-Summit Challenge, and give the Idaho Vandals (8-2) their second true road win of the season. 

UP NEXT: The Vandals continue their road trip, heading to Berkeley where they will take on California on Wednesday, December 10 at 7 p.m. Information about the TV broadcast and live stats will be published on govandals.com as it becomes available. 

TICKETS: Tickets can be purchased here or by calling the Vandal ticket office at (208) 885-6466. 

SOCIAL MEDIA: Stay up to date with everything happening with the Vandals by following them on Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube.