After trailing by 17 points in the second half, the Vandal women’s basketball team clawed its way back into the game. Idaho came within five points of Nevada with less than 30 seconds to play, but missed shots and turnovers resulted in a 70-76 heartbreaker.
Each team entered the contest in dire need of a win. Idaho (5-15, 0-4 WAC) and Nevada (5-13, 1-2 WAC) are the bottom two teams in the WAC and both were seeking its first conference win of the season. Unfortunately the Vandals now sit all alone at the bottom of the WAC and are riding a seven-game losing streak.
Idaho coach Jon Newlee said it was a frustrating loss.
“I’m disappointed,” Newlee said. “I feel like we missed an opportunity to get a WAC win at home in a game I feel we should win.”
The first half was a back and forth battle, but neither team could build a decisive lead until Nevada went on a 10-point run halfway through the half. The Vandals climbed back to within two, but were never able to take the lead. The Vandals went into the locker room down by seven, 32-25.
The Wolfpack’s took control in the second half and pushed the lead to 17 before Idaho stormed back in the last five minutes of the game. Idaho brought the score within five with just under 30 seconds to go, but were unable to complete the comeback.
The 3-point line was not kind to the Vandals, who went 3-19 from beyond the arch. Newlee said free throws were a big difference in the outcome.
“They made some big shots when they needed to and finished at the rim,” Newlee said. “They made their big shots and we didn’t make ours. Definitely from three we were ice cold.”
Sophomore Alyssa Charlston continued to look strong for Idaho, nabbing her sixth double-double of the season with 17 points and a career-high 16 rebounds. Junior Jessica Graham also had a strong game tallying a season-high 10 points. Graham said as a junior she feels pressure to step-up her game to hopefully help break the losing streak.
“I’ve been here the longest out of anyone,” Graham said. “I definitely have a feel for this program and I feel I need to step up a lot more.”
The Vandals have seen a lot of close games during the losing streak, but can’t seem to get over the hump for a victory. Graham said her team is improving, but can’t break through.
“I think we really stepped up from how we were playing,” Graham said. “It’s something we’ve really been working on.”
The squad hopes to regroup before returning to the court at 5:30 p.m. Saturday when the Vandals face Utah State in the Cowan Spectrum. The Aggies are currently in second place in the WAC and will pose a challenge for Idaho.
The Vandals return to the road next week at Hawaii and San Jose State.