Idaho’s one week of late-game brilliance that led to an NCAA Tournament berth last season didn’t begin in Las Vegas, where the Vandal women cut down the nets at the Orleans Arena as Western Athletic Conference Champions. It all started in Seattle one week prior to that net-cutting, having instead to watch their opponents cut the net.
Hannah Sandoval | Argonaut
Senior Alyssa Charlston and freshman Brooke Reilly practice Thursday night at the Kibbie Dome. Idaho travels to Seattle U Saturday to try to stay undefeated in conference play.
Vandal players and coaches walked off the court at Seattle’s Connelly Center after the Redhawks clinched the regular season WAC championship with a 55-53 down-to-the-wire victory over the Vandals.
“We talked about it in the locker room about turning the tables in Las Vegas,” Idaho coach Jon Newlee said. “I think the girls who were here last year will remember the feeling of being in the Connelly Center and how that experience went.”
The feeling resonated. The next time Idaho saw Seattle the Vandals a physical, emotional and nerve-racking one-possession game again ensued. A 3-point shot clanking off the rim by Seattle’s Daida Brown meant Idaho claimed revenge, and the championship.
That was more than 10 months ago. The rivalry will be rekindled on Saturday at the Connelly Center, the first time the teams have played in the 2013-14 season. It’s a game that’s been circled by both teams, despite a one-game-at-a-time mentality.
“After every game (this year) we check back to see how Seattle did,” senior Alyssa Charlston said. “Everyone is on the bus right after the game, after we’re done celebrating, we’re trying to see if Seattle won or lost. It builds a lot too, because we want to see where we’re at and we don’t get it until halfway through the schedule.”
As it stands now the Vandals sit two games ahead of Seattle in the conference schedule at 7-0 compared to Seattle’s 5-2, though Idaho is still wary of Seattle. The Redhawks blew out two WAC opponents who gave Idaho trouble — UTPA and Grand Canyon.
“They’re a great team, they’re the regular season champions. I think that keeps us grounded, knowing that they’ve beaten us in the past,” junior Stacey Barr said.
The feeling of rivalry is reciprocated on the other side of the court.
“I definitely feel like this is a big rivalry game for us,” Seattle senior Kacie Sowell said. “Having played Idaho three times last year, they’re really one of the only schools we’ve played so many times before.”
Having stumbled twice in the first half during its initial campaign in the new-look WAC Seattle players feel the timing of this game is good for them.
“There’s a lot of anxiety. You really want to play, you’re really excited about it, kind of want to watch the conference play out a little bit,” Sowell said.
“With the last game of the first round, as excited as we’ve been for this game … We’ve enjoyed the other games, it’s kind of built up to this game.”
Emotions should be flaring on Saturday and the game could get physical, especially between Charlston and Sowell who will be going on their third year facing off against each other.
“It’s not a dirty rivalry, but it gets really heated,” Charlston said.
Sean Kramer can be reached at [email protected]