If Idaho is looking for Western Athletic Conference perfection, the second half of the conference schedule will prevent challenges to that. That’s what last night’s road contest in Las Cruces, N.M., proved, as Idaho survived New Mexico State to pull out a 75-66 win to improve the Vandal women to 9-0 in their conference schedule.
The Vandals, in their second go-around in the conference schedule, faced stiffer competition from the Aggies than their 79-51 win on Jan. 11 at the Cowan Spectrum.
New Mexico State outmuscled Idaho in the first half, holding Idaho to under 25 percent shooting and forcing Idaho into a 31-26 deficit at halftime.
“I was disappointed with our energy level, disappointed with our selfishness in the first half,” Idaho coach Jon Newlee said. “They took some shots tonight that I’ve never seen them take in practice.”
Luckily for Idaho, it has a Stacey Barr. The Australian junior guard finished with 22 points, 11 of them in the first half. But it was a freshman from Spokane who Newlee praised for the second half turnaround, where the Vandals outscored their opponent by 14 points.
“I thought Brooke Reilly saved us in the second half. That’s the best game I’ve seen her play,” Newlee said. “She did a great job on the glass, she’s flying around. Only reason I took her out she was because she was tired.”
Reilly played 16 efficient minutes, scoring 10 points and grabbing six rebounds. Ali Forde also had a lot to do with the second half turnaround. She forced Aggie driving guards away from the paint, altering shots and registering another double-double with 10 points and 13 rebounds.
Forde was especially important in slowing down Aggie guard Danesia Williamson, who finished with 33 points.
“I think inside, Williamson was getting inside. I also think Ali Forde altered some shots there, I think Ali played extremely well,” Newlee said. “I liked her game tonight, she’s the one player, her and Stacey came to play and played hard.”
The after-effect of playing at rival Seattle last Saturday had something to do with the slow start, Newlee said.
“There was so much emotion in that game … once they realized it was a brawl tonight, they responded,” he said.
It won’t get much easier for Idaho. They now head to Edinburg, Texas, to face a Texas-Pan American team that Idaho struggled with earlier in the season at the Cowan Spectrum. The Broncs came to Moscow and played Idaho to an 11-point game, but frustrated Idaho into a bad shooting day with athletic defense and had a good 3-point shooting day in the process.
“It’s going to be harder down in Pan Am than it was here. They played us close at home, not the blowout that we had with these guys,” Newlee said. “I think the athleticism bothered us at home, again we’re going to have to get out to 3-point shooters. They play extremely well at home.”
Sean Kramer can be reached at [email protected]