Idaho coach Jon Newlee said he couldn’t believe it when he looked at the scoreboard at the end of the first quarter when the Idaho women’s basketball team faced California State-Northridge Friday night at the Memorial Gym. The Vandals shut out the Matadors 29-0 in the first quarter and continued to dominate throughout the game as Idaho won 106-50.
“It was amazing,” Newlee said. “There were a lot of good things on both sides of the ball that happened tonight. I loved our start.”
Idaho senior guard Connie Ballestero scored 19 points to go along with seven assists, improving from her four points and two assists against UC Santa Barbara in the regular-season opener.
Sophomore post Geraldine McCorkell grabbed 10 rebounds and contributed 15 points.
“We knew they liked to penetrate and get into the paint and score that way, so we made it an emphasis in practice to keep them out of the paint and force them to their weak hand,” senior guard Christina Salvatore said. “Once we got going, I think it was just keeping the intensity for the whole game.”
Salvatore finished with 15 points, seven rebounds and five assists.
CSUN’s leading scorers heading into the game, sophomore guard Jordan Smith and freshman guard Nautica Morrow, were unable to fight through the Vandals defense.
Smith ended the game with zero points and Morrow with two. Morrow scored 18 and Smith 12 in the Matadors’ game against San Diego.
The Matadors beat the Vandals 67-50 last year in Northridge, California.
“They embarrassed us last year,” Newlee said.
During that loss, current Idaho freshman guard Taylor Pierce was sitting in the stands watching the game.
Pierce is from Carlsbad, California, about 115 miles south of Northridge.
“I remember distinctly seeing her at halftime and going ‘I wish you could play now (be)cause we need you,’” Newlee said. “For her to be a part of this was pretty cool and special.”
Pierce scored 18 points against the Matadors Friday night.
Idaho led 53-12 at halftime.
Senior post Renae Mokrzycki scored 17 points.
Six Idaho players scored in the double digits, which is what Newlee said he wants to see.
“We don’t rely on one player,” Newlee said. “We’re going to move the ball, equal opportunity, make the extra pass and when you’re ready take your shot. Man, if you’re open, take the shot.”
The Vandals moved the ball well as they finished with 27 assists.
CSUN spent the fourth quarter playing catch up, scoring 24 points. Its late surge made no dent in the Vandals’ lead. Idaho started the fourth quarter with a 59-point lead.
“We have a lot of great shooters,” Salvatore said. “It’s encouraging to score that much, to know that offensively you’re clicking so well. We just want to keep that up.”
Tess Fox can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @tesstakesphotos
Photo by: Tess Fox