An early lead allowed the Idaho women’s basketball team to come away with yet another Big Sky Conference victory Thursday night.
Sophomore post Geraldine McCorkell scored 16 points to bring Idaho to a 78-61 win over Montana on Thursday. Idaho moves to 5-1 in Big Sky play as a result of the victory.
Senior guard Christina Salvatore finished with a double-double, including 15 points and 10 rebounds.
McCorkell put the Vandals on the scoreboard in the first half with a layup.
The first quarter became a back-and-forth between the two programs. A 3-pointer from senior guard Christina Salvatore allowed the Vandals to take an early lead, but Montana’s Kayleigh Valley responded with consecutive baskets to regain the lead.
Two free throws from junior point guard Karlee Wilson and a 3-pointer from freshman guard Taylor Pierce helped Idaho regain a 12-9 lead as the first quarter ended.
Idaho took advantage of the lead and expanded it in the second quarter.
Freshman guard Mikayla Ferenz added a deep 3-pointer to extend Idaho’s lead to nine halfway through the second quarter.
Idaho began to run away with the game late in the third quarter, as the team grabbed a 17-point lead.
Wilson responded with four points for the Grizzlies to cut the Vandal lead to 37-24.
Salvatore finished with 9 points in the third quarter.
The Vandals continued the offensive pressure with 20 points in the fourth quarter. The deficit proved too much for Montana to overcome, as the Vandals left Cowan Spectrum with a 78-61 victory.
Montana shot 50 percent from the free-throw line and 35.7 percent from behind the arc.
Valley finished with a double-double for Montana, scoring 22 points and collecting 11 rebounds for the Grizzlies. Senior McCalle Feller added another 13 points for Montana, while Sierra Anderson provided four assists.
The Vandals outrebounded the Grizzlies 44-41 Thursday night. Idaho shot 81.3 percent from the charity stripe and 43.3 percent from 3-point range.
Idaho will face Montana State at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Cowan Spectrum.
Tess Fox can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @tesstakesphotos