Idaho Vandal women’s basketball fell short 71-64 to the Eastern Washington Eagles in Cheney, Washington Friday night.
The Vandals came up short to the Eagles making only one of their last seven shots to end the game. This is Idaho’s third loss in the past four games.
It was a neck-and-neck game throughout the contest, with either team gaining no more than a five-point lead going into the final minutes of the second quarter. Eastern Washington outscored Idaho 16-10 in the last five minutes of the first half to take a 36-30 lead going into halftime.
The Vandals could not diminish the gap in the second half. Idaho did not claim the lead once in the second half, with Eastern Washington getting as big as a 12-point lead in the third quarter.
With five to go in the fourth quarter, Idaho cut the deficit to two at 60-58. Idaho could not score for the rest of the quarter, finishing with only three points in the final five minutes and scoreless in the final three.
Idaho finished shooting nearly 33 percent from the court, with Eastern Washington shooting nearly 40 percent on the day. The Vandals finished with 10 3-pointers on the night, six of them coming from junior guard Taylor Pierce. Pierce finished the night with 19 points adding five rebounds and three assists.
Junior guard Mikayla Ferenz finished the game with 18 points with six rebounds and four assists as well.
Freshman guard Allison Kirby provided a nice scoring spark as well, finishing with 10 points and five rebounds.
Turnovers were once again an issue for the Vandals committing 11 throughout the game, compared to just four from the Eagles. The home team capitalized off the Vandal mistakes, scoring 18 points off of Idaho turnovers throughout the game. The Vandals lost the battle in the paint as well giving up 34 points in the paint to the Eagles.
Idaho head coach stated in a press release that turnovers were a big reason in the loss.
“It is a key every game. Every time we lose we look at how many turnovers we have. 18 points off or turnovers is not going to win games at home or on the road. Certainly not in this environment.”
This game gives Idaho its third loss in conference play, and 10th overall.
The Vandals will be searching for answers to get things back on track against Southern Utah University Jan. 18 in the Cowan Spectrum.
Chris Deremer can be reached at [email protected]