Idaho women’s basketball early exit of the WNIT put a damper on a season of what could have been.
Chris Deremer
The big highlight of this game comes from junior guard Mikayla Ferenz. Getting a chance to play on the same court that her father was a standout player for, Ferenz broke the Idaho single-season scoring record held previously by Emily Faurholt.
Ferenz finished the game with 18 points to contribute to her 742 points on the season.
It has been a roller coaster of a year for the Vandals, backed by the big three of Ferenz, junior guard Taylor Pierce and senior post Geraldine McCorkell.
The Vandals were able to battle adversity all season long and make it all the way to the Big Sky championship game.
Records were shattered at many points throughout this season, giving hope that next season may be an exciting season to come.
Losing McCorkell will be a tough blow to the team, but the returning talent is going to make Idaho a force to be reckoned with next season.
The guard play for the Vandals next season is going to be the main story to watch. With the splash duo of Ferenz and Pierce returning for their senior season and freshman guard Allison Kirby having another year of experience under their belt, the backcourt for Idaho may be the Big Sky’s best next season.
Thursday showed sparks of what is to come, with Pierce and Ferenz combining for 37 of Idaho’s points. Pierce and Ferenz played the entire game, with Kirby playing 36 minutes throughout the game.
It was almost if Idaho Head Coach Jon Newlee used this opportunity to see what kind of rotations he can use for the upcoming season. If this game showed anything, it may be that Kirby may be the next member of the Idaho big three.
Even though it wasn’t an NCAA tournament appearance, having an opportunity to play in the WNIT tournament shows the growth of the Vandal program throughout recent years.
With the level of talent returning next year, expectations are going to be as high as ever, and Newlee and the rest of the Vandal squad will be ready for the challenge.
The season may have ended on a somber note with two straight double-digit losses, but the future is bright for the Vandals, leaving Idaho fans a whole offseason to anticipate the start of redemption.
Chris Deremer can be reached at [email protected] or on twitter @Cderemer_VN
Sandy Winters
Great coverage of WBB! The Off-season anticipation story was great but left out another bright spot in Issy Hadden who scored 99 field goals to Kirby’s 46 in half the minutes played by Kirby. Excited for the future of a team that celebrates the team and not individuals. Future looks bright indeed!