Even for an Idaho team that has a reputation for fireworks, Thursday night’s game was an especially explosive clinic.
The Vandals (8-8, 5-2 BSC) defeated Sacramento State 104-66 for their most lopsided win of the regular season. Five players finished in double figures for Idaho in a resounding bounce back win after losing to Montana last week.
“We got a total team effort on both ends today,” head coach Jon Newlee said. “I really liked our defense throughout the game, especially on the glass in the first half. Everything was clicking for us on offense because we did a great job of sharing the basketball, with 24 assists to only nine turnovers.”
Freshman guard Gina Marxen shoots a three over a Sacramento State defender Thursday in Cowan Spectrum.
The tone for an offensive outburst was set early in the first quarter, in spite of the Hornets’ full-court press. Idaho sprinted out to a 22-3 lead with almost half of the first quarter left. The Vandals finished the quarter up 32-9, tied for the team’s highest output for one quarter all season.
By halftime, Idaho stretched the lead to 26 points and had as many made 3-pointers as the Hornets did total field goals (11).
Plenty of production came from the usual suspects on Thursday, but some of Idaho’s less-heralded players made major contributions as well.
“Lizzy Klinker and Gina Marxen did a great job of relaxing and taking shots, even when they switched up defensively,” Newlee said.
The Hornets (6-9, 2-5 BSC) could not get anything going against the Vandals offensively or defensively. Junior forward Kennedy Nicholas led the Hornets with 18 points and 19 rebounds, but what was nearly a second straight 20-20 performance was wasted in the loss. Junior guard Hannah Friend added 11 points, six rebounds and three blocks, but the two standouts were not able to keep the game competitive.
Idaho’s lead briefly shrank to 24 at the start of the second half, but more than enough offensive momentum carried over from the first half to sustain the Vandals. Graduate guard Juliet Jones hit a three with 1:40 left in the fourth quarter to push Idaho past 100 points and tie the program record for threes in a game by the team with 18.
Senior guards Mikayla Ferenz and Taylor Pierce tallied 18 and 16 points, respectively, and Pierce finished two rebounds short of her first career double-double. Ferenz also led the team with seven assists. Klinker put up a season-high 17 points in only 17 minutes on the court and Marxen added 16 points on 5-8 shooting from behind the arc.
“Looking at everything we did on both ends, sticking to the game plan both defensively and offensively, I would say this was probably our best performance so far this season,” Newlee said.
The Vandals will return to action against Portland State Saturday Jan. 26 at 2 p.m. in the Cowan Spectrum.
Jonah Baker can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @jonahpbaker