Idaho has spent much of the year as respected conference heavyweights, but the team excelled as David on Saturday.
Idaho (9-8, 6-2 BSC) matched Portland State blow-for blow before finally prevailing 80-78 in the final minute. The win snaps the Vikings’ (14-3, 6-2 BSC) six-game winning streak, their longest since the 2010-11 season.
The Vandals and Vikings came into the season as conference favorites and they played a game befitting of two Big Sky title contenders. The last time the two teams had met was in the semifinals of the Big Sky Conference Tournament, where Idaho prevailed 102-99. Saturday’s game didn’t disappoint, featuring 21 lead changes and nine players with double-digit scoring performances.
“With the two teams picked to finish one and two here tonight, we knew we were going to get a fight,” head coach Jon Newlee said. “They’ve had a great year and they have been supremely well-coached.”
The Vikings started out strong, but ceded the lead to Idaho after a 7-0 run by the Vandals. After starting the game 3-4 from behind the arc, Idaho finished the half only 5-13 from 3-point range. Some Idaho teams from recent memory would be in serious trouble when forced to produce in the paint, but Saturday told a different story.
“We’ve learned that you have to have more than two people score, and that happened tonight,” Newlee said. “They did a good job of trying to keep Mikayla (Ferenz) and Taylor (Pierce) out of it. They really pressed up against them and that really opened things up for Nat (Klinker) and Liz (Klinker).”
Both Klinkers made noise for the second game in a row. Natalie finished with 14 points and seven rebounds, while Lizzy added 12 points and led the team with eight rebounds.
Natalie Klinker also drew one of two critical fouls at the end of the fourth quarter, sinking her two free throws to put Idaho up 76-75. Portland State closed the deficit at 78-78 with barely a minute left, but an inexplicable foul on an inbounds pass to freshman guard Gina Marxen put Idaho in the bonus. Marxen sank both free throws and all but ensured the victory for Idaho.
Portland State was awarded considerably more trips to the free throw line in the losing effort. The Vikings finished 16-19 from the line, while Idaho took only eight free throws.
“I told the guys that we have to deal through adversity and to not worry about the fouls,” said Newlee. “We kept battling and attacking and I’m glad that we were able to put it out of our minds and keep playing.”
Senior guards Taylor Pierce and Mikayla Ferenz were still productive in spite of added defensive attention throughout the game. Pierce finished with 15 points and Ferenz added 14 points, seven rebounds and five assists.
Marxen excelled again on Saturday, leading the team with 16 points and adding four assists.
The win keeps Idaho in step in the race for the conference title. The Vandals are now one game behind Northern Colorado (13-6, 8-2 BSC) and a half game behind Idaho State (12-6, 7-2 BSC). The next week could bring ample opportunity to make a move for the driver’s seat, as Idaho will travel to take on two of the bottom three teams in the conference.
Up next, the Vandals will play Northern Arizona at 5:30 p.m. Thursday in Flagstaff.
Jonah Baker can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @jonahpbaker