The Idaho Vandals (13-7, 8-3 BSC) finished their three-game home stretch with a close loss to the Montana State Bobcats (14-6, 10-1 BSC) 62-56. The Bobcats remain on top of the Big Sky Conference (BSC) and the Vandals will stay seated in second place. Sophomore guard Gina Marxen played the entire game and scored 20 points, hitting four three-pointers.
Idaho scored the first points of the game with senior guard Lizzy Klinker hitting a lay-up in the paint after both teams defended their basket well. Both teams got off to a good start. They scored well and put defensive pressure on both sides of the court. The Bobcats had the lead at the end of the first period with Marxen leading Idaho with six points.
“I thought we did a really good job of putting great ball pressure on getting them out of some of the stuff they were looking for,” Head Coach Jon Newlee said. “I thought our effort defensively and our energy was great.”
The Vandals started the second period slow.
Their first points came in just after the six minute mark with a jump-shot from
Klinker. Both teams played well defensively in the first half to limit scoring
from each other’s red-hot offense. The Bobcats led at the half 31-28. Freshman
forward Beyonce Bea opened up the second half, hitting a jump-shot that put the
game within one-point. Junior Allison Kirby hit a three-pointer to give the
Vandals a one-point lead for the first time since the early moments of the
first half.
Idaho extended their lead to five early in the fourth period, but Montana State fought back and cut the lead to one-point with five minutes remaining in play. Idaho fired back with a three-point shot to extend the lead to four with less than four minutes to go. In the last two minutes of regulation, Montana state went on an 8-0 scoring run to finish the game and steal a win at Cowan Spectrum.
“I think a lot of it was just the physical nature of the game,” Newlee said. “They took advantage of their strength.”
Idaho will move on to Missoula, Montana, to take on the Grizzlies on Saturday. The Grizzlies currently sit at fourth in the BSC with a one game winning streak to defend.
“Hopefully when people get their chance, we get a little more scoring from the bench on Saturday,” Newlee said.
Armin Mesinovic can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @arminmesinovic