Idaho took on Idaho State in the Battle of the Domes Saturday afternoon in an intense in-conference rivalry game. The Vandals put the first points on the board with two free-throw shots from junior guard/post Beyonce Bea.
The entire first quarter, both teams went shot for shot. It looked as though the Vandals were going to take a three-point lead into the second quarter, but then, redshirt senior Ellie Smith tipped the ball in off the inbound pass at the buzzer and Idaho State was able to bring their deficit down to one.
It was more of the same in the second as both teams battled to have the lead going into the locker room. Idaho State went on an 8-0 run halfway through the quarter. Idaho responded with a 6-0 run shortly after to end the half. The Bengals ended the half up 31-29. As both teams came out of the locker room, Vandal fans were hoping for another one of Idaho’s high scoring third quarters, but it never came.
Idaho State went on an 11-0 run in the final three minutes of the quarter as Idaho was only able to score six in the entire quarter. This run allowed the Bengals to go into the final quarter with a comfortable 13-point lead. Although the Vandals weren’t able to have another one of their miraculous third quarters, they were able to have a miraculous fourth.
After six minutes had passed, Idaho had brought the game to within three. Redshirt senior guard Diaba Konate proceeded to hit her second three of the game to help the Bengals go up by two scores. Idaho State held onto this lead until there were 13 seconds left in the game. Graduate student guard Louise Forsyth put up a three-pointer and was fouled on the shot. Her shot didn’t fall, but she went to the free-throw line, hit all three, and brought the Vandals within two.
Idaho then had to foul Idaho State and hope that whoever they fouled missed her free-throws. Sophomore guard Sydney Gandy fouled junior guard Tomekia Whitman, who at that point was 2-8 from the free-throw line, and she knocked down both. The Vandals were unable to do anything with eight seconds left on the clock and fell to the Bengals 60-56.
Although the Vandals didn’t come out on top, a few players performed well for the Vandals.
Bea ended the game with 25 points and 12 rebounds. Senior guard/post Tiana Johnson had 10 points and seven rebounds, and Forsyth had 15 points along with three rebounds off the bench.
The Vandals fall to 2-3 in conference play after this game and will take on Montana State in Bozeman on Monday. Their next home game will be against Portland State on Jan. 24 at 2 p.m.
James Taurman-Aldrich can be reached at [email protected]