The always anticipated Battle of the Domes’ matchup between Idaho and Idaho State happened on Saturday. For the first time since Feb. 13, 2021, the Vandals beat the Bengals, winning 68-61 for their second straight victory.
The Bengals started the game hot. They got to an 8-3 lead before sophomore guard Ashlyn Wallace made a three pointer to cut the Bengals lead to 8-6. The game heated up for both teams as they went shot-for-shot. Senior forward/center Beyonce Bea took over on the next two possessions to cut the Bengals lead to 14-13. Wallace then put on a clinic the rest of the quarter, scoring the next eight points to put the Vandals up 25-17 to end the first quarter.
Wallace led all scorers with 11 points in the quarter. Idaho shot 7/11 from the field, 5/9 from three-point range and made 6/9 of their free throws. Idaho State was an underwhelming 7/24 from the field, 2/9 from three-point range and a perfect 1/1 from the free-throw line.
Idaho continued to extend their lead in the second quarter as freshman guard Rosa Smith hit a three to push their lead to 28-17. Idaho State answered with four points of their own to cut the game down to 28-22. However, the Vandals closed the half on an 11-3 run, pushing their lead to 40-28. Smith and Wallace were huge in the quarter combining for all 15 of the Vandals points in the quarter. Smith had seven points and Wallace put up eight.
Neither team shot well in the second quarter. The Vandals shot 5/14 from the field, 3/7 from the three-point line and a perfect 2/2 from the free throw line. The Bengals were 4/15 from the field, 1/4 from three and 2/4 from the free-throw line.
The third quarter was more tightly played with both teams answering each other’s shots. However, a three pointer by graduate guard/forward Tiana Johnson put the Vandals up 50-32 for their largest lead of the game.
Idaho state would answer with five consecutive points, cutting the Vandals’ lead to 50-37. Smith would calm the waters with a three ball to put the Vandals back up 53-37. ISU countered with five more points to once again cut the Vandals’ lead. Wallace ended the quarter by slamming the door shut with a buzzer-beating three pointer, giving her a career high six three pointers and 25 points.
Idaho improved its shooting to 6/15 from the field and went 4/9 from three. The Bengals were able to shoot better as well going 5/14 from the field, 2/5 from three and 2/4 from the free-throw line. Wallace once again led the Vandals in scoring with six points.
With three strong quarters and a 56-42 lead in hand, the Vandals were hoping to coast through the fourth. However, after a basket from Johnson that made the game 58-45, the Bengals would go on a ferocious 10-3 run, cutting the Vandals lead to 61-55. The Bengals made two more free throws to make it a four-point game before Bea made a layup to put the Vandals back up 63-57.
The Bengals kept fighting back until junior guard Sydney Gandy stepped up on a quiet night for her offensively. She hit three out of four free throws to ice the game for the Vandals. As the final buzzer sounded, the Vandals felt relief as they had defeated the pesky Idaho State Bengals 68-61.
The fourth quarter was a survive and hold on quarter for the Vandals. They shot 4/11 from the field, 0/4 from three and 4/9 from the free-throw line. The never say die Bengals shot 7/19 overall, 2/7 from beyond the arc and 3/4 from the free-throw line.
Sometimes in sports, unexpected people step up to the call, and that was Wallace for the Vandals in this game. Wallace had a career high 25 points, went 7/10 from the field, 6/8 from three-point range and 5/6 from the free-throw line.
Bea had an unusual game with 12 points, 10 in the paint and two from the line, and five rebounds. She was also in foul trouble for most of the game. Although Bea didn’t score as much as she averages, Smith and Johnson got back on track. Smith had 11 points going 4/8 overall, 2/4 from three and 1/2 from the free-throw line. Johnson cracked double digits with 10 points, shooting 4/9 overall and 2/7 from three, and pulled down four rebounds.
The Bengals were led by graduate guard Callie Bourne with 15 points, going 6/22 from the field and 1/7 from three. She helped the Bengals keep in the game until she fouled out early in the fourth.
With the loss, Idaho State moves to 8-12 (3-6) and extends their losing streak to six games. The Vandals improve to 8-13 (4-6) and move up to seventh place in the Big Sky.
The Vandals will be back at ICCU Arena on Thursday Feb. 2 as they host Portland State at 6 p.m. They’ll be looking to get their win streak to three games and continue moving up the Big Sky rankings.
Jayden Barfuss can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @JaydenBarfuss10.