Coming off a loss to Northern Arizona on Thursday, the Vandals looked to respond in the second game of their road trip. Behind a big first quarter, Idaho defeated Northern Colorado 60-56, ending a four-game losing streak.
There is some familiarity between the two teams. Head Coach Carrie Eighmey spoke about the familiarities during her weekly press conference.
“I have quite a bit of familiarity with the Northern Colorado staff and Hannah Simental. I coached her sister at Nebraska Kearney. Kristen has done a phenomenal job building that program and the continuity they have,” she said.
The Vandals jumped on the Bears early, and after a 4-0 end to the first quarter, the Vandals led the Bears 21-4 to end the quarter. The Vandals kept their defensive intensity up in the second quarter and outscored the Bears 12-11 to take a 33-15 lead into the break.
The Vandals found their grove early and finished the half shooting 11-for-21 from the field, an efficient 4-for-7 from three and 7-for-7 from the free-throw line. Northern Colorado’s dreadful offense continued as the Bears finished 3-for-24 from the field, 0-for-10 from beyond the arc and 9-for-12 from the free-throw line (all in the second quarter).
Coming out of the locker room, the game changed, and the Bears came out of hibernation. The Bears found their rhythm and went on a 12-0 run to close the Vandals’ lead to 33-27. Junior forward Kennedy Johnson ended the almost five-minute drought with a three-pointer to put the Vandals back up nine points.
Northern Colorado kept the pressure up, and after their best offensive quarter, the Bears cut the once 18-point lead to 44-31 to end the third quarter. Graduate Guard Sarah Schmitt came out and hit a three-pointer to extend the Vandals’ lead to 16.
The Bears kept fighting, and behind some tremendous free throw shooting, cut the lead to as less as five. The Vandals experience took over the last few minutes of the game. With the Vandals leading 52-47 and badly needing a basket, Schmitt came through.
Schmitt received the ball on the left wing, crossed her defender over, and laid the ball up to extend the Vandals’ lead. Free throw shooting is a huge part of winning games, and the Vandals’ leaders stepped up when it counted.
Schmitt made the last four free throws for the Vandals and helped them escape Greeley with a 60-56 win, ending the four-game losing streak. The Vandals struggled in the second half, being outscored 41-27, and were not as efficient on the offensive end.
Idaho finished the game 18-for-45 from the field, an impressive 6-for-12 from beyond the arc and 18-for-21 from the free-throw line. The Bears were down and not out and gave the Vandals all they could handle for twenty minutes.
Northern Colorado finished 15-for-45 from the field, 2-for-14 from beyond the arc and 24-for-29 from the free-throw line. The Vandals had another outstanding defensive performance, holding the Bears to 33% shooting and senior guard Simental to 2-for-7 and five points.
Sophomore forward Aniah Hall led the Bears with 19 points and six rebounds to keep them in the game. The Vandals were led by Schmitt, whose excellent ten-point fourth quarter had her end up with 15 points, four rebounds and two assists.
Johnson helped Schmitt with 14 points and five rebounds to help secure the Vandals’ third conference win as Idaho improved to 10-9 overall and 3-4 in conference play. Northern Colorado fell to 9-9 and 4-3 in conference play.
Idaho will be back home on Thursday, Feb. 1, as they host the 14-5 Montana Grizzlies looking to extend their win streak and get back in the Big Sky race.
Jayden Barfuss can be reached at [email protected] or on X @JaydenBarfuss10