Jennifer Hamson paced BYU with a career-high 25 points, and the Cougars defeated Idaho State 69-54 in the first round of the WNIT on Wednesday in Provo, Utah.

ISU (18-13) got within three points of the Cougars with less than 14 minutes to play in the second half, but a 10-3 run followed by a 14-4 run opened up a 20-point lead for BYU (22-10) with less than four minutes to play.

BYU had the height advantage and outrebounded ISU 47-35.

Ashleigh Vella led Idaho State with 15 points. Jessa Jeppesen came close to a double-double with 10 points and a team-high eight rebounds, and Kaela Oakes chipped in 11 points for ISU (18-13).

It was the first meeting between the two teams since 2006, and ISU's first appearance in the WNIT.