University of Idaho women’s basketball beats rival for spot in Big Sky title game in Boise
A regular-season sweep is usually enough to prove who is the better team, but just in case there was some uncertainty, the University of Idaho women’s basketball team proved who controls the in-state rivalry with a 66-51 victory over Idaho State on Wednesday in a Big Sky Tournament semifinal at CenturyLink Arena.
The second-seeded Vandals (22-9) advanced to play top-seeded Montana State (25-6) in the championship game at 1 p.m. Friday.
“I knew it was going to be a bloodbath,” Idaho coach Jon Newlee said. “You know out there both teams were going to play their hearts out.”
Through the first three quarters, every time that Idaho went on a run, third-seeded Idaho State (18-13) would find a way to cut the lead to two or three. Every time Idaho State threatened to take the lead, the Vandals would hit a 3-pointer or get a fastbreak basket off of a steal to kill the Bengals’ momentum.
It wasn’t until the fourth quarter that Idaho proved why it already had beaten Idaho State twice this season, and cemented its place as the better of the two Idaho-based Big Sky programs.
“They just dug down,” Newlee said of his team. “I said, ‘It is a matter of heart and desire right now.’ … I think that’s really what it came down to.”
Senior post Isabelle Hadden, a Boise High graduate, grabbed an offensive rebound and turned back to the basket to score an easy layup and put Idaho up 46-43 just 30 seconds into the fourth quarter. She was bringing the intensity in front of her friends and family in the area.
“It’s a lot of fun,” Hadden said. “I love that the tournament is in Boise because I get to play in front of my friends and family.”
A minute later, junior guard Allison Kirby knifed through the defense for a layup. She crashed to the ground and her teammates jumped off the bench a few feet away screaming for her. Chayse Milne crouched down low and pointed directly at her teammate. The lead was 50-45 and the Vandals were cooking.
Hailey Christopher hit a 3-pointer, Kirby added her own, and suddenly the lead was double digits and Idaho was on a 12-1 run with only 2 minutes left in the game. It was quick, but the game transformed from a nailbiter to a blowout.
Hadden finished with 12 points on 6-for-9 shooting and grabbed five rebounds. Lizzie Klinker, fresh off a 19-point game against Portland State, led the Vandals with 13 points and also had five rebounds. Her sister, Natalie Klinker, led the team with eight rebounds and added seven points.
The Vandals extended their series record against Idaho State to 33-13 and have won nine of their past ten games. This will be the second time in the past three years that Idaho has been in the Big Sky championship game after it lost to Northern Colorado in 2018. Idaho’s last Big Sky title came in 2016 with a 67-55 win against Idaho State.
Idaho and Montana State split their two regular-season meetings, with each team winning on the road. Montana State has won 17 straight games.
While there is uncertainty surrounding the tournament’s future due to the coronavirus after the NBA suspended its season and multiple conferences have closed off their arenas to fans, Newlee is looking forward to competing with fans in the building.
As of Wednesday night, the Big Sky intended to allow fans. The men’s quarterfinals are Thursday.
“I’m absolutely comfortable with (fans in the building),” Newlee said. “I’m comfortable, I know our players are comfortable, and now hopefully we just keep going forward as we are right now.”
College of Idaho men advance
The top-seeded College of Idaho men’s basketball team beat host Northwestern College 67-49 on Wednesday in the first round of the NAIA Division II National Championship in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Talon Pinckney scored 17 points for the Coyotes (31-3).
C of I takes a 25-game winning streak into its second-round matchup with IU-Kokomo at 11 a.m. MT Friday.
This story was originally published March 11, 2020 at 11:06 PM.