POCATELLO, Idaho – Idaho State (5-5, 0-1 BSC) dropped its conference opener against Idaho (4-6, 1-0 BSC) 86-72 Saturday afternoon in Reed Gym. The Vandals shot 49.1 percent from the field, simultaneously snapping their three-game skid and putting an end to ISU's three-game winning streak.
Grace Kenyon led Idaho State with 27 points, tying her career record. The senior played 39 minutes and made a career-high 12 free throws while adding seven boards.
Estefania Ors and Saylair Grandon also reached double figures, combining for 27 points. Grandon added five rebounds and tallied both of ISU's blocks while Ors added four assists.
Nuria Barrientos came off the bench and secured two career highs with eight points and six rebounds. The redshirt freshman also collected her first steal.
"I thought Nuria did some great things when she was out there," said Head Coach Seton Sobolewski. "She rebounded the ball well, she hit a few shots, she had a couple deflections, and we need that."
Idaho State struck first on an Ors three-pointer and remained in control until the four-minute mark in the first period. The Idaho lead was just one with two minutes remaining, but the Vandals ended the quarter on a 7-2 run to secure a 16-11 lead.
Five ISU players scored in the second period with nobody securing multiple baskets from the field. ISU dealt most of its damage from the free throw line by shooting 8-10.
The Bengals began the quarter with a 10-3 run to regain the lead at 21-19. They remained out front until Idaho scored four unanswered points to close the half with a 34-30 lead. Idaho's Mikayla Ferenz and Taylor Pierce went a combined 5-9 in the second quarter, scoring 14 of Idaho's 18 points.
Grandon was the only ISU player with a made field goal in the third period as Idaho outscored ISU 32-9 to take a commanding 27-point lead. The Vandals shot 75 percent overall and 66.7 percent from three in the quarter to fuel the run.
The Bengals posted their best effort in the final quarter, outscoring the Vandals 33-20 while shooting 58.8 percent from the floor. Kenyon netted 14 points in the fourth while Grandon, Ors and Barrientos combined for an additional 17. ISU was able to cut the deficit to 14 with Idaho claiming the 86-72 victory.
The Vandals entered the game with the second fewest turnovers in the nation, but the Bengals were able to force 16 turnovers with eight steals. Meanwhile, ISU committed just nine turnovers, its lowest total in a game this season. It was ISU's second-consecutive game with 10 or fewer turnovers.
Idaho finished the game shooting 28-57 from the floor and 14-31 from behind the arc. The Vandals missed just three free throws in the game while sinking 16 attempts. Idaho State shot 33.3 percent from the field and 40.0 percent from three. The Bengals also shot well from the charity stripe, making 20 of their 26 attempts.
Idaho held a slim margin on the boards with 42 rebounds to Idaho State's 37, though ISU was able to grab 13 offensive rebounds. The Vandals also collected 16 assists to the Bengals' nine.
Ferenz scored 29 points while shooting 8-15 and Pierce finished with 22 after shooting 6-14. Gina Marxen was the only other Vandal in double figures with 14 points.
The Bengals host Eastern Washington in game two of Big Sky Conference play Monday night. The New Year's Eve clash is set for 6:05 p.m.
