Defense shines as Barr surpasses Charlston in all-time scoring
The disastrous defensive showing last Thursday, which resulted in allowing 107 points to Sacramento State, disappeared Saturday during the Vandals’ 77-49 win over Portland State.
Amelia Warden | Argonaut
Player of the game, Stacy Barr (10), drives the ball againts the Vikings during the home game on Saturday, Jan. 17. The Vandals beat the Vikings 77-49.
The improved defense of the Idaho women’s basketball team will be put to the test again Thursday at North Dakota — the Big Sky’s second-highest scoring team. UND (11-6, 3-2 Big Sky) currently averages 74.5 points per game.
In the win against Portland State, Idaho’s defense prevailed largely because it held the Vikings top three scorers to a combined 20 points.The Viking trio of guard Emily Easom, guard Lariel Powell and forward Mikaela Rivard normally average a combined 33.6 points per game.
“We knew No. 22 (Easom) was a big scorer, so she was definitely one of our main focuses,” senior guard Stacey Barr said. “Christina (Salvatore) did a great job on her early on and anyone who came in and had to play defense did really well. So she was kind of our main focus coming in.”
Idaho (8-8, 2-3) will face a similar test against UND’s Mia Loyd (16.4 points per game), Makailah Dyer (12.5 ppg) and Emily Evers (11.4 ppg).
The Vandals also have a high scorer of their own though. Senior guard Stacey Barr leads the Big Sky with 20.4 points per game.
Barr led Idaho with 22 points in the win over PSU, moving her to fifth place all-time in scoring at Idaho. She passed former teammate Alyssa Charlston on the all-time list and now has 1,605 career points as a Vandal.
“The names that she’s passing are great players here,” Idaho coach Jon Newlee said. “She’s earned it, she is a great player. She has transformed herself into a great player in four years here through hard work in the offseason, hard work during the season every practice … she is a testament to what hard work can do and make yourself into a great player.”
Amelia Warden | Argonaut
Stacy Barr (10) shoots a three point shot at the women’s basketball game. The Idaho women’s basketball team won againts Portland State on Saturday, Jan. 17, 2015, in Moscow.
Barr added two steals on the defensive side, but she also received help from her post players in the paint. Junior post Ali Forde had a game-high six blocks and two steals in addition to scoring 13 points and grabbing nine rebounds.
Overall, Idaho outrebounded Portland State 44 to 25 while blocking seven shots and grabbing nine steals. The Vandals also held the Vikings to 30.8 percent shooting from the floor. It was a complete turnaround from the 51 rebounds and 40 percent shooting percentage allowed in the loss to Sacramento State.
“They were really down, they were down as I’ve probably seen them the last couple years after the loss to (Sacramento State),” Newlee said. “Seeing what happened there defensively and then Sac making all those 3s and doing what they do — we were a little demoralized … There’s a lot of ball to be played in the Big Sky and this kind of win was definitely, definitely needed.”
After Idaho plays North Dakota Thursday, the Vandals travel Saturday to Greeley, Colorado, to face 8-8 Northern Colorado.
Stephan Wiebe can be reached at [email protected]