It was a tight game until overtime as Idaho fell 71-59 to Abilene Christian on Sunday at the Cowan Spectrum.
Despite the loss, senior guard Christina Salvatore set a new school record for the most career three-point shots with 270. The previous record holder was former Vandal Stacey Barr, with 268.
Salvatore also earned her third career double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds.
Senior Ali Forde added yet another double-double this year with 11 points and 11 rebounds.
“Lay-ins and free throws were the story of this game” Idaho head coach Jon Newlee said. “We said ‘forget it let’s go inside.’ That was the plan.”
The Vandals (7-4) held the Wildcats (8-2) to a 24 percent shooting percentage outside the arc, and a 35 percent shooting percentage inside the arc. Idaho shot just 16 percent from three-point range and 27 percent from the floor.
Both programs struggled early to gain a solid lead throughout the game.
Sophomore post Geraldine McCorkell added four points and senior guard Connie Ballestero recorded two points during the first quarter.
The first quarter ended in a 14-12 Abilene Christian lead.
Senior post Renae Mokrzycki scored four points during the second quarter, and senior post Tayla Corrigan added a layup and a free throw to tie the game for the Vandals at 26- 26.
Salvatore scored four points just before the half ended, but a turnover in the final seconds allowed the Wildcats to add one more layup in the closing seconds of second quarter.
The two teams entered the break tied 30-30.
Coming back from the locker rooms, Salvatore scored on a layup to break the tie and put Idaho ahead 32-30.
Abilene Christian bounced back and added four points to retake the lead.
After a scoring drought of three minutes, Forde added two points to bring the score to 34-34.
The third quarter eventually ended in a 44-44 tie.
The teams remained locked in a tie three minutes into the fourth quarter, as both programs struggled to find the basket. A jumper from Abilene Christian’s Lizzy Dimba broke the tie, 46-44.
After a timeout, McCorkell closed the gap with a free throw, while freshman guard Mikayla Ferenz and Salvatore added back-to-back three-point baskets.
But the Wildcats were able to close the gap before the buzzer sounded, ending the fourth quarter locked in a 53-53 tie.
Wildcats began the overtime period with a 4-0 run, after Forde fouled out for the Vandals.
Another three-minute scoring drought for Idaho ended with back-to-back three-pointers from Salvatore and McCorkell, but it wasn’t enough as Idaho fell 71-59.
Mokrzycki collected a career-high 15 rebounds.
Junior forward Sydney Shelstead of Abilene Christian led the Wildcats with 18 points, despite fouling out in the fourth quarter.
Idaho is scheduled to face Carroll College at 2 p.m. on Dec. 28 at the Cowan Spectrum.
Tess Fox can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @tesstakesphotos