Idaho started the first road trip of 2019 on a thoroughly positive note.
The Vandals kicked off a Montana road trip with a resounding win in Bozeman, defeating the Bobcats 82-66. Senior guards Mikayla Ferenz and Taylor Pierce combined for 52 points in a game largely controlled by Idaho.
Both teams started off slow, allowing Montana State to maintain a small lead through most of the first quarter. A layup from Ferenz put the Vandals ahead 12-10 with 55 seconds left in the quarter, and Idaho never looked back. Pierce hit one of her eight 3-pointers to end the quarter, foreshadowing a positive shooting night for the Vandals.
The Vandals shot 41.9 percent from the floor and 38.1 percent from behind the arc. Ferenz and Pierce led the charge, combining for 14 threes. Montana State had no answer for the barrage in the second half, shooting 0-10 from three-point range.
Montana State managed to shrink the deficit to seven mid-way through the fourth quarter, but Idaho responded with a 10-0 run to put the game out of reach.
In spite of the lopsided offensive statistics, the Bobcats managed to play a remarkably clean game. Idaho was awarded only nine free throws in the game, all of which came in the second half.
Idaho grad student guard Juliet Jones set a season high with 13 points in 24 minutes coming off the bench. She also tied season highs in rebounds and assists with five apiece. Junior post Isabelle Hadden added six points and four rebounds, while sophomore post Natalie Klinker finished with nine rebounds. Both posts contributed two blocks as well.
Up next, Idaho will take a week off before playing University of Montana at 1 p.m. Jan. 19 in Missoula.
Jonah Baker can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @jonahpbaker