All good streaks must end eventually, as the Vandals found out on Saturday.
Idaho (13-9, 10-3 BSC) fell 77-72 to Northern Colorado (16-8, 11-4 BSC) in a game that was unusually sloppy for two of the Big Sky’s leaders.
The game started out slow and the tone was set for the rest of the night. Locked in a 12-12 tie at the end of the first quarter, the Vandals had more turnovers (seven) than made field goals (five).
The Bears went through similar struggles in the first quarter, but UNC managed to gain some distance from Idaho in large part thanks to Savannah Smith. The senior guard scored 12 of her 35 points in the second quarter and the Bears closed the first half with a 35-29 lead. The Vandals had not trailed at the break by more than one possession since Jan. 19.
Idaho regained some ground in the start of the second half, as the team made adjustments to limit the turnovers that had wrought havoc in the first half.
Senior guard Mikayla Ferenz scored 18 of her 26 points in the second half, but Northern Colorado iced the game in the fourth quarter while flirting with a 10-point lead.
Idaho’s struggles can be traced to 19 turnovers, including 13 in the first half. In spite of the fact four bench players put in minutes, Idaho managed only two bench points. Ferenz’s final totals initially indicate success, but a 4-13 night form 3-point range and four turnovers help to explain why the team could not pull it out in the end.
Senior guard Taylor Pierce also struggled unusually. She finished with 19 points and four rebounds, but she also turned the ball over more than any other player with six giveaways. Idaho had only seven assists to offset the turnovers, while Northern Colorado dished out 17.
With the loss, the Vandals have been swept by the Bears after losing in Moscow back on Jan. 5.
Up next, Idaho will continue the road trip at Eastern Washington 2 p.m. Feb. 18 in Cheney.
Jonah Baker can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @jonahpbaker