The Idaho women’s basketball team beat Montana State 58-53 on Thursday evening.
Idaho entered Bozeman on a two-game losing streak, falling to Northern Colorado and Northern Arizona last week. The Vandals also lost to MSU 51-46 last time around.
Neither team was able to make a run at the start, ending the first quarter tied at 16. However, the Bobcats were able to find their rhythm in quarter two as they outscored the Vandals 14-7 for a 30-23 halftime lead.
That seven-point lead didn’t last long as three Vandals came out of the locker room ready to play. All it took was a layup from sophomore guard Asha Phillips, two layups from junior guard Kennedy Johnson and a three from junior guard Ashlyn Wallace to notch it up at 32. Idaho went on to take the quarter 20-10, holding a 43-40 lead going into the final quarter.
After an uncharacteristic high-scoring third quarter for Idaho, it held on through the fourth to keep the brooms in Montana State’s closet. A three from sophomore forward Sarah Brans, who finished the game with 13 points and three rebounds, was the dagger.
Idaho finished the night with only one other player, Johnson, scoring in double figures. She finished with 15 points and seven rebounds.
Montana State ended with four players scoring 10 or more. Sophomore forward Marah Dykstra, who played for the Canadian National Team last summer, put up 16 points and seven rebounds, leading her team.
Idaho has one more game in the Treasure State as it heads down the road to Missoula. The Vandals will face the University of Montana at 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 2.