Walking back onto the court from halftime, the Idaho Vandals women’s basketball team led the Portland State Vikings by seven points after a high-scoring half. Junior guard Hope Hassmann was on the brink of a personal milestone in what would become an 84-66 victory over the Vikings to move the Vandals to (15-5, 6-1).
After a brilliant first half, Hassmann had nine points and was tied with her career high of nine assists.In the opening minute of the second half, Hassmann continued to find the open teammate. This time, she got the ball at the high post and scanned the defense before playing a bounce pass to senior guard Kyra Gardner, who swished one of her three three-pointers of the afternoon.
The Vandals emphasized shooting beyond the arc and tied their season high with 11 made three pointers, finishing the game 11-23.
Hassmann finished the game with 20 points, a career-high 12 assists and six rebounds to notch her first career double-double. She was electric from beyond the arc, connecting on 5-9 from 3-point range.
Gardner finished with 19 points, seven rebounds and was excellent for the Vandals when they needed a basket. Idaho used the momentum and dominated the Vikings on both ends, outscoring them 31-13 in the quarter en route to an 18-point road victory.
Head coach Arthur Moreira was pleased with the team’s effort for 40 minutes versus Portland State.
“It is not easy to sweep on the road, incredibly proud of our effort on this trip,” Moreira said in an Idaho Athletics press conference. “Our preparation was very good, and our players stayed focused on the game plan. This team can win in so many different ways, and that is what makes us special.”
The party started early. Coming off a poor offensive performance against Sacramento State on Thursday, Idaho came to Portland wanting to rebound.
Hassmann, who went 2-17 and struggled shooting the ball versus Sacramento State, drilled her first shot of the game from beyond the arc. She went on to assist the next four Idaho baskets and they took control 12-4 early in the game.
The offense was humming with their balanced attack and fast tempo. Portland State had no answers, and Idaho held a 27-16 lead at the end of the first quarter.
The Vikings responded and started to get into a rhythm offensively, clawing back into the game.
The Vandals were still cruising with the help of Gardner, who after a quiet first quarter came alive and hit two 3-pointers and had 12 second-quarter points to keep the Vandals ahead 42-35 despite being outscored 19-15 in the quarter.
Gardner and Hassmann continued their connection, and after the duo set up the opening points of the quarter, they went on a 7-0 combined run and stretched the Vandals’ lead to 14.
The Vandals poured it on with three straight layups, redshirt senior Lorena Barbosa finishing off through contact to give the Vandals a 20-point lead.
Idaho continued to pour it on, finishing at will with points in the paint and from beyond the arc during the 20-5 run capped by a Hassmann three, her fifth of the game.
Hassmann grabbed the rebound on the other end and raced up the floor. Sophomore guard Ana Pinheiro found Hassmann, and she drilled the 3-pointer, giving the Vandals the 71-46 lead. Freshman guard Kaitlin Kangur finished off the quarter with a steal and a fast-break layup to put the Vandals up 73-48 at the end of the third quarter.
With Gardner and Hassmann sitting most of the fourth quarter, Idaho got the job done and won their fourth straight game and second road victory.
Idaho will close out their road trip with a trip to the red-hot (15-6, 6-2) Northern Colorado Bears, who have won six of their last eight and are in third place in the Big Sky, just a half-game behind Idaho.
The Vandals and Bears will tip off from Greeley, Colorado on Thursday, Jan. 29, at 11 a.m.