The Idaho women’s basketball team suffered its first loss of the 2026-27 season Monday, Nov. 9, falling to Washington State University 76-53 in the Battle of the Palouse in Pullman, Washington. Despite a strong second-half effort and a dominant performance on the boards, the Vandals struggled to contain Washington State’s perimeter shooting and overcome an early scoring deficit.
Idaho entered the matchup with a 2-0 record after opening the season with two victories, including an electrifying win over Gonzaga the previous week. The game against Washington State provided another opportunity for the Vandals to test themselves against a Pac-12 opponent and continue building momentum early in the season. However, the Cougars’ fast start and consistent offensive pressure proved impossible to overcome this time around.
Washington State established control almost immediately, opening the game with a 7-1 advantage during the first 90 seconds. Idaho responded with consecutive three-pointers from Ana Pinheiro and Keanna Salave’a, briefly bringing the contest back to an even score.
The Vandals’ early response was a valiant effort, but Washington State quickly regained momentum. The Cougars capitalized on Idaho turnovers and put together a 13-point scoring run that created separation on the scoreboard.
Washington State’s shooting from beyond the three-point line was particularly effective in the opening quarter. The Cougars connected on six of seven three-point attempts, an impressive 85.7% shooting percentage. Idaho finished the first quarter trailing 26-10, putting the team in an early hole.
The second quarter presented even greater challenges for the Vandals. Idaho struggled to find offensive rhythm, making just two of 20 field-goal attempts. Washington State continued to take advantage, scoring 18 points in the period while limiting Idaho to only five.
At halftime, the Cougars held a commanding 44-15 advantage.
Although the first half was difficult, Idaho showed serious resilience coming out of the locker room. The Vandals increased their defensive intensity and began finding better opportunities offensively.
Ana Pinheiro helped spark the third-quarter response with a basket inside, while Idaho’s defensive pressure forced a Washington State backcourt violation. Hope Hassmann then provided an offensive boost, connecting on a corner three-pointer that helped energize the Vandals.
Hassmann ultimately led Idaho with 15 points, continuing an impressive scoring stretch. The performance marked her 11th consecutive game reaching double figures.
Freshman Jacey Boesel also made an impact. She contributed energy and defensive effort, recording a steal before pushing the ball in transition and finding Hassmann for a scoring opportunity. Boesel played a career-high 30 minutes, an encouraging development for a young player gaining valuable experience early in the season.
One of the most encouraging aspects of Idaho’s performance was its work on the glass. Despite trailing for most of the contest, the Vandals outrebounded Washington State 47-37. Idaho has now outrebounded its opponents in all three games this season, demonstrating the team’s commitment to physical play and second-chance opportunities.
Salave’a led the Vandals with 12 rebounds, including five offensive boards. Her continued presence in the paint was an important part of Idaho’s effort to compete against Washington State’s frontcourt.
Pinheiro also delivered a solid performance, finishing with 13 points and six rebounds. Her scoring gave Idaho another reliable offensive option, while her ability to contribute in multiple areas helped the Vandals remain competitive after halftime.
Other contributions included seven points from Ella Uriarte, who also recorded three assists and two blocks. Salave’a added eight points, including two three-pointers.
Idaho continued to battle in the fourth quarter, scoring 22 points and showing improved offensive production. Freshman Aniyah Riddell also made a memorable contribution by recording the first three-pointer of her collegiate career. Unfortunately, the late scoring push was not enough to close the gap.
The loss moves Idaho to 2-1 overall, marking its first setback of the young season. While the Battle of the Palouse didn’t go their way this year, there are many games to come. The team will now turn its attention toward returning home and continuing its nonconference schedule.
Idaho’s next game is scheduled for Sunday, Nov. 15, against Walla Walla. The matchup is set for 2 p.m. at home.