RENO, Nev. (AP) Freshman Mikayla Ferenz scored 18 points and third-seeded Idaho beat Idaho State 67-55 in the Big Sky Conference Tournament championship game to advance to its third NCAA Tournament in four years.
Seeking its third-straight upset in the tournament, ninth-seeded Idaho State pushed its lead to five points on its first possession in the third period, but the Vandals answered. Idaho (24-9) went on a 7-0 run to take its first lead since 8:38 left in the second quarter.
The scoring spurt began on a Ferenz 3-pointer, one of 10 3s for the Vandals. Ferenz was 7 of 11 from the field with four beyond the arc. Idaho set a school record this year with 331 3-pointers, second most in the NCAA.
Defensively, Idaho held the Bengals to eight points in the third, turning a three-point halftime deficit into a nine-point lead heading into the fourth.
Anna Policicchio led Idaho State (18-15) with 15 points on 6-of-16 shooting.
