Charlston leads Idaho’s charge

Idaho senior Alyssa Charlston scored 28 points – two shy of her career high – and pulled down 10 rebounds to lead the Vandals women’s basketball team past Nevada 88-77 in a Nugget Classic opener Friday in Reno, Nev.

The Vandals led by two at the half, but fell behind by six in the second half. A 10-0 run midway through the second half gave Idaho (4-2) a lead it wouldn’t relinquish.

Stacey Barr added a career-high 23 points for the Vandals. Idaho’s Connie Ballestero had a season-best 10 assists, one shy of tying her career high.

Mimi Mungedi led the Wolfpack (3-3) with 19 points.

Iowa State 88, Eastern Washington 60: The Cyclones (5-0) opened the game on a 21-6 run and dumped the Eagles at the South Point Shootout in Las Vegas.

Hallie Christofferson and Seanna Johnson each scored 20 points for Iowa State. Christofferson scored all of her points in the first half.

Lexie Nelson scored 18 points and Melissa Williams added 10 points and five boards for Eastern Washington (0-4).

Williston State 74, CC Spokane 72: McKayla Haugeberg scored 24 points and the Tetons (7-3) beat the Sasquatch (3-2) in Coeur d’Alene in a game that was decided at the free-throw line.

Williston State made 28 of 35 free throws, including 18 of 23 in the second half.

CCS’ Riley Holsinger (North Central) scored 25 points and Morgan Freeman chipped in 24. The Sasquatch made 24 of their 31 free-throw attempts.

North Idaho 69, Wenatchee Valley 50: Renae Mokrzycki made 7 of 11 shots and finished with 15 points and seven rebounds as the Cardinals (7-1) eased past the cold-shooting Knights (2-2) in Coeur d’Alene.

Georgia Stirton added 12 points for NIC, which came away with 14 steals and held a 19-3 advantage in points off turnovers.