Mikayla Ferenz scores 17 points and Idaho women down Sacramento State

Mikalya Ferenz scored 17 points with eight rebounds and Idaho used a 29-point third-quarter to pull away and beat Sacramento State 72-58 on Saturday in Big Sky Conference play in Sacramento.

Idaho head coach Jon Newlee did not have to wait long for win No. 143 as a Vandal. A game after tying Pat Dobratz for most career wins at Idaho, he jumped past her with the win over Hornets.

“It feels great,” Newlee said. “Got a little wet in the locker room. Those girls surprised me and dosed me with a bunch of water. They had written stuff on the board, so that was great. They made it special for me in that locker room.”

Idaho (12-10, 7-4) beat Sacramento State in its own game. The Hornets began the day second in the NCAA with 11.3 3-pointers per game, while Idaho was fourth with 10.5. The Vandals quieted the Hornets from deep, limiting Sac State to two 3’s in the game – its lowest total since two against UC Davis on Dec. 30, 2012.

The Vandals shot 38.9 percent from beyond the arc in the first half and led 33-21 at the break.

Idaho’s hot hand continued in the third, outscoring Sacramento State 29-16. Ferenz totaled nine points, playing all 10 minutes of the third. She went 3 of 5 from the field, helping Idaho shoot 64.3 percent from the field.

Brooke Reilly and Brigitte O’Neill converted on back-to-back 3’s to put Idaho up 57-31 with 1:41 to go in the frame. Freshman Issabelle Hadden came off the bench late in the quarter and drilled a 3 on her first shot to put Idaho up 27, 60-33.

Sacramento State (8-13, 4-6) got its offense going in the fourth, but it was too little too late.

Karlee Wilson was perfect from the free-throw line, helping her to 11 points to go with her five rebounds and four assists. Reilly and Taylor Pierce both added 10 points.

Gretchen Harrigan scored 23 points to lead the Hornets. Maranne Johnson, Sac State’s leading scorer, was held to just nine points, well behind her 16.3 average.

Idaho returns home for its longest home-stand of the season next week. The Vandals will take on three of the top teams in the conference, beginning with Northern Colorado on Thursday at 6 p.m. The Bears lost their first conference game of the season on Saturday to North Dakota.