New Mexico State Shoots Down Idaho

College women

New Mexico State shot a blistering 67 percent Saturday to defeat the University of Idaho 72-66 at Las Cruces, N.M., and cost the Vandals the Eastern Division’s top seed in the Big West Conference tournament.

In the aftermath of the regular-season finale for both teams, the University of Nevada beat Cal State Fullerton 68-60 and claimed the first seed. New Mexico State (11-15, 8-6) and Idaho (13-13, 8-6) finished in a second-place tie. Idaho earned the second seed on a tiebreaker.

Idaho will face the Western Division’s No. 3 seed, probably Pacific, Wednesday at 12:30 p.m. when tournament play begins at Reno, Nev.

Saturday, New Mexico State missed just six shots from the field in the first half, hitting 14 of 20 attempts (70 percent), on the way to a 37-33 lead. Junior forward Kathryn Gussett kept Idaho in the game with 15 points of her own. Gussett finished with 20 points.

New Mexico St. 72, Idaho 66

Idaho (13-13, 8-4) - Gussett 8-14 1-3 20, Nieman 4-13 2-2 10, Greenwood 1-9 3-4 5, Johnson 2-6 0-0 5, Skorpik 6-15 3-4 19, Ortner 0-0 0-0 0, McDaniel 1-4 0-0 2, Newman 1-1 1-1 3, Lemm 1-3 0-0 2, Stone 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 24-65 10-14 66.

New Mexico St. (11-15, 8-6) - Ray 8-11 3-9 19, Robinson 8-11 4-9 20, DeMarte 0-0 0-0 0, Fresquez 3-5 2-2 9, Wells 0-1 0-0 0, Francisco 0-0 0-0 0, Danilovic 3-4 2-4 8, Allen 5-8 4-5 14, Dunkley 1-1 0-0 2, Allred 0-1 0-0 0, Hackey 0- 0 0-0 0. Totals 28-42 15-29 72.

Halftime-New Mexico St. 37, Idaho 35. Fouled out-Nieman, Newman. Rebounds-Idaho 29 (Gussett 7), New Mexico St. 40 (Robinson 12). Assists-Idaho 13 (Gussett 5), New Mexico St. 18 (Fresquez 5). Total fouls-Idaho 22, New Mexico St. 15. A-805.

WSU 84, Arizona St. 70

In her final home game, Amy Saneholtz scored a career-high 24 points as the Cougars (10-15, 4-12 Pac-10) turned back the Sun Devils (8-18, 2-14) at Pullman.

Washington State had three other players in double figures. Yvonne Kunze added 18 points to a game-high nine rebounds, Jennifer Ludwicki put up 14 points, and Jade Hyett contributed 13 points, five assists and six steals.

Arizona State (70) - Tuter 5-13 5-7 16, Boyle 1-2 0-1 2, Sand 5-8 6-6 17, Lowe 2-7 1-4 6, Johnson 2-8 0-1 5, Carl 0-1 0-1 0, Steed 0-0 0-0 0, Gledhill 0-1 1-2 1, Amama 1-3 0-0 2, Stilson 0-1 0-0 0, Holt 2-4 0-0 4, Freeman 4-12 8-10 17. Totals 22-60 21-32 70.

Washington State (84) - Evans 1-5 2-2 4, Saneholtz 9-13 6-7 24, Kunze 7-12 4-6 18, Hyett 3-5 7-9 13, Smith 1-3 2-2 5, McNelly 0-0 0-1 0, Ludwicki 6-7 2-2 14, Rubio 3-7 0-0 6. Totals 30-52 23-29 84.

Halftime - WSU 43, ASU 27. 3-point goals - ASU 5-15 (Tuter 1-5, Sand 1-3, Lowe 1-1, Johnson 1-1, Carl 0-1, Gledhill 0-1, Freeman 1-3). WSU 1-3 (Smith 1-3). Total fouls - ASU 23 WSU 24. Fouled out - Evans. Technical - None. Rebounds - ASU 38 (Lowe 6). WSU 34 (Kunze 9). Assists - ASU 12 (Lowe, Carl 4). WSU 16 (Hyett 5). Steals - ASU 14 (Lowe 4). WSU 13 (Hyett 6). Turnovers - ASU 26 (Lowe 8). WSU 25 (Smith 5). A - 599

Washington 76, Arizona 59

In her final home game, senior Laure Savasta scored eight of her 20 points in the final 4:42 to lead the Huskies (15-10, 10-6) past the Wildcats (21-6, 11-5) at Seattle.

Arizona (21-6) - Barnes 3-15 3-4 9, Alexander 7-14 3-5 17, Griffith 2-16 0-0 5, Crank 0-7 1-2 1, Willis 2-9 0-0 5, Minter 2-6 4-4 9, Giordano 3-4 0-0 6, Barrington 1-2 3-3 5, Walker 1-2 0-0 2. Totals 21-75 14-18 59.

Washington (15-10) - Lynch 1-5 2-2 4, Pelz 3-6 8-8 14, Savasta 7-15 1-2 20, Redd 5-17 4-7 17, Niemela 2-5 0-0 4, Tuiaea 6-12 5-6 17, Rogers 0-1 0-0 0, Teel 0-1 0-0 0, Hills 0-1 0-0 0, Williams 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 24-63 20-25 76.

Halftime-Arizona 27, Washington 23. 3-Point goals-Arizona 3-17 (Minter 1-1, Willis 1-3, Griffith 1-12, Crank 0-1), Washington 8-22 (Savasta 5-11, Redd 3-8, Lynch 0-1, Niemela 0-2). Fouled out-Arizona (Barnes) , Washington (Lynch). Rebounds-Arizona 51 (Crank), Washington 44 (Tuiaea 13). Assists-Arizona 14 (Willis), Washington (Redd 6). Total fouls-Arizona 21, Washington 19. A-4,835.

, DataTimes