Vandal Women Win In 2ots
The Idaho women’s basketball team faced a must-win situation Monday against Nevada. With a season full of disappointing losses, Idaho sought to prove itself against the best in the Big West and remain in the East race.
The Vandals didn’t disappoint.
Melisa McDaniel hit two free throws with 6 seconds left in the second overtime as Idaho defeated Nevada 75-74 in Memorial Gym.
“There’s no words to describe that we definitely needed that win,” fourth-year coach Julie Holt said.
The Vandals, who have won five straight over Nevada at home, improve to 8-11 and 4-2. The Wolf Pack, who lost a seven-game winning streak, are 13-5 and 5-1.
Nevada led 64-60 after two Noelle Fable free throws with 25 seconds left in the first overtime.
After Kathryn Gussett scored a layin with 10 seconds left, Idaho sent Nevada’s Jasmyn Huntington to the free-throw line with 9 seconds on the clock. Huntington missed the front end of the one-and-one and Susan Woolf took the ball the length of the court to score a layin, sending the game into its second overtime.
“The loss is disappointing,” Nevada coach Ada Gee said. “Idaho played a great game. They brought their best at us.”
Alli Nieman led the Vandals with 25 points and 11 rebounds, shooting 8 of 15 from the field and 9 of 12 from the free-throw line. She scored eight of Idaho’s 19 total points in the two overtimes. Jennifer Stone added 18 points while Gussett had 10 points, eight rebounds and four steals.
Idaho’s starting front line of Gussett, Nieman and Stone outscored Nevada’s 53 to 17.
Neither team had a double-digit lead. Nevada’s largest was five at 7-2. Idaho led by as many as nine, 39-30, with 14:55 left in the second half.
Nevada’s 6-foot-6 center, Jelena Zrnic, led the Wolf Pack back from the nine-point deficit. She blocked two shots and scored a layin within 45 seconds as the Wolf Pack tied it at 39.
Zrnic, Ieesha Donadelle and Jasmyn Hungtington each scored 14 points to lead Nevada. Zrnic also had nine rebounds and three blocks.
, DataTimes