Vandals Outlast Pacific, Thanks To Charitable Aid

College women’s basketball

The University of Idaho women’s basketball team fought off scrappy Pacific and a cold-shooting first half Thursday to win 79-74 before 634 fans at Memorial Gym in Moscow.

The Vandals (10-8, 3-3 Big West) led 77-74 when Alli Nieman stripped the ball from Pacific guard Selena Ho on a lay-in attempt with 11 seconds left. The Tigers then fouled Idaho’s Susan Woolf, who had picked up the loose ball. Woolf made 1 of 2 from the line to ice the game.

“We expected a tough game,” Idaho coach Hilary Recknor said. “They shoot the ball well and are very experienced.”

Idaho freshman Julie Wynstra had a career-high 18 points and six rebounds in her third collegiate start. Wynstra, a 6-foot-3 center, hit 6 of 7 from the field and 6 of 6 from the free-throw line. She also had two steals.

`Julie’s been fighting really hard to keep her starting position,” Recknor said. “She started strong (in the first half) and finished strong in the second half.”

Idaho shot 85 percent from the foul line, hitting 22 of 26.

Nieman led Idaho with 20 points.

Idaho next plays at home Saturday against rival Boise State (9-9, 3-3 Big West). Tipoff is at 2 p.m. at Memorial Gym.

Idaho 79, Pacific 74

Pacific (8-9, 4-2) - S. Yarbrough 5-12 3-4 14, M. Yarbrough 1-2 2-2 5, Guggia 2-4 0-3 4, Ho 4-13 6-6 17, Meeker 1-2 0-0 2, Svensson 0-0 0-0 0, Olsen 0-0 0-0 0, Kimpton 3-6 4-4 10, Palacio 6-16 9-10 22. Totals 22-55 24-29 74.

Idaho (10-8, 3-3) - Pemberton 0-2 0-0 0, Nieman 8-20 3-4 20, Wynstra 6-7 6-6 18, Woolf 3-7 9-12 15, Jackson 2-7 2-2 8, LeBlanc 1-3 0-0 3, Goss 0-2 0-0 0, Bartleson 1-5 0-0 3, Benad 2-3 0-0 4, Rico 1-1 0-0 2, Stone 2-3 2-2 6. Totals 26-60 22-26 79.

Halftime - Idaho 38, Pacific 34. 3-point goals - Pacific 6-21 (Ho 3-8, S. Yarbrough 1-2, M. Yarbrough 1-2, Palacio 1-9), Idaho 5-13 (Jackson 2-4, Nieman 1-1, LeBlanc 1-2, Bartleson 1-2, Pemberton 0-1, Woolf 0-3). Fouled out - None. Rebounds - Pacific 29 (S. Yarbrough 6), Idaho 40 (Nieman 8). Assists - Pacific 8 (Meeker 3), Idaho 12 (Woolf 6). Total fouls - Pacific 22, Idaho 20. Technicals - None. A - 634.

Washington St. 65, USC 58

Tricia Lamb and Yvonne Volkman hit clutch free throws late in the game to lift the Cougars (9-8, 3-5 Pac-10) over the Trojans (6-11, 2-6) at the Sports Arena in Los Angeles.

The Cougars used runs of 13 straight and 9-2 in the second half to build a lead, then connected on 15 of 18 free throws in the last 9 minutes to maintain their advantage.

Volkman, who finished with 16 points, hit all six of her free throws late in the game and Lamb, who scored a game-high 18, hit 8 of 10.

USC was led by Tiffany Washington’s 14 points and 11 rebounds.

After the Trojans took a 30-27 lead early in the second half, WSU ran off 13 consecutive points, including five from Jennifer Stinson and four from Volkman.

A pair of free throws from Victoria Harrod gave the Cougars their biggest lead, 40-30, with 14:34 left.

(8) UCLA 90, Washington 53

Marie Philman and LaCresha Flannigan scored 24 points each as the Bruins overcame the loss of Maylana Martin to outrun the cold-shooting Huskies.

Down 34-32 at halftime, UCLA (16-4) went on an 8-0 run to open the second half to take control of the game.