Faurholt, Mitchell power UI past Zags
It’s all about roles – knowing them, understanding them and executing them.
The Idaho Vandals seem to have that figured out as they pulled away for a 69-62 win over Gonzaga in a non-conference women’s basketball game at Cowan Spectrum in the Kibbie Dome at Moscow, Idaho, on Wednesday night.
Undersized senior post Emily Faurholt poured in 30 points and junior point guard Leilani Mitchell added 20 with five rebounds, four assists and four steals as the Vandals (2-2) outscored the Bulldogs (1-5) 15-6 in the last 5 minutes.
“The kids played their roles tonight,” UI coach Mike Divilbiss said. “We haven’t been doing that. … Kids were trying to do too much.”
Though the big two combined for 11 points down the stretch, Karly Felton started the stretch run with a drive that tied the game at 56. Emily Halliday added a key basket with a backdoor cut along the baseline, taking a pass from Faurholt to make it 60-57 with 2:05 to go.
“We don’t have playmakers, plain and simple,” GU coach Kelly Graves said. “We didn’t have No. 3 (Mitchell). It’s going to be hard for us to score.”
The Bulldogs got 17 points from Stephanie Hawk and 13 from Ann Bailey, and had a 38-28 edge on the boards, including a 16-7 edge on the offensive end. But they also shot just 40 percent.
“They’re real physical,” Graves said of Idaho. “They push you off the blocks. … We’re not as strong and physical as we need to be. … We have not yet decided to sell out on defense like we always have.”
Faurholt hit 10 of 16 field goals and 8 of 9 free throws working against the much taller Bulldogs inside.
“I got 30 points because my team was getting me the ball where I can be successful,” Faurholt said. “The other four players on the floor have to be guarded. … We’re finishing shots. Everybody is being a major contributor.”
Divilbiss said Ticey Westbrooks, out all season with a knee injury, would have surgery and be out for the season.
Both teams head to tournaments this weekend. Gonzaga is at Reno, Nev., and Idaho goes to Greenville, N.C.
•Leah Gonnella scored 16 points and three other Eastern Washington players scored in double figures as the Eagles defeated non-conference opponent Cal State Northridge 69-61 at Reese Court.
EWU’s Julie Page contributed 12 points on 5-of-10 shooting from the field. Joanna Chadd shot 3 of 5 from the 3-point line on her way to 11 points, and Jamie Chicane recorded a double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds.