UI gains Big West title game

ANAHEIM, Calif. – Emily Faurholt had used virtually every other move in her diverse arsenal, why not try the pump-fake, step-around left-hander from 12 feet with Idaho’s season hanging in the balance?

Faurholt’s clutch shot was the final volley in a pulsating Big West tournament women’s basketball semifinal, and when it settled in the net as the buzzer sounded, Idaho had secured a hard-earned 69-67 victory over Long Beach State in front of 1,146 Friday at the Anaheim Convention Center Arena.

Of Faurholt’s 493 career field goals at Idaho, none have been bigger than the right-handed forward’s game-winner against the second-seeded 49ers (19-9). For that matter, she couldn’t recall making a bigger shot during her freshman year at Seattle Pacific or in her remarkable career at Kennewick High, where Lions’ games were often decided long before the final buzzer.

She’ll have to watch the videotape to remember it all.

“I really don’t know what happened,” said the 5-foot-11 Faurholt, who finished with 35 points, of the deciding play. “I just saw (Long Beach State’s 6-6 center) Petra Glaser, and I just drove. I didn’t do anything spectacular. It’s just a shot that I’ve practiced, and I’m glad I got the opportunity to shoot it.”

The victory sends No. 3 Idaho (19-10) into the championship game today at 1 against No. 1 UC Santa Barbara (20-8), which handled No. 4 Cal State Northridge 79-67. UCSB, which defeated Idaho 68-51 in last year’s championship game, is aiming for its ninth straight tournament title. Idaho, which knocked off UCSB twice during the regular season, is pursuing just the second NCAA Tournament berth in program history.

“They’re very well-coached and they’re confident, great players, so we’ve got no chance,” Vandals coach Mike Divilbiss said with his best poker face. “No, we have tons of respect for them, and it’s fun to play teams like Santa Barbara and Long Beach State.”

It’ll take a serious dose of drama to top Friday’s thriller.

After leading virtually the entire first half, Idaho slipped behind 48-42 and Faurholt, one of four Vandals to play all 40 minutes, had just picked up her fourth foul with 8:46 remaining.

Idaho battled back to take the lead 53-52 on Heather Thoelke’s third key 3-pointer of the second half. Shortly thereafter, Divilbiss watched anxiously as it appeared Faurholt picked up her fifth foul pursuing a rebound, but the foul was called on Thoelke instead.

Long Beach State reclaimed the lead at 57-55, 60-58 and finally 65-62 with 1:43 remaining.

UI point guard Leilani Mitchell drilled a 3-pointer from the top of the key to even the score with a minute left, but Glaser connected from the elbow of the free-throw line with 42 seconds left.

Mitchell responded with a driving layup with 22 seconds left to tie it at 67. Long Beach State called two timeouts to set up its final play, but Idaho switched to a trapping zone that caught the 49ers off guard.

Mitchell stepped into a passing lane for a steal and had the ball poked away as she started down court. The ball went out of bounds on the base line with 2.3 seconds left and Divilbiss called timeout, hoping Long Beach State would guard man-to-man on the inbounds.

He guessed right. Idaho had four players spaced parallel to the base line with Faurholt stationed above the low block. Mitchell lobbed the pass over Glaser and Faurholt did the rest.

“When I saw one person standing on Emily, I knew we were going to get a shot there,” Divilbiss said.

Faurholt was unstoppable early on. The first half wasn’t 10 minutes old and Faurholt had scored on a spin move, a post-up, a drop-step around Glaser and a couple of all-net 3-pointers.

She had 17 points and Idaho seemed to be in control with a 25-15 lead. But the offense dried up and Faurholt’s two free throws were Idaho’s lone points in the ensuing eight minutes. Long Beach State’s offense was only slightly better, which is why it took so long for the 49ers to forge a 27-27 tie.

The Vandals settled for a 33-31 halftime lead as Faurholt piled up 23 points, but her teammates combined to make just 3 of 16 attempts.

Mitchell and Thoelke heated up to finish with 15 and 14 points, respectively. Karly Felton scored on a steal and layup that pushed Idaho in front 62-60 with 2:50 remaining.

Idaho 69, Long Beach St. 67

Idaho (19-10)–Faurholt 13-23 7-8 35, Felton 1-6 0-1 2, Thoelke 4-9 2-3 14, Mitchell 6-15 0-0 15, Westbrooks 1-5 0-2 3, Sax 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 25-58 9-14 69.

Long Beach State (19-9)–Connors 3-5 2-3 8, Glaser 5-6 0-0 10, McCutcheon 3-10 4-6 12, Wilson 2-12 5-6 10, Hollans 9-18 4-10 22, Mack 0-1 0-0 0, Willhoit 0-0 0-0 0, Saunders 1-2 0-0 2, Santos 1-2 1-1 3. Totals 24-56 16-26 67.

Halftime–Idaho 33, Long Beach State 31. 3-point goals–Idaho 10-26 (Thoelke 4-8, Mitchell 3-9, Faurholt 2-3, Wesbrooks 1-4, Felton 0-2), Long Beach State 3-8 (McCutcheon 2-3, Wilson 1-3, Hollans 0-1, Mack 0-1). Fouled out–Santos. Rebounds–Idaho 30 (Felton 8), Long Beach State 42 (Hollans 12). Assists–Idaho 20 (Mitchell 7), Long Beach State 15 (McCutcheon 5). Total fouls–Idaho 17, Long Beach State 17. Technicals–Idaho team. A–1,146.

UC Santa Barbara 79, Cal State Northridge 67: In the first semifinal, the Gauchos (20-8) opened the game with a 24-7 run in defeating the Matadors (18-11) to reach the 20-victory plateau for the 10th straight season.

Mia Fisher led four teammates in double figures with 20 points and handed out six assists. Kristen Mann had 19 points and 10 rebounds.

Cal State Northridge’s Ofa Tulikihihifo led all scorers with 24 points.

Big Sky Conference tournament

Becky O’Neil scored 23 points to lead Weber State (21-7) into the championship game for the third time in four years with a 68-63 victory over Northern Arizona (19-11) at Missoula.

Katie Edwards had 17 points and two other Montana players had double-doubles as the defending champion Grizzlies (21-7) returned to the title game with a 78-67 victory over Idaho State (13-16).