Upon further review, Mitchell sets records

MOSCOW, Idaho – Four days after the fact, Leilani Mitchell, University of Idaho’s standout sophomore guard, has a Big West Conference tournament women’s basketball record.

After the Vandals’ quarterfinal win over UC Irvine on Thursday, Mitchell was credited with seven steals. However, after reviewing tape of the game, Big West officials announced on Monday that Mitchell would be officially credited with 11 steals, both a Big West tournament and Idaho record.

Other statistical errors in the final box score from the game also were corrected, officials noted.

Both the conference tournament record and UI’s single-game records were 10 steals. Long Beach State’s Shameil Coleman set the conference record in 1987. Idaho’s record was held by two players.

Also lost in the confusion was an announcement of Mitchell’s school record for steals in a single season. After the adjustment, Mitchell ended the season with 118, breaking Christy Van Pelt’s total of 112 set during the 1988-89 season.

The Vandals’ season concluded with a loss to UC Santa Barbara in the championship game of the conference tournament. Idaho, which posted an overall record of 19-11, was not invited to either the NCAA Tournament or the Women’s NIT.