The Idaho Vandals women’s basketball team continued their strong start to the season with an 83-61 win over Wichita State at the ZotGiving Classic in Irvine, California. This victory marks Idaho’s sixth consecutive win and brings their record to 7-1, while Wichita State falls to 1-7.
Wichita State took an early lead with the first basket of the game, but Idaho responded quickly and maintained control for the remainder of the contest. By the end of the first quarter, Idaho led 23-17. The Vandals extended their advantage in the second period, including a series of three-point shots that contributed to a 16-point halftime lead after closing out on a decisive 16-3 run.
Idaho continued its dominance in the third quarter, building up a significant margin that reached as much as 26 points during the fourth quarter. The team finished with five double-digit victories so far this season and has scored at least 76 points in every game.
Following Saturday’s game, it was noted that prior to facing Idaho, Wichita State had played five straight games decided by single digits.
After securing another win away from home, head coach Arthur Moreira said: “Great weekend for us in California. I feel like every game we play, we keep improving and getting better as a team. We played two completely different styles and have a lot to clean up, but I was very happy with how we competed.”
Moreira also commented on his team’s experience playing back-to-back games: “Playing back-to-back days without time to prepare for the second game simulates what we will face in Boise for Starch Madness, so it was a great opportunity for us to get an early look at that.”
The Vandals will return home next week for their first Big Sky-Summit Challenge matchup against Oral Roberts University on December 3 at ICCU Arena. The event is scheduled for 11 a.m., and fans can watch live coverage on ESPN+ or purchase tickets through official channels or by calling (208) 885-6466.
