Weber State University Athletics
Weber State University
vs. #3 Idaho
'Cats suffer 86-83 OT buzzer beater loss to Idaho
3/10/2016 6:44:00 AM | Women's Basketball
RENO, Nev. – An overtime buzzer beater thriller did not end in favor of the Wildcats as Idaho defeated Weber State 86-83 in the quarterfinal round of the Big Sky Championship.
"I'm proud of this group," head coach Bethann Ord said. "There wasn't a dry eye in the locker room. These girls put their heart and soul into this team and I wouldn't go to battle with anyone else but the group we have. It's sad we had to end like this but the hours these girls have put into this season is unbelievable."
Weber State started the game strong with an early 5-2 lead. By the end of the first quarter the Wildcats had a 24-15 lead over the Vandals.
Early in the second quarter the Wildcats had a 32-17 lead but Idaho answered with a 19-5 run that brought the score to 37-36 with just under two minutes left in the half. Weber State held out and had a 39-36 lead going into halftime.
Idaho outscored the Wildcats 21-15 in the second quarter and forced Weber State into a three minute drought.
With three minutes left in the third quarter the Vandals were on a 9-0 run and Idaho's Mikayla Ferenz drained a three point shot to give the Vandals the lead for the first time in the game at 52-50. The Wildcats answered with a 6-0 run to take a 56-54 lead at the end of the third quarter.
The Wildcats started the fourth quarter with a 9-2 run. With two minutes left in the game the Wildcats had a 71-62 lead over the Vandals. Idaho brought the score within one point with one minute left on the clock. A made three pointer by Deeshyra Thomas kept the momentum in favor of the Wildcats as they enter the final seconds of the game.
Thomas had 21 points in the second half before fouling out late in the fourth quarter.
Idaho tied the game up with six seconds left in the game at 76-76 sending the game into overtime. Overtime was back and forth points but Idaho's Taylor Pierce through up a shot with one second left on the clock to claim an 86-83 victory over the Wildcats.
Five Wildcats scored in double figures starting with Thomas who led the Wildcats with 24 points. Brittney Dunbar also had a big game for the Wildcats having 17 points, six rebounds, eight assists and four steals. Yarden Danan stepped up again for the Wildcats going 5-7 from the three for 17 points. Kailie Quinn and Jaiamoni Welch-Coleman each had 10 points for Weber State. Jocelyn Adams had the game high rebounds of eight.
Weber State had the lead for 39:45 of this game and shot 38 percent from the field, 39 percent from the three and 88.9 percent from the free throw line. Idaho outrebounded 50-38 and WSU had eight rebounds to Idaho's 14.
Weber State sits at 20-11 overall. It's the first time since 2002-03 the 'Cats have had a 20 win season.
