CALDWELL, Idaho (Interstat) — The Idaho Vandals, led by a dominant interior performance and a balanced scoring attack, overwhelmed the Montana Lady Griz from the opening tip and cruised to an 89-65 victory in a Big Sky Conference women’s basketball game Saturday at Idaho Central Credit Union Arena.

The game was effectively decided in a blistering first quarter where Idaho established a commanding double-digit lead it would never relinquish. The Vandals scored the game’s first eight points, capitalizing on early Montana misses and turnovers. Lorena Barbosa’s layup just 25 seconds into the contest opened the floodgates for an Idaho offense that operated with ruthless efficiency inside. The Vandals outscored Montana 26-16 in the period, shooting over 64% from the field while holding the Lady Griz to a sub-30% clip.

Idaho’s offensive strategy was clear and unstoppable: attack the paint. The Vandals finished with a staggering 60 points in the paint compared to Montana’s 16, exploiting their size and athletic advantage around the basket. This interior dominance was reflected in the shooting percentages; Idaho connected on 35 of 65 field goal attempts for 53.8%, while Montana managed only 20 makes on 57 attempts, a 35.1% rate. Despite attempting only 16 three-pointers and making just three, Idaho’s relentless drive-and-dish game and offensive rebounding created a steady stream of high-percentage looks.

Hope Hassmann of Maple Valley, Washington, orchestrated the Vandals’ offense with precision, finishing with 19 points and a game-high seven assists. Her backcourt partner, Kyra Gardner, added 13 points, four steals and two blocks, contributing to Idaho’s 10-4 advantage in steals and 17 points off Montana turnovers.

The Vandals’ post players were instrumental in the rout. Debora Dos Santos of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, scored 16 points and grabbed four offensive rebounds in just 17 minutes of action. Ana Pinheiro of Braga, Portugal, chipped in 10 points and seven defensive rebounds, while Barbosa of São Paulo, Brazil, added 10 points. Ella Uriarte of Folsom, California, provided a spark off the bench with 11 points.

Montana, which fell to 7-16 overall and 4-8 in conference play, was led by the individual efforts of guard Mack Konig. The sophomore from Milton, Canada, scored a game-high 28 points, including four three-pointers, and dished out four assists. Kennedy Gillette of Rexburg, Idaho, added 12 points, and Rae Ehrman of Eden Prairie, Minnesota, contributed 10 points off the bench. However, the Lady Griz struggled to find any consistent offensive rhythm outside of Konig, tallying only four assists as a team and committing 13 turnovers against Idaho’s aggressive defense.

The Vandals improved to 19-5 overall and solidified their hold on second place in the Big Sky with a 10-2 record. They maintained at least a 10-point lead for the final 33 minutes of the game, extending their advantage to as many as 27 points in the fourth quarter before both teams emptied their benches. Idaho’s depth was on full display as 10 different players scored, including a late three-pointer from Sarah Brans of Dublin, California.

The most important part of the game was Idaho’s immediate and overwhelming establishment of control in the first quarter. By scoring the first eight points and building a 10-point lead before the first media timeout, the Vandals set a physical and tactical tone that Montana could never counter. This early surge, fueled by defensive pressure and efficient interior scoring, removed any doubt about the outcome and allowed Idaho to manage the game comfortably for the remaining three quarters.

Idaho also won the earlier meeting between the two teams this season, 67-50 in Missoula on Jan. 8. The Vandals will look to continue their momentum on the road next week with games at Weber State and Idaho State. Montana returns home to host rival Montana State next Saturday. The announced attendance was 1,588.