BOISE, Idaho (Interstat) — Natalie Pasco scored 21 points and Tatum Thompson added 23 as the Boise State women’s basketball team pulled away in the second half for an 81-66 victory over Southern Utah on Saturday at Taco Bell Arena.

The Broncos, improving to 9-2, used a decisive third-quarter push to create separation from the Thunderbirds, who fell to 7-3. Boise State outscored Southern Utah 17-11 in that pivotal period, turning a six-point halftime lead into a 56-45 advantage heading into the final quarter.

Pasco, a 5-foot-10 guard from Danville, California, was efficient in her 36 minutes, hitting key shots to blunt Southern Utah rallies. Thompson, a 6-1 forward from Woodinville, Washington, dominated inside, adding four assists and a block. The duo was complemented by guard Dani Bayes, who scored 17 points, including three 3-pointers, and dished out three assists.

Southern Utah was led by Sierra Chambers, who played the entire 40 minutes and scored 19 points. Ava Uhrich added 17 points and a team-high nine rebounds for the Thunderbirds. Local product Ashley Banks, a 6-5 center from Boise, contributed seven points and four blocks in 25 minutes off the bench.

The game’s most critical sequence came late in the third quarter with Boise State holding a 52-45 lead. Southern Utah’ Ava Uhrich converted a three-point play with 3:15 remaining to cut the deficit to four. On the ensuing possession, however, Boise State’s Thompson answered with a pull-up jumper, assisted by Mya Hansen. After a Southern Utah turnover, Thompson struck again with a layup off a feed from Bayes, pushing the lead back to eight at 56-48. The Broncos then closed the quarter with two Kenna Garza free throws, capping a 6-3 mini-run that restored a double-digit cushion and stifled the Thunderbirds’ momentum for good.

Boise State never let Southern Utah within single digits in the fourth quarter. The Broncos shot 50% from the field in the final period, scoring 25 points to secure the win. Libby Hutton provided a strong defensive presence for Boise State with four blocks and nine points, while Hansen directed the offense with eight assists.

The Broncos set the tone early, opening the game with a 3-pointer from Pasco just 20 seconds in and leading 20-17 after a fast-paced first quarter. Southern Utah kept pace in the second, matching the Broncos nearly basket for basket, and trailed 39-34 at halftime. But the Thunderbirds’ offense stalled in the third, managing only 11 points on 5-of-15 shooting, which allowed Boise State to build its decisive lead.

Southern Utah’s offense revived in the fourth quarter, scoring 21 points, but could not consistently get stops against a balanced Broncos attack that saw five players score at least seven points.

A crowd of 1,749 watched at Taco Bell Arena. The game was part of both teams’ final non-conference preparations before league play begins next month.

Boise State, which was projected as a heavy favorite by advanced metrics, next travels to face New Mexico on Wednesday. Southern Utah returns home to host Omaha next Saturday.