Idaho women bow out in WAC semifinals
<p>Fresno State's LaShay Fears, right, fights off Idaho's Rachele Kloke as they go for the ball during the semifinals of the Western Athletic Conference tournament Friday in Reno, Nev.</p>
<p>Fresno State's Hayley Munro, left, pulls down a rebound against Idaho's Bianca Cheever, the transfer from North Idaho College.</p>
RENO, Nev. - Idaho's late-season run came to an end as Fresno State shot 46.4 percent (13 of 28) from 3-point range and defeated the Vandals 80-66 on Friday in the semifinals of the Western Athletic Conference women's basketball tournament at the Lawlor Events Center.
Idaho (11-20) advanced past the first round of the tournament for the first time since joining the league, but couldn't hang with Fresno State's (27-5) hot hands from 3-point range.
The Bulldogs shot just 26.4 percent from inside the arc. Idaho shot 34.3 percent overall, but hit just 6 of 25 from long range. Fresno State also out-rebounded Idaho 59-43, including 26 offensive boards for 15 second-chance points.
Junior Yinka Olorunnife totaled 23 points and seven rebounds to lead Idaho, and sophomore Shaena Kuehu added 17 points, seven boards, four steals and one assist. Junior Bianca Cheever, a transfer from North Idaho College, added five points, six rebounds, four assists and three steals.
Fresno State's Jaleesa Ross led all scorers with 25 points on 9-of-19 shooting.
The Bulldogs will move on to face Louisiana Tech game in today's final.
Idaho, which started the season 2-11, won seven of its final 11 games, including a WAC tournament quarterfinal win over New Mexico State on Wednesday.