MOSCOW, Idaho — Despite a career-high 35 points from Lianna Tillman, the Sacramento State women's basketball team could not overcome a strong fourth quarter by Idaho in a 73-68 Vandal victory on Thursday night at ICCU Arena.

The win improved Idaho to 9-16 overall and 8-8 in the Big Sky. The Hornets dropped to 13-13 overall and 9-7 in league play.

The Vandals made their first five three-pointers of the fourth quarter to earn some separation in a game which featured six ties and nine lead changes. Tillman's jumper with 7:04 remaining gave the Hornets a 52-49 lead only to have Idaho score eight unanswered  from Louise Forsythe who hit a pair of threes as part of her 12 fourth-quarter points.

Idaho pushed the lead to nine, 66-57, after Beyone Bea split a pair of free throws with 1:53 showing. Tillman kept the Hornets within striking distance, scoring the team's next seven points and making it a five-point game. However, Sacramento State could never get closer as Idaho made its free throws down the stretch and was able to break the Hornets' full court pressure.

The game was a battle between two of the Big Sky's best players. Tillman made 16-of-32 shots from the field and added three free throws for her 35 points. The graduate student also contributed six assists and four rebounds. Bea, who was the Big Sky Preseason Player of the Year and the reigning Player of the Week, was 11-of-19 shooting to finish with 28 points and nine rebounds.

Isnelle Natabou also returned to double figures for Sacramento State. Natabou made 6-of-7 shots and was 1-of-1 from the line for 13 points to go along with her six rebounds. Summer Menke ranked third on the team with eight points while Jazzy Carrasco hit two threes for six.

Sacramento State held a substantial lead in field goal percentage as the Hornets made 29-of-58 attempts for 50.0 percent while Idaho was 26-of-64 (40.6 percent). The Vandals were aided by 10 more shot attempts which came from 13 offensive rebounds and led to the team outscoring Sacramento State, 17-7, on second chance points. Idaho also had a plus-eight advantage on free throws making 13-of-18 compared to 5-of-10 from the Hornets.

Each of the first three quarters were decided by just one point with Idaho winning the first two periods, 15-14 and 11-10, respectively, Sacramento State cut the lead to one after outscoring the Vandals, 19-18, in the third period.

Sacramento State will close out the road trip on Saturday at Eastern Washington. The game against the Eagles will begin at 1 p.m. PT and can be viewed on ESPN+.