BOISE, Idaho (Interstat) — The Boise State women’s basketball team used a strong fourth quarter to defeat Southern Utah 81-66 on Saturday at Taco Bell Arena. The Broncos improved to 9-2 while the Thunderbirds fell to 7-3. Boise State led 39-34 at halftime and extended its lead after a 25-point fourth quarter. Natalie Pasco led all scorers with 21 points for the Broncos. Tatum Thompson added 23 points and four assists, and Dani Bayes scored 17. Sierra Chambers paced Southern Utah with 19 points in 40 minutes. Ava Uhrich added 17 points for the Thunderbirds. Attendance was 1,749.

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.

BOISE, Idaho (Interstat) — Two teams looking to rebound from decisive road losses will meet Saturday when the Boise State women’s basketball team hosts Southern Utah at Taco Bell Arena. The Broncos (8-2) and Thunderbirds (7-2) each carry strong early-season records into the nonconference matchup, but both are coming off their most lopsided defeats. Boise State fell 91-58 at Utah on Wednesday, while Southern Utah lost 70-47 at Colorado State on Dec. 7. Saturday’s game features a contrast in tempo. Southern Utah has shown a high-powered offense, scoring 85 or more points in four games, including a 111-point outburst against Nelson. However, they were held to a season-low 47 points in the loss to Colorado State. Boise State has been more consistent defensively, holding six opponents under 70 points. A key matchup will be at guard, where Southern Utah’s Brooklyn Fely and Boise State’s Mya Hansen have been catalysts. Fely is coming off a team-high 16-point performance in the loss to Colorado State and has scored in double figures in three of her last five games. Hansen leads the Broncos in assists and scored 13 points with five assists against Utah. Her playmaking will be crucial against a Thunderbirds defense that forces turnovers. For Southern Utah, recovering from a poor shooting performance — they shot just 28.6% from the field against Colorado State — is paramount. Devyn Kiernan and Kortney Doman are other key contributors. Boise State will look for a more balanced effort after relying heavily on Hansen and Natalie Pasco, who had 12 points against the Utes, in its last outing. This is the final nonconference home game for Boise State before Mountain West play begins later this month. Southern Utah continues a tough stretch of road games before its Western Athletic Conference slate. Tipoff is set for Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025, in Boise.