Broncos Power Past Highlanders

Thursday, November 14

Boise, Idaho

6:30 p.m. MT

Boise State

3-0,0-0Mountain West

UC Riverside

1-3,0-0Big West

UC Riverside

Boise St.

11/14/2024 9:12:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score Gamebook Photos Photo Gallery

BOISE, Idaho – Tatum Thompson scored a game-high 19 points while Natalie Pasco and Dani Bayes added 12 and 10 respectively to lead Boise State past UC Riverside, 72-57, Thursday night in ExtraMile Arena.

The Broncos (3-0) were a force defensively, holding the Highlanders (1-3) to 31.6% shooting from the floor. Boise State blocked 11 shots in the contest, two blocks shy of the program's single-game record, with Abby Muse responsible for seven on her own.

Boise State's defensive effort was evident from tipoff, forcing four Highlander turnovers within the first two minutes. The Blue and Orange shot only 27.8% in the opening frame, but maintained a 14-11 first quarter advantage.

Their shooting woes disappeared in the second period, as the team shot 60% (9-of-15) from the field. Mya Hansen and Thompson each scored five points in the second frame, and the Broncos used an 8-0 run midway through the quarter to take a 35-27 advantage into the locker room.

Thompson scored five points out of the break, followed by back-to-back 3-pointers by Pasco and Bayes as Boise State opened the half on a 13-0 run. The Broncos led by as much as 21 in the quarter, but the Highlanders used a 6-0 spurt to cut the lead to 15.

Boise State increased its lead to 22 late in the fourth quarter off an Allie Hueckman long ball as the squad cruised to its third-straight victory.

Top Broncos
- Tatum Thompson scored a game-high 19 points in 28 minutes of action. The junior also set a career-high with four steals.
- Natalie Pasco scored 12 points on 4-of-9 shooting, including a 2-of-5 mark from 3-point range.
- Dani Bayes added 10 points and three steals in the victory.
- Abby Muse recorded six points, 12 rebounds and seven blocks.
- Mary Kay Naro was all over the stat sheet, finishing with four points, seven rebounds, five assists and three blocks.

Notables
- Abby Muse recorded back-to-back games with seven blocks for the first time in her career. The Brentwood, Calif., native has had four career games with 7+ blocks.
- Muse finished a block shy of her single-game career-high of eight blocks, which she recorded against New Mexico on Jan 21, 2023.
- Mary Kay Naro moved into sole possession of eighth place in program history with 89 career blocks. She entered the contest tied with Lidiya Varbanova (1990-94).
- Natalie Pasco moved into a tie for 12th all-time in program history with 138 career 3-pointers, matching Kati Isham (2010-12).
- Dani Bayes became the second Bronco on the roster to reach 100 career 3-pointers. The junior finished the contest with 101, good for 18th in program history.
- Mya Hansen surpassed 600 career points, finishing the game with 602.
- Muse eclipsed 3,000 career minutes in the contest.
- Boise State moved to 3-0 all-time against UC Riverside. The 15-point win was the largest margin of victory.
- Boise State outshot UC Riverside 42.2% to 31.6%.
- Eleven different Broncos scored in the contest.

Quotables
"We had a good first six minutes of the third quarter. They are hard to guard and they play really great pressure defense. They had a good season last year so that's a good win." – head coach Gordy Presnell

"Abby Muse was really dominant defensively. She makes up for a lot on that end." - Presnell

What's Next
The Broncos are back in action for the final game of their four-game homestand on Monday, Nov. 18. The game will tip off at noon MT at ExtraMile Arena and will be broadcast on the MW Network and 670 KBOI AM.