MESA, Ariz. - University of Idaho junior Kayla Mortellaro battled her putter Saturday and slipped to second at the Western Athletic Conference Championships but freshman Rachel Choi had her best round as a collegian to help the Vandals climb into a tie for fifth with one round to play.

"I'm extremely please with Rachel," coach Lisa Johnson said. "It was huge for the team."

The Vandals had a 305 Saturday to total 619 for the tournament and move into a tie for fifth. San Jose State leads the 54-hole event at Longbow Golf Club with a 590, while New Mexico State is at 591 and Nevada is third at 612.

Mortellaro opened the tournament with a three-under 68 but was one-over Saturday to slip into second at 140 - one stroke behind San Jose State's Madeleine Ziegert's 139.

Choi's second-round 71 tied for the fifth-best round of the tournament and boosted her into a tie for 12th at 152. Teo Poplawski is tied for 28th at 161 with Allysson Nilsson at 33rd with a 167 and Gracie Schory at 35th with a 179.

"I'm definitely pleased with the team," Johnson said. "We moved up the leaderboard. Tomorrow we'll just go out, follow our game plan and have fun."