Stacey Barr had 16 points and 11 rebounds Saturday to lead Idaho to a 67-64 upset of top-seeded Seattle in the Western Athletic Conference championship game.

Trailing 45-40 with 11:14 left in the game, the third-seeded Vandals (17-15) clamped down with a stingy defense while capitalizing on a 17-7 run to seize control of the game and hold on for the victory and automatic NCAA tournament berth.

It was Idaho's first-ever appearance in the WAC championship game and the first time the Vandals had played for a conference title since the 2005 Big West championship, a loss to UC Santa Barbara. Idaho will be making its first trip to the "Big Dance" since 1985.

Barr was one of four Vandals to score in double figures, along with Alyssa Charlston (15 points), Ali Forde (11 points, seven rebounds) and Connie Ballestero (10 points).

Seattle (20-10) also had four players in double figures, led by WAC player of the year Kacie Sowell's 17 points.

The Vandals shot 44 percent from the field, including 6 of 20 from 3-point range.

Seattle, which had its nine-game win streak snapped, made a last-ditch effort in the final 24 seconds. Down 67-60, Daidra Brown slashed for a layup to cut the lead to 67-62. Following a 30-second timeout, the Redhawks forced a turnover as Addie Schivo's errant inbounds pass caromed off Barr and back out of bounds.

Brown's attempt at another layup missed, but Sylvia Shephard grabbed the rebound and followed with a lay-in to cut the lead to 67-64. Another Idaho turnover gave Seattle the ball back with 7 seconds left.

Shephard fired a 3-pointer from the top of the key but missed wide right. Brown grabbed the rebound, dribbled the ball out and fired from just beyond the arc, but she also missed as time expired.

Barr was named most valuable player of the tournament and was joined on the all-tournament team by Charlston, Sowell, Shephard and Devyn Christensen (Utah State).