MOSCOW, Idaho—The 2016 Big Sky Champions play its first and only tune-up game against Multnomah on Saturday. The exhibition is set for 2 p.m. PT in Memorial Gym.

The Vandals will get their first taste of action, before the season starts on Nov. 11 at Seattle U. Saturday's game will be the lone chance Idaho has to play in front of its home crowd until Dec. 17.

The Silver and Gold opened practice on Oct. 2, getting prepared for the new season. Idaho has a solid group of returners with Karlee Wilson, Geraldine McCorkell, Mikayla Ferenz and Taylor Pierce are all back in action. Redshirt junior Brooke Reilly is also back to start the season, missing all of last year due to injury.

"I want to see our focus on defense and rebounding," head coach Jon Newlee said about Saturday's game. "I think those are effort things. I want to see how hard we can come out and compete, no matter who we are playing. The mark of a great team is to come out and really get after your opponent, no matter what division or level they are."

Idaho has four new freshman that will look to make contributions this season.  Jenae Lewallen, Cherita Daugherty, Isabelle Hadden and Daylee Hanson will get their first taste of Vandal basketball on Saturday.

"They [the freshmen] are slowly getting into the rhythm of things," Newlee added. "I think our returners have done a great job, showing a lot of leadership on the floor. We are competing with each other and are excited to play someone else on Saturday."

Idaho was picked to repeat as conference champs by the Big Sky coaches in the preseason vote. The league's media voted Idaho to finish the year second. Idaho finished last season with a 24-10 record, went 13-5 in the Big Sky. The Vandals won the tournament as the league's No. 3 seed, advancing to the NCAA Tournament for the third time in four years.

Admission for Saturday's game is free.

Fans can stay up-to-date on all things Idaho women's basketball by following the team on twitter, @VandalsWBB.