MOSCOW, Idaho—The Vandal women's basketball team hits the road for the first time in Big Sky play this week. Idaho is set to play Northern Arizona, Jan. 14, and Southern Utah, Jan. 16. The Vandals currently hold a 2-1 record after the first three conference games.
About Idaho: Idaho opened 2-1 at home in the Big Sky. The team hits the road for the first time this season in conference play taking on NAU on Thursday.
About the Opponent: NAU recorded its first conference win of the season last week with a 57-48 showing over Southern Utah. The Lumberjacks are averaging 65.1 points per game, ranked seventh in the conference.
The Match-Up: A 22-0 run to end the first half, helped Idaho secure a 78-43 win over the Lumberjacks last February. Stacey Barr recorded 28 points in the win for Idaho. Thursday marks just the fourth meeting between the two schools since 1998.
Down and Out: The Vandals got outworked under the basket against EWU last week. Idaho was out-rebounded 43-36, and out-scored in the paint, 30-16. EWU's Ashli Payen recorded an opponent season-high 16 rebounds.
Bounce Back: Idaho is 2-2 following a loss this season. The team was 10-5 last season following a loss. On the flip side Idaho is 7-3 this season after a win.
Halftime: The Vandals are 9-0 when leading at the half. The Vandals have trailed five times this season at the break. Idaho is 1-4 when trailing at the half. Last season Idaho was 0-12 when starting the second half behind on the scoreboard.
Make it Rain: The Vandals are fifth in the NCAA with 10.1 3FGM per game. As a team they have hit a combined 151 3-pointers, seventh-best in the NCAA.
Hard to Stop: Opponents have struggled to slow the Idaho offense. Idaho is averaging 71.3 ppg (3rd BSC) and is outscoring opponents by 10.6 ppg, second in the conference.
Rejected: Idaho swatted a season-high 10 shots against Wyoming. The most since blocking 10 against Seattle U on March 1, 2014. The Vandals are second in the conf. with 5.1 blocks per game and 76 total on the season.
First 10: Idaho shot a season-high 52.25 (12-23) in the first quarter against CSUN, to open the season. The Vandals have been great in the first 10 minutes, out-scoring teams 233-186.
Second 10: Idaho has outs-cored opponents by 67 points (284-217) in the second quarter. The Vandals have scored 62 points in the second frame in its last three games, including a season-high 29 against North Dakota.
Second Half Surge: Idaho has scored 547 points in the second half this season (excluding OT). Idaho is out-scoring opponents by 57 points in the final 20 minutes (excluding OT).
In Relief: Idaho scored a season-high 46 points off the bench against North Dakota. The Vandals have scored 392 points off the bench in 15 games. The bench has averaged 26.1 points per game, out-scoring opponents by an average of 7.6 ppg.
Thievery: Idaho scored a season-high 37 points off turnovers against CSUN. The Vandals scored have scored 20+ points off turnovers six times this season, four games better than last season.
Down Low: The Vandals posted 386 points in the paint in 15 games, averaging 25.7 per game (40 vs CSUN season-high). Idaho averaged 27.3 points in the paint last season.
Playing Nice: Idaho is one of the least penalized teams in the Big Sky, averaging 14.7 personal fouls per game (2nd). The Vandals rank 27th in nation in the category.
Helpers: Idaho has averaged 14.7 assist per game this season, ranking fourth in the Big Sky.
Conference Openers: Idaho improved to 3-5 under Jon Newlee in his eight conference openers.
Charity: Idaho made a season-high 18 free-throws against North Dakota. The Vandals are shooting 79.2 percent from the line in conference play, including a 14-for-15 performance against UNC.
Lights Out: Idaho shot a season-high 58.8 percent (10-for17) from 3-point range against North Dakota. It was the best shooting performance since a 60.0 percent (9-for-15) showing against Seattle U (12/29/12).
Hot Start: For the third time in program history, Idaho recorded nine wins before the New Year. The Vandals did it previously in 1984 and 1985.
Times Five: The Vandals had five players score in double figures twice this season. (5, Carroll, 6, CSUN).
20+ Club: Idaho has won seven games this season by a margin of 20 or more points. The Silver and Gold won eight games by 20 or more points last season.
Tough D: Opponents are shooting just 36.8 percent, ranking third in the Big Sky in Field-Goal Percentage Defense.
