CHENEY, Wash.--The Idaho Vandals women's basketball team opens up Big Sky Conference play on Saturday, visiting rival Eastern Washington. The Vandals and Eagles are set to tip at 2 p.m. PT at Reese Court.

About Idaho: The Vandals closed the non-conference season with  5-6 record. Idaho will continue on the road for three conference games to start the Big Sky season. The Vandals start Big Sky play with a 94 RPI, tops in the Big Sky. 

About the Opponent: The Eagles also come into the Big Sky opener with a 5-6 record. EWU is on a two game losing streak entering Saturday, dropping two in-a-row to Tulane and Drake.

The Match-Up: Saturday will be the 70th all-time meeting between the rival schools. EWU holds a slight 39-30 lead. Idaho took the last meeting, 86-71, at the 2016 Big Sky Tournament.

Close Encounters: Three of Idaho's five wins this season have been by margins of two, three and four points. Idaho was 7-4 last year in games decided by 10 points or less. 

Short End: Three of Idaho's losses this season have come down to the wire, the latest being a three-point loss at Oregon. Idaho has losses of one, two and three points this season.
Keep away: Idaho's 138 turnovers this season rank 13th fewest in the NCAA. It's 12.5 per game are 10th nationally. 

Make it Rain: The Vandals are averaging 9.8 3FGM per game, ranking second in the Big Sky and sixth in the NCAA. 

Playing Nice: Idaho has been whistled for 168 total fouls this season, the second fewest in the Big Sky (39thth NCAA). The team is averaging 15.3 personal fouls per game, second in the Big Sky.

Ball Control: Idaho leads the Big Sky (46th NCAA) with an assist/turnover ratio of 1.14. 

30 for 30: Idaho's 34-point win over CWU was the largest winning margin since a 47-point spread against Sacramento State last year.

4x2: Idaho had four players score double figures against CWU, marking the first time this season. They also recorded the feat against LCSC.

Pop-a-Shot: Idaho shot a season-high 43.8 percent from 3-point distance at Wyoming. The previous high was 38.5 percent at CSFU.

Five Down: Idaho lost five games in a row for the first time since an 0-8 stretch during the 2011-12 season.

Live and Let Die: Idaho made a season-high 16 3's against UNLV at the Maui Wahine Classic. The issue in the loss was that Idaho