MOSCOW, Idaho—Jon Newlee's Idaho Vandals have become accustomed to difficult preseason opponents in preparation for conference play. So it is to no one's surprise that the Vandals will face challenges from the Big West, West Coast Conference, Pac-12 and Big 12 opponents, just to name a few, when the team released its 2018-19 non-conference slate on Friday. 

The Vandals will play two exhibition games before navigating a nine-game non-conference schedule. Idaho has just two home-dates before the start of conference play. 

"I think this is probably our toughest non-conference schedule since I have been here," Newlee noted. "That is saying something because I have always scheduled extremely tough. I think we are going to enjoy the challenges that we have and get better each game."

Idaho will host St. Martins in the first of its two exhibition games on Oct. 28. The Vandals will also play Lewis Clark State College on Nov. 2 in a doubleheader with the Vandal men. The Silver & Gold will officially open the season at home against CSUN on Nov. 6. 

The Vandals hit the road for the first time with their visit to Stanford on Nov. 11. The Cardinal, led by former Idaho head coach Tara VanDerveer, advanced to the Sweet 16 in last season's NCAA Tournament. Idaho has not played Stanford since the 1981-82 season. 

Following Stanford, the team will head to Lubbock, Texas, to take on Texas Tech (Nov. 17). It will be the team's second trip to the Big 12 school since 2015.

The Vandals will spend Thanksgiving at the Beach Classic hosted by Long Beach State. Idaho will kick off the tournament renewing a long-awaited rivalry against Boise State on Nov. 23. It will be the first time Idaho and BSU will meet on the hardwood since 2011. Idaho has won five of the last six meetings against the Broncos, including the last three matchups. The team will close the tournament on Nov. 24 against LBSU.

Idaho will make a quick return home on Dec. 1. The Vandals will host the Dons of San Francisco in their final non-conference home game.  

The team closes out the non-conference season with three games on the road. The final trip starts at Hawaii (Dec. 5) and then heads to Wyoming (Dec. 8). The final test comes at regional rival Gonzaga on Dec. 20. 

"I think we have a senior-led group that is ready for this kind of schedule," Newlee added. "The freshman and underclassmen are going to have to get ready early. I schedule tough like this to get ready for the Big Sky and all the tough venues we get in our conference."    

The Big Sky released its set of conference games in July. Idaho will open with three games on the road, before hosting Northern Colorado on Jan. 5. 

Fans can stay up-to-date on all things Idaho women's basketball by following the team on Instagram and Twitter, @VandalsWBB. Visit GoVandals.com/Tickets for information on single-game and season tickets.