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MOSCOW, Idaho—After winning his 200^th game at Idaho, Head Coach Jon Newlee and the Idaho Women's Basketball team will host the Montana Grizzlies in a Big Sky Conference matchup tomorrow at 2 p.m.

The Vandals (9-5, 4-1) are coming off a 69-60 win over Eastern Washington last night. Montana enters the road contest (9-6, 4-2) following a 78-65 loss to Portland State on Monday night.

Thursday's game against Montana marks the 55^th all-time meeting between the wo programs.

SCOUTING IDAHO


Idaho enters its sixth conference game of the season against Montana Thursday night 9-5 overall and 4-1 in Big Sky play.

Gina Marxen leads the Vandals in scoring this season with 13.9 points per game and in assists with 3.6 per game. In the win over Eastern Washington Marxen was one of three players to score in double-figures with 12 points. The sophomore form Sammamish, Washington leads the Big Sky in three-pointers made (46) and three-pointers made per game (3.43. In addition, Marxen leads the Big Sky in minutes player per game with 37.6.

Beyonce Bea is right behind Marxen, averaging 13.0 points per game. The freshman from Washougal, Washington is playing an average of 35.6 minutes per game this season, more than any freshmen in the conference. Bea has scored in double-figures a team-high nine times this season.
 
Lizzy Klinker rounds out a group of three players averaging double-figures this season with 10.8 points per game. Klinker recorded her first double-double of the season against Eastern Washington, to lead the team with 14 points and 11 boards.
 
Idaho leads the Big Sky Conference defensively, holding its opponents to 59.5 points per game. The Vandals are holding opposing teams to a conference-best 35.7 percent field-goal percentage as well as a conference-best 26.8 percent three-point percentage. In addition, Idaho leads the Big Sky in defensive rebounding with 28.9 per game and in turnovers per game with a conference-best 12.5 per game. Although the Vandals have not been a great offensive rebounding team this season, Idaho dominated Eastern Washington on the offensive boards 18-6, a season-high. Natalie Klinker grabbed a team-high six offensive rebounds.


SCOUTING MONTANA

Montana travels to Moscow 9-6 overall and 4-2 in the Big Sky following a loss to Portland State last week. The Grizzlies enter the road contest 4-2 this season in road games. Montana has conference wins against Eastern Washington, Southern Utah, Sacramento State and Northern Arizona, and losses to Portland State and Northern Colorado.   
 
Mckenzie Johnston leads a group of two Grizz players averaging double-digits per game. Johnston leads Montana with 12.7 points per game on 46.7 percent shooting from the field.
Behind Johnston is Emma Stockholm who is scoring 10.7 points per game and leads the team in rebounds with 5.3 per game.
Johnston is just behind Gina Marxen in minutes per game this season, having played 35.9 so far. In addition, Johnston leads the league in assists with 79 an is averaging 5.3 per game. Overall, Montana leads the Big Sky in assists with 245 as a team and is averaging 16.3 per game.
 
While Montana is averaging a Big Sky eighth-best 36.9 rebounds per game, they are holding opponents to a conference best 33.8.



LAST TIME OUT VS MONTANA
Idaho and the Grizz last met on Feb. 7^th, 2019 in Moscow. The Vandals downed Montana 76-68 for just the 12^th all-time win in the series.

SERIES HISTORY
Montana holds a big advantage in the series all-time, 42-12 over Idaho. While the Vandals have won five of the last six meetings between 2016 and 2019, the Grizz dominated between 1986 and 2009 with 25^th consecutive wins.
Idaho is 6-9 against Montana under Head Coach Jon Newlee.
Montana holds an 8-17 advantage over Idaho in Moscow but hasn't won here since 2015.
 
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK


Gina Marxen was named the Big Sky Conference Player of the Week earlier this season as well as the Big Sky Player of the week by Collegesportsmaddness.com.
Lizzy Klinker earned recognition by Collegesportsmaddness.com as the Big Sky Player of the Week earlier this season.
Abby Anderson earned Big Sky Conference Player of the Week honors earlier this season for Montana.

CHASING 200: Head Coach Jon Newlee recorded his 200^th win at Idaho and the 359^th of his career against Eastern Washington last night in a 69-60 win. Newlee is the all-time winningest head coach in the history of Idaho Women's Basketball.
"I've had a lot of great coaches' coach for me and a lot of great players play for me in my years at Idaho," said Head Coach Jon Newlee on this accomplishment. "Special thanks to Christa Sanford who has been with me all these years, nothing gets done around here without her."

CLEAR BAG: Beginning January 1, 2020, all Idaho home events will have a clear bag policy. Check out the new details over at www.uidaho.edu/clearbagpolicy.
 

FOLLOW: Fans can follow the Vandals all season long on Twitter and Instagram, @VandalsWBB and with the Voice of the Vandals, Doug Taylor, at GoVandals.com/Listen. The game will air on PlutoTV channel 542. Visit GoVandals.com/Tickets for more information on season