Box Score MOSCOW, Idaho. -The University of Idaho Vandals Women's Basketball team suffered its first loss in Big Sky play, falling to the Portland State Vikings 74-53 on the road. The Vandals fell behind to the Vikings early and were never able to take control of the game. Idaho led for only 11 seconds in the game. Gina Marxen led the Vandals in scoring with 18 points while all five Portland State starters scored double-digits.

THE GAME


It took nearly three minutes for either team to get on the board to begin the game until the Vikings took a 2-0 lead at the 7:30 mark in the first period. Idaho and Portland State traded buckets for most of the first period until the Vikings closed the period on a 6-0 run. Idaho trailed 12-6 at the end of the first period.
Caitlyn Jones opened the second period with a three-pointer for the Vandals, cutting PSU's lead to 12-9. The Vikings responded taking a nine-point lead over Idaho 18-9 at the 6:55 mark in the second period. Just under two minutes later, Gina Marxen capped a 9-0 Vandal run with a three-pointer to tie the game up 18-18 with 5:11 remaining in the period. Idaho traded buckets with the Vikings down the stretch of the period and trailed 28-27 at the half.
Idaho scored its most points in the second period with 21 and followed it up with 19 in the third.
The Vandals outscored PSU 8-5 to open the third period and to take a 35-33 lead with 6:32 remaining. The lead only lasted 11 seconds as Desirae Hansen quickly tied the game back up 35-35.
Idaho closed the third period on a 7-3 run in the final two minutes but trailed Portland State 49-46 entering the fourth.
Janie King quickly tied the game 49-49 just eight seconds in to the start of the fourth period for the Vandals, however Portland State responded with a 12-0 run over the next five minutes to lead 61-49 with 4:58 to play.
After the Portland State run the Vandals were unable to find offense again, falling to the Vikings 74-53.



THE NOTES

Idaho shot just 28.4 percent from the field and 27 percent from three-point range while shooting 83.3 percent from the charity stripe. Portland State, however, finished the game shooting 46.8 percent from the field and 50 percent from three-point range, marking the highest three-point percentage any team has posted against the Vandals this season.
Idaho was outrebounded by the Vikings 49-33 including 41-26 on the defensive end.
Idaho won the turnover battle with only six turnovers compared to 13 by the Vikings. However, Idaho and PSU each only scored eight points off turnovers.
Gina Marxen led Idaho with 18 points while five players for Portland State scored in double figures.
 
THE QUOTES 

HEAD COACH JON NEWLEE


"We didn't make shots. I thought we did a good job of staying in the ball game for three quarters, but we were just playing too many minutes coming off the two games this past weekend.
"They brought out their energy and we didn't. We are 2-1 and this was our first Big Sky road game. It is what it is, but we will be ready when we go to Bozeman."
"I thought we got back in the game and then turned it over at crucial times. They got a couple and-1 plays and made some shots they don't usually make, and that happens. They did a great job. They always play well at home. We have to go back home go back to the drawing board, figure it out, and go for there"
"In the first quarter both teams were playing great defense. Defensively we did a good job until the fourth, and I thought some of our kids were a little tight and played too many minutes. Again we are 2-1 and now have a road loss, but now we have to make up for it."

 

THE NAME

Gina Marxen again had a great game offensively for the Vandals. Marxen scored a team-high 18 points on 6-11 shooting from beyond-the-arc. Marxen also grabbed four rebounds and dished out three assists.

UP NEXT

Idaho will take a week off before traveling to Bozeman, Montana next week to take on the Montana State Jan. 16^th at 6 p.m.