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MOSCOW, Idaho—Following a road sweep this past week, the Idaho Women's basketball team returns home to face the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks on Saturday at 2 p.m.

The Vandals (12-5, 7-1) are coming off a 71-56 win over Southern Utah Monday night. Northern Arizona enters the road contest (9-9, 6-3) following an 85-65 win over Sacramento State on Monday.

Saturday's game against the Lumberjacks marks the 31^st all-time meeting between the wo programs.

SCOUTING IDAHO


Idaho enters its ninth conference game of the season against Northern Arizona Saturday afternoon 12-5 overall and 7-1 in Big Sky play. The Vandals return home from a road sweep 6-0 on the season at home and on a five-game winning-streak following a 57-46 win at Northern Colorado, and a 71-56 win at Southern Utah.

Gina Marxen leads the Vandals in scoring this season with 13.1 points per game and in assists with 3.8 per game. Marxen dished out a team-high eight assists against Southern Utah. The sophomore from Sammamish, Washington leads the Big Sky in three-pointers made (52) and three-pointers made per game (3.2). In addition, Marxen leads the Big Sky in minutes player per game with 34.6.
Beyonce Bea is right behind Marxen, averaging 12.4 points per game. The freshman from Washougal, Washington is playing an average of 34.6 minutes per game this season, more than any freshmen in the conference. Bea lead the Vandals with a team-high 13 points against Northern Colorado and added 12 points against Southern Utah. Bea has scored in double-figures a team-high 11 times this season.
Lizzy Klinker rounds out a group of three players averaging double-figures this season with 10.9 points per game and led the Vandals with 14 points against Southern Utah.
Natalie Klinker and her sisters Lizzy each recorded a team-high 9 rebounds last time out against Southern Utah. Natalie has totaled at least nine rebounds in each of the last five games.
Idaho continues to lead the Big Sky defensively in field-goal percentage defense and scoring defense. The Vandals lead the conference in scoring defense allowing just 58 points per game after holding Northern Colorado and Southern Utah to 46 and 56 respectively.
The Vandals are 11-1 on the season when leading at halftime.



SCOUTING THE LUMBERJACKS
Southern Utah (9-9,6-3) will travel to Moscow Saturday afternoon following an 85-65 win over Sacramento State and a loss to Portland State 66-54 last week on the road. Northern Arizona held the a high-scoring Sacramento State offense to just 65 points last time out. Sacramento State leads the Big Sky in points per game with 74.1.
The Lumberjacks are second in the Big Sky in points per game, averaging 74.0 points per game and are led by a trio of players averaging in double-digits offensively this season. Khiarica Rasheed leads the Lumberjacks in socirng with 16.2 points per game followed by Nina Radford with 14.2 and Jacey Bailey with 13.7.
Bailey also leads Northern Arizona on the boards, averaging 6.6 rebounds per game. The Lumberjacks narrowly edge the Vandals on the boards, averaging 40.5 rebounds per game, compared to 40.2. NAU also leads the conference in defensive rebounds per game with 29.2, just above Idaho with 29.0
Despite posting a 3-6 non-conference record, NAU has opened the first half of Big Sky play 6-3 in conference play and sits in third behind Idaho and Montana State.
The Lumberjacks are 3-1 on the road this season in conference play.


LAST TIME OUT VS NORTHERN ARIZONA

Idaho and Northern Arizona last met at the Big Sky Conference Tournament in Boise, Idaho on March 12th, 2019., The Vandals defeated NAU in the first round 90-73. Mikayla Ferenz and Taylor Pierce combined for 55 points.


SERIES HISTORY

Idaho holds a 21-9 advantage all-time over the Lumberjacks and are currently on five game win streak in the series. Head Coach Jon Newlee is 9-1 all-time against Northern Arizona with the only loss on March 1st, 2017, 76-61 in Moscow.
The Vandals have been more successful in the series on the road at NAU than at home. Idaho holds a 12-3 advantage when in Flagstaff, however is just 8-6 when playing in Moscow.
 
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.


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