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MOSCOW, Idaho- The University of Idaho women's basketball team returns to Moscow for their third home game of the season and final non-conference home game of the season as Seattle U comes to town. The Vandals and Redhawks will face off on Dec. 21 at 2 p.m. in Memorial Gym. This marks the 18^th meeting all-time between the two programs.


Fans can watch the game live on PLUTO TV Channel 1060. Listen to the game at Govandlas.com/listen and on KMAX 840 AM with Doug Taylor. Live stats can be found here.

The Vandals (2-2, 2-0) are coming off their first losses of the season after falling to No. 23 Texas on the road in Austin earlier this month and dropping a road contest against Washington State on Dec. 13th. After a week off for finals the Vandals are back in action against the Redhawks on Monday beginning a stretch of four games over the next 13 days. To open the season the Vandals swept Sacramento State at home. The Redhawks are just 2-4 on the season after dropping a midweek contest to Montana last week. Seattle U will take on Eastern Washington on Saturday Dec. 19 before taking the trip down to Moscow. Seattle's wins this season came against Utah State and Northwest.
 
Idaho and Seattle U have played 17 times over the years, dating back to 1981. Idaho leads the all-time series having won eight out of the last nine meetings. Traditionally the road team has had the upper hand in this series. Idaho is 5-2 all-time in Seattle having handed the Redhawks a 90-84 loss in double-overtime last season. Seattle is 4-3 all-time in Moscow against the Vandals. The Redhawks snapped a seven-game winning streak in 2017 beating the Vandals 68-60 on their home floor.

Idaho is still one of the better rebounding teams in the nation. The Vandals are averaging 51.50 rebounds per game which ranks fifth across NCAA Division I. If this pace continues this years' Vandal squad would set a program record for rebounds per game in a season. In addition, the Vandals are 26th in offensive rebounds per game with 17.0 and sixth in defensive rebounds per game with 34.5. The Vandals lead the Big Sky in all three of the above-mentioned rebounding categories. 

Gabi Harrington leads the Vandals in scoring to begin the season while three other Vandals are averaging double-digit points per game. Natalie Klinker leads Idaho and the Big Sky on the glass averaging 11.5 rebounds per game. She also ranks fifth in the NCAA in offensive rebounds with 5.8 per game. Her rebounding efforts on the offensive glass have resulted in a successful second chance points effort for the Vandals and has sent her to the free-throw line 11 times so far. Klinker was named the Big Sky Player of the Week earlier this month. Gina Marxen leads the Vandals in assists with 5.0 per game. The point guards' efforts rank Idaho as one of the best teams in the Big sky in terms of ball control. In addition to Harrington Beyonce Bea and Sydney Gandy are scoring 13.5 points per game each while Marxen is chipping in 11.3. Freshman Paris Atchley leads Idaho off the bench with 9.8 points per game and is shooting 41.5 percent from the field.

McKenzi Williams leads a group of four Redhawks averaging double-figures per game this season with 15 points per game. Seattle U is averaging 70.8 points per game this season while allowing 75.0 to opponents.

The Vandals were picked to finish first in the Big Sky Coaches' and Media polls announced last month, earning 16 first place votes in the media poll and four in the coaches' poll. Marxen and Bea each earned Big Sky Preseason All-Conference recognition.  Seattle U was picked to finish in sixth in the WAC Coaches' poll announced last month. Last season the Redhawks finished 13-16 overall and 6-9 in the WAC.


Idaho and Seattle U faced off last season on Nov. 20 in Seattle. Idaho took the win 90-84 in double-overtime. Gina Marxen had 30 points after shooting 7-of-15 from three-point range. Beyonce Bea had her breakout performance as a freshman with 27 points and 12 rebounds. Courtney Murphy had 22 points for the Redhawks.

This marks the 18th matchup all-time between the two programs. Idaho leads the all-time series 11-6.

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 PLUTO TV Channel 1060.