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MOSCOW, Idaho- The University of Idaho women's basketball team returns to action on Thursday Dec. 31 after a pair of games last week. The Vandals (3-3) hit the road this week for a pair of games against Northern Arizona beginning on Thursday Dec. 31 at 5 p.m.


Fans can watch the game live on the PLUTO TV Channel 1058 and listen to the game with Doug Taylor at Govandals.com/listen and on KMAX 840 AM. Live Stats can be found here.

The Vandals (3-3, 2-0) are coming off a thrilling win at home over Seattle U 105-96 and a tough loss on the road at No. 6 Arizona last week. The Vandals opened the season 2-0 after a pair of Big Sky wins to begin before going 1-3 in their non-conference schedule. Idaho faced three Power 5 opponents in their nonconference slate this season including two against ranked opponents; No. 6 Arizona and No. 23 Texas. The Vandals will restart conference play this week with two contests on the road in Flagstaff at the Rolle Activity Center against Northern Arizona.
 
Beyonce Bea and Paris Atchley combined for 59 of the Vandals 105 points on Monday while junior Gina Marxen offered 23. Against Arizona Bea and Marxen led the Vandals in scoring with 11 points each.
 
Bea is the leading scorer for the Vandals five game into the season averaging 16.3 points per game. The sophomore for Washougal, Washington is one of four Vandals scoring in double-figures this season. Graduate transfer Gabi Harrington is averaging 14 points per game this season while guards Gina Marxen and Sydney Gandy have contributed 13.2 and 12.3 respectively. and Gina Marxen have each contributed 13.6 points per game. Rounding out the top scorers is Paris Atchley who has 11.2 points per game to begin her career. Senior Natalie Klinker continues to lead Idaho's dominant effort on the boards averaging 11.5 per game despite missing the last two games. Bea is right behind Klinker averaging 9.7 per game. Atchley leads the Vandals from the field shooting 41.1 percent on the season. Idaho shot 50 percent from the field in the win over Seattle U. Marxen and Gandy are each leading the Vandals from beyond-the-arc with 15 made threes on the season for a rate of 2.5 per game which ranks third in the Big Sky. Ball control has been key to the Vandals' early success this season. Marxen leads the team and is tied for the lead in the Big Sky with 4.7 assists per game and has committed just 10 turnovers. She ranks second in the Big Sky with a 2.8 assist-to-turnover ratio. Idaho is averaging just 13.5 turnovers per game, which ranks first in the Big Sky.
 
Idaho continues to lead the Big Sky on the boards averaging 45.0 per game and ranks first in defensive rebounding with 30.8 per game.
 
Bea scored a career-high 33 points against Seattle U and added 11 points against Arizona last week earning this week's Big Sky Player of the Week honor. She averaged 22 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.5 blocks and 2.0 assists through two games.
 
Jacqulynn Nakai leads the Lumberjacks scoring 18.5 points per game this season ranking third in the Big Sky. Nakai is one of four NAU players averaging double-digit points per game this season on a team leading the big Sky in scoring at 73.5 points per game. After opening the season 4-2 NAU's last two games were canceled and Thursday's game will be the first game since Dec. 17th for the Lumberjacks.
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. NAU was picked to finish third in the Big Sky coaches' and media polls. Khiarica Rasheed was named the Big Sky Preseason MVP and has played in just one game so far this season for the Lumberjacks. Emily Rodabuagh earned the first Big Sky Player of the week honor this season. She is averaging 14.3 points per game and is tied for the league lead in assists per game with Marxen at 4.7 per game.
 
Idaho opened conference play with a sweep over Sacramento State while NAU earned a sweep against Eastern Washington.
 
Idaho and NAU have played 32 times dating back to 1988. NAU has won the previous two consecutive meetings. Prior to last year's double overtime loss 70-67 the Vandals haven't lost in Flagstaff since 2000. Idaho leads the all-time series 21-11 and hold a narrow 8-7 advantage in Flagstaff.

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 1058