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MOSCOW, Idaho- The University of Idaho women's basketball team will travel to Cheney, Washington to take on the Eastern Washington Eagles Thursday night at 5:35 p.m. as part of a double-header. The Idaho men's basketball team will face EWu 30 minutes after the conclusion of the women's game. 

The Vandals (13-8, 8-4) are coming off a tough loss to Montana, 69-60, in Missoula. Eastern Washington (2-19, 1-11) is coming off a 79-47 loss to Montana State in Bozeman.

The Eagles enter the matchup in 10^th place overall in the Big Sky Conference standings with their lone win coming against Weber State, 63-53, on Dec. 28^th at home. Since defeating Weber State, Eastern Washington has dropped 11 consecutive games including 69-60 loss to the Vandals earlier this season.

The Vandals sit in third place in the Big Sky standings behind Montana State and Northern Arizona with an 8-4 conference record. The Vandals finished first round of Big Sky games with an 8-2 record before falling to Montana State and Montana in consecutive games this past week.

The Vandals and Eastern Washington last met on Jan. 16^th, in Moscow. Idaho topped the Eagles 69-60 in Head Coach Jon Newlee's 200^th win at Idaho.


Thursday's game will be televised live on SWX with Sam Adams and Michelle Clark on the call. You can listen to the game with Doug Taylor on KMAX 840 AM or at govandals.com/listen. Live stats can be found here.

SCOUTING IDAHO


Idaho enters its 13^th conference game of the season Thursday against Eastern Washington.

Gina Marxen leads the Vandals in scoring this season with 14.2 points per game and in assists with 4.2 per game. Marxen dished out a team-high five assists against Montana and has had at least five assists in her last six games. The sophomore from Sammamish, Washington leads the Big Sky in three-pointers made (69) and three-pointers made per game (3.3). In addition, Marxen leads the Big Sky in minutes played per game with 37.3. Marxen totaled a team-high 16 points and five assists against Montana last time out. She is also third in the Big Sky with an assist to turnover ratio of 2.1. Marxen entered the Idaho record book last week against Montana State. Marxen's fourth three-pointer in the game marked the 130^th three-pointer of her career, moving her in to 10^th place on the Idaho all-time career three-pointers made list.

Beyonce Bea is right behind Marxen, averaging 12.3 points per game. The freshman from Washougal, Washington is playing an average of 34.1 minutes per game this season, more than any freshman in the conference. Bea scored 14 points against Montana and has scored in double-figures a team-high 15 times this season.

Lizzy Klinker rounds out a group of three players averaging double-figures this season with 11.0 points per game and had 13 against Montana, including 11 in the first period. Lizzy recorded a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds last time out against Eastern Washington.

Natalie Klinker and her sister Lizzy each lead the Vandals on the boards this season with 6.9 per game. Natalie totaled five rebounds last time out while Lizzy grabbed a team-high seven. Natalie totaled 10 rebounds earlier this season against the Eagles.

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 58.7 points per game. If the tough defense continues Idaho could set an all-time school record surpassing 58.7 points per game from the 1979-1980 season. Idaho held Eastern Washington to 60 points in their previous meeting this season.




SCOUTING THE EAGLES

Eastern Washington (2-19, 1-11) will host the Idaho Vandals in Cheney Thursday night.

The Eagles feature three players averaging at least nine points per game. Grace Kirscher and Jenna Dick each lead EWU with 9.8 points per game while Kennedy Dickie is contributing 9.5 per game.

Bella Cravens leads the Eagles on the boards with a team-high 7.8 rebounds per game which ranks fourth in the Big Sky.

Eastern Washington has had success shooting from beyond-the-arc this season and is averaging 8.1 made three-pointers per game, the same number as the Vandals.

LAST TIME OUT VS EASTERN WASHINGTON

Idaho and EWU last met on Jan. 16^th. Idaho defeated the Eagles 69-60. Lizzy Klinker led the Vandals with 14 points and 11 rebounds.

SERIES HISTORY

EWU holds a 42-36 advantage all-time over the Vandals have won four consecutive meetings. The Eagles hold a 24-14 advantage at Reese Court but have not beaten the Vandals at home since Jan. 12^th 2018, 71-64.
 
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.


WINNING 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.


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 SWX.