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MOSCOW, Idaho- The University of Idaho women's basketball team will return to the road this week to take on the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. MT.

The Vandals (15-8, 10-4) are coming off two strong wins this week. The Vandals thumped Eastern Washington on the road 75-46 before topping Portland Sate at home 65-52. Northern Arizona (13-11, 10-5) returns to Flagstaff after a 1-1 road trip. The Lumberjacks topped Northern Colorado 71-60 before falling to Southern Utah 82-64.

The Lumberjacks enter the matchup 10-5 overall in Big Sky play and currently sit in third place behind the Vandals.

The Vandals sits in second place in the Big Sky standings behind Montana State with a 10-4 conference record. The Vandals moved past Northern Arizona this week for second place with just six Big Sky games remaining.

The Vandals and Northern Arizona met just a few games ago on Deb. 1^st, in Moscow. Northern Arizona topped Idaho on a last second three-pointer, 71-70.



Thursday's game will be streamed live on Pluto TV Chanel 539. 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 15th conference game of the season Thursday on the road at Northern Arizona.
 
Gina Marxen leads the Vandals in scoring this season with 13.7 points per game and in assists with 4.5 per game. Marxen dished out a career-high 12 assists against Eastern Washington and has had at least four assists in her last seven games. The sophomore from Sammamish, Washington leads the Big Sky in three-pointers made (75) and three-pointers made per game (3.3). In addition, Marxen leads the Big Sky in minutes played per game with 37.3. Despite not scoring against Portland State, Marxen recorded four assists and finished a team-high +13 in the plus/minus for the game. She also leads the Big Sky with a 2.5 assist/turnover ratio. Marxen has hit 140 career three-pointers as a Vandal which places her in 10^th place all-time. Marxen moved into 10^th place last week against Montana State and sits just two threes' behind ninth place. Taylor Pierce holds the record for the most all-time with 472 in her career.
 
Beyonce Bea is right behind Marxen, averaging 12.4 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 12 points against Portland State and has scored in double-figures a team-high 17 times this season.
 
Lizzy Klinker rounds out a group of three players averaging double-figures this season with 11.1 points per game and had 10 against Portland State as part of five players with double-digit points.
 
Natalie Klinker leads the Vandals on the boards this season with 7.3 per game and has recorded a Big Sky leading 3.1 offensive rebounds per game. Natalie totaled a team-high 11 rebounds last time out to go along with 11 points for her second double-double of the season.
 
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 57.8 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. Northern Arizona scored 71 points on the Vandals during the last meeting and is second in the big Sky with 74 points per game.




SCOUTING THE LUMBERJACKS


Northern Arizona (13-11, 10-5) returns to Flagstaff Thursday to host the Vandals following an 82-64 loss to Southern Utah on the road.

The Lumberjacks feature three players scoring in double-digits per game this season and have totaled three Player of the Week awards this season. Khiarica Rasheed leads NAU with 16.1 points per game. Jacey Bailey is averaging 14.0 points per game while Nina Radford is contributing 13.0. Last time out against the Vandals Radford was held to just two points in the contest while Bailey and Rasheed contributed 13 and 11, respectively.

Rasheed also leads NAU on the boards with 6.8 rebounds per game this season.
Northern Arizona is averaging 74 points per game this season which is second-best in the Big Sky just behind Montana State. The Lumberjacks are shooting 42 percent from the floor this season but managed just 64 points last time out against Southern Utah.

LAST TIME OUT VS NORTHERN ARIZONA

Idaho and Northern Arizona last met on Feb. 1st in Moscow, Idaho. The Lumberjacks topped the Vandals 71-70 on a last second three-pointer.  Gina Marxen led the Vandals with 22 points and six assists last time out. Lizzy Klinker and Beyonce bea joined Marxen in double-digit scoring with 11 and 10 points, respectively.  The Vandals were outrebounded by four in the conest. Natalie Klinker totaled ateam-high eight rebounds. Caitlin Malvar had 18 points to lead the Lumberjacks who featured four players scoring in double-figures. Northern Arizona shot the ball well from deep, finishing 10-of-15 from beyond the arc while the Vandals were just 9-of-29 from three.




SERIES HISTORY

Idaho is 21-11 all-time against Northern Arizona and 8-6 on the road. The Vandals have not lost to the Lumberjacks in Flagstaff in nearly 20 years. The last time NAU topped the Vandals on the road was on Nov. 26th, 2000, 61-48. Head Coach Jon Newlee has is 4-0 against Northern Arizona on the road and 8-2 overall. NAU's win earlier this season over the Vandals snapped a five game Idaho win-streak in the all-time series.


 
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.

CHASING 300: Head Coach Jon Newlee recorded his 200^th win at Idaho and the 359^th of his career against Eastern Washington in a 69-60 win earlier this season. Newlee is the all-time winningest head coach in the history of Idaho Women's Basketball and has now won 299 NCAA DIVISION 1 games.


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 539. Visit GoVandals.com/Tickets