MOSCOW, Idaho- The University of Idaho Women's basketball team (15-9,10-5) dropped to 10-5 in Big Sky Play after a double-overtime loss 70-67 to Northern Arizona (14-11, 11-5) Thursday night in Flagstaff. The Vandals led for just seven minutes in the game but held a five-point lead with less than a minute to go in the game. Idaho fell behind late in the first overtime period but battled back to force another five minutes tied 63-63. Northern Arizona pulled ahead of the Vandals late in the second overtime to win 70-67. Lizzy Klinker led the Vandals with a career-high 27 points.

THE GAME
Idaho struggled on offense in the first quarter and fell behind 22-13 to NAU after the first ten minutes. Lizzy Klinker was a bright spot early on for the Vandals with nine of the Vandals' 13 first quarter points.
With 6:27 to go in the second period Idaho trailed Northern Arizona 27-16 before closing the half on an 8-0 run. The Vandals held Northern Arizona without a point in the final 6:27 of the period. Hailey Christopher drained a three-pointer with 39 seconds to go before the half to cut the deficit to three, 27-24.
Idaho and Northern Arizona both found an offensive flow in the third period scoring 18 points each. The Lumberjacks held a three-point lead 45-42 at the end of the third.
Gina Marxen drained a three-pointer at the 4:19 mark to give Idaho a 51-48 lead. The Vandals built a five-point lead over the Lumberjacks following a 10-0 run. Idaho's defense was key in the fourth quarter, once again holding NAU to six-minute scoring drought.
Idaho led 55-52 with 18 seconds to go in the game. NAU's Jacey Bailey tied the game 55-55 to force overtime.
With the Vandals down 63-61 in overtime, Lizzy Klinker tied the game with 31 seconds to go following a layup for 25^th point of the night to force the second overtime. Northern Arizona pulled away from Idaho in overtime to win 70-67. Hailey Christopher's game-tying three at the buzzer fell short for the Vandals.
 


THE QUOTES

HEAD COACH JON NEWLEE


"This was very similar to the game at home and this time we made our free throws but hey made some tough shots in the end."
"I thought we did a great job at the line and I thought Lizzy played fantastic. Gina played 50 minutes sick, and it was just an absolute warrior effort form her."
"I was happy we held our ground in an extremely physical basketball game and battled through the adversity that was going on."
"I thought we did better in the second half of getting into our stuff quicker. We have to learn from them and beat them in Boise if we meet these guys again."



THE NOTES


Lizzy Klinker scored a team-high 27 points for the Vandals which marked a new career-high for her, to go along with a team-high nine rebounds.
Idaho finished 24-of-75 from the field while Northern Arizona was 25-of-65 from the floor. The Lumberjacks drained six three-pointers while Idaho totaled five.
Northern Arizona narrowly edged the Vandals on the boards 47-46. Idaho edged NAU on the offensive boards 13-8 and scored 12 second chance points.
Gina Marxen totaled a career-high four steals to go along with seven rebounds and 18 points.  
 


THE NAME


Lizzy Klinker scored a team-high 27 points which set a new career-high for her. Klinker finished 11-of-25 from the floor and totaled a team-high nine rebounds.


UP NEXT

The Vandals will continue their road trip with a stop in Sacramento to face the Sacramento State Hornets Saturday at 2 p.m.