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MOSCOW, Idaho- The University of Idaho women's basketball team will travel to Sacramento, California to take on the Sacramento State Hornets at 2 p.m. Saturday, following a road loss at NAU.

The Vandals (15-9, 10-5) are coming off a tough road loss to Northern Arizona, 70-67 in double-overtime, despite a career-high 27 points from Lizzy Klinker. Sacramento State (8-17, 6-10) enters the home contest following loss to Eastern Washington at home 78-73.
The Hornets enter the contest 6-10 overall in Big Sky play and are sitting in 9^th place in the Big Sky, following back-to-back losses.

The Vandals sit in third place in the Big Sky at 10-5 overall, behind Northern Arizona (11-5) and Montana State (14-1). With just six conference games to go the Vandals will continue to battle for a top-five seed and a first-round bye in Boise at the conference tournament.

Idaho and Sacramento State last met in Moscow on Feb. 3rd. The Vandals trailed the Hornets at half time, 25-23, but exploded in the second half for 47 points on the way to a 70-44 win. The win was the first win of the season for the Vandals when trailing at halftime. Idaho is 1-8 overall when behind at the half. But are 12-1 when leading.


Saturday's game will be streamed live on Pluto TV Chanel 533. 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 16th conference game of the season Saturday on the road at Sacramento State at 2 p.m.
 
Gina Marxen leads the Vandals in scoring this season with 13.9 points per game and in assists with 4.4 per game. Marxen dished out a career-high 12 assists against Eastern Washington and has had at least four assists in six of her last seven games. The sophomore from Sammamish, Washington leads the Big Sky in three-pointers made (78) and three-pointers made per game (3.3). In addition, Marxen leads the Big Sky in minutes played per game with 37.9. She totaled 18 points last time out against NAU to go along with seven rebounds and a career-high four steals. Marxen has hit 143 career three-pointers as a Vandal which places her in 9^th place all-time.
 
Beyonce Bea is right behind Marxen, averaging 12.0 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 just four points against NAU but registered 14 points off the bench in the last meeting with Sacramento State.
 
Lizzy Klinker rounds out a group of three players averaging double-figures this season with 11.8 points per game and had a career-high 27 against Northern Arizona last time out.
 
Natalie Klinker leads the Vandals on the boards this season with 7.1 per game and has recorded a Big Sky second-best 2.9 offensive rebounds per game. Natalie totaled five rebounds against NAU.
 
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 58.3 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 the Hornets to just 44 points in their previous meeting this season.



SCOUTING THE HORNETS


Sacramento State (8-17, 6-10) enters the contest following a home loss to Eastern Washington on Thursday night.

The Hornets are averaging 71.1 points per game and feature five players scoring in double-digits per game this season. Kennedy Nicholas is averaging a team-high 14.2 points and 9.4 rebounds per game. Camariah King is averaging 12.4 points per game for the Hornets while Tiana Johnson has totaled 11.0 per game. Summer Menke and Gabi Bade round out the top-five scorers for Sacramento State with 10.8 and 104 points per game, respectively.
Sacramento State features the third best offense in the Big Sky with 71.1 points per game, while also leading the league with 15.3 offensive rebounds per game.


LAST TIME OUT VS NORTHERN ARIZONA

Idaho and Sacramento State last met on Feb. 3^rd in Moscow as the Vandals were looking to bounce back from an NAU loss. Idaho defeated the Hornets 70-44, including outscoring them 47-19 in the second half. Gina Marxen had 18 points and six assists while Lizzy Klinker totaled a team-high 13 boards. Idaho outrebounded the Hornets 50-36 and edged them in three-pointers 8-3.



SERIES HISTORY

Idaho 12-4 all-time against Sacramento State and has won four consecutive meetings. The last loss for Idaho came on Jan. 4^th, 2018, in Sacramento 79-64.

 
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.

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 533. Visit GoVandals.com/Tickets