Box Score MOSCOW, Idaho- The University of Idaho Women's basketball team (17-9, 12-5) improved to 12-5 in conference play with a 70-65 win over Northern Colorado (11-15, 7-10) at home in Memorial gym. The Vandals scored 26 points in the fourth period, including 11 points in the final two minutes to secure the win. Four Vandals scored in double-figures, led by Lizzy Klinker with 17 points and a career-high five steals. Natalie Klinkler scored 11 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for her third double-double of the season and the seventh of her career.
 
THE GAME

The Vandals opened the game on a 9-0 run after conceding the first basket to Northern Colorado. The Bears cut into Idaho's 9-2 lead throughout the first period, but a pair of free-throws from freshman Beyonce Bea down the stretch gave Idaho a 15-12 lead at the end of the period.

Junior Natalie Klinker gave the Vandals a five-point lead early in the second period, 17-12 following a layup off an offensive rebound.

Idaho trailed Northern Colorado 23-21 at the with 4:46 remaining in the second period, before an Allison Kirby three gave them a 24-23 lead. The Vandals would hold the lead the rest of the way in the second period and carry a 30-27 advantage into the locker room at halftime.

The Vandals' offense struggled in the third period with just 14 points. Northern Colorado led by as many as five points midway through the period, 41-36. Sophomore Gina Marxen cut the deficit to 46-44 with a free-throw just before the end of the third period.

Idaho, down two points at the start of the fourth period, exploded for 26 points in the final ten minutes. Just over 30 seconds into the fourth Idaho took a 47-46 lead over Northern Colorado following a Hailey Christopher three-pointer and did not trail the rest of the way. With 6:56 remaining in the period Christopher again found a bucket from deep, giving Idaho a 55-52 lead.

Free-throw shooting proved huge for the Vandals down the stretch as eight points came from the line in the final two minutes.
Senior Lizzy Klinker sealed the game for the Vandals on the defensive end, recording her fifth steal, a new career-high, with 12 seconds remaining. After the steal, Kirby put the Vandals up by six from the free-throw line, 68-62 with just nine seconds to go.

Idaho would go on to win 70-65 in Memorial Gym.


THE QUOTES

Head Coach Jon Newlee


 
 Lizzy Klinker

 
THE NOTES

Idaho attempted 28 free-throws tonight and converted 21. Lizzy Klinker finished 7-of-10 from the line, a team-high.
Northern Colorado shot just 64.7 percent from the free-throw line and was 11-of-17.

The Bears narrowly edged Idaho on the boards 37-36, but the Vandals totaled 14 offensive rebounds for 11 second chance points. Natalie Klinker registered a game-high five offensive boards.

Idaho forced 14 turnovers and scored 16 points off turnovers. Idaho tied their season-low with just six turnovers.

The Vandals recorded a season high 11 steals, five coming from Lizzy Klinker, to go along with three blocks, all coming from Hailey Christopher. Christopher also had three steals.

Idaho featured four players scoring in double-figures, led by Lizzy Klinker with 17. Gina Marxen and Beyonce Bea chipped in 15 and 14, respectively, while Natalie Klinker added 10. 
 

THE NAME

Lizzy Klinker led the Vandals with 17 points and five steals to go along with two rebounds. Klinker was aggressive throughout the game and drew eight fouls, resulting in 10 free-throw attempts. Lizzy finished 7-of-10 from the line while also knocking down five field-goals.

UP NEXT

The Vandals host Southern Utah at 2 p.m. Saturday Feb. 29^th in Senior night at Memorial Gym as Isabelle Hadden and Lizzy Klinker's Vandal career's will be celebrated.