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MOSCOW, Idaho- The University of Idaho women's basketball team will host Southern Utah Saturday at 2 p.m. in the final home game of the season, and the final game in Moscow for seniors Lizzy Klinker and Isabelle Hadden.

The Vandals (17-9, 12-5) are coming off a 70-65 win over Northern Colorado Thursday night in Moscow. Southern Utah (16-10, 10-7) enters their final road game of the season riding a four-game winning streak. The Thunderbirds most recently topped Eastern Washington 70-67 in Cheney.

The Vandals moved into second place in the Big Sky following the Northern Colorado win and a Northern Arizona loss and sit four games behind Montana State. With just three 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 Southern Utah last met in Cedar City, Utah on Jan. 27^th, winning 71-56. Lizzy Klinker was the leading scorer for the Vandals as their defense held the Big Sky's leading scorer, Rebecca Cardenas, to just nine points.

Thursday's game will be streamed live on Pluto TV Chanel 542. You can listen to the game with Doug Taylor on KMAX 840 AM or at govandals.com/listen. Live stats can be found here.
 
SENIOR SPOTLIGHT

Lizzy Klinker: Lizzy Klinker is a native of Fairfield, Montana and joined the Vandals in the 2018-19 season after spending two seasons at Utah State Univeristy. Klinker was reunited with her sister, Natalie, when joining Idaho and made her debut as a Vandal against Gonzaga on Dec. 20^th, 2018. Lizzy has scored 555 points as a Vandal at 10.7 points per game, while also totaling 366 rebounds at 7.0 per game. Lizzy was part of a Vandals squad that won the Big Sky Regular Season Championship last year and advanced to the third round of the WNIT tournament.

Isabelle Hadden: Issy Hadden is a native of Boise, Idaho and has been with the Vandals for four seasons. At Idaho Issy has been part of 77 wins, three postseason appearances, a Big Sky Regular Season Championship, and a trip to the third round of the WNIT. Issy has scored 602 points at 5.6 per game during her career, to go along with 232 rebounds at 2.1 per game. Issy has also registered 95 career blocks which ranks her at seventh all-time in the Idaho all-time record book.




SCOUTING IDAHO


Idaho enters its 18th conference game of the season and final home game of the season against Southern Utah, Saturday afternoon.
 
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 earlier this season. The sophomore from Sammamish, Washington leads the Big Sky in three-pointers made (82) and three-pointers made per game (3.2). In addition, Marxen leads the Big Sky in minutes played per game with 38.0. She totaled 15 points, two rebounds, and three assists last time out against Northern Colorado. Marxen has hit 147 career three-pointers as a Vandal which places her in 8^th place all-time.

Last time vs. Southern Utah: In the first game of the season against Southern Utah Marxen totaled 13 points, eight assists, and five rebounds.
 
Beyonce Bea is right behind Marxen, averaging 12.8 points per game. The freshman from Washougal, Washington is playing an average of 34.2 minutes per game this season, more than any freshman in the conference. Bea scored a career-high 30 points along with a career-high seven assists and 10 rebounds for her second career double-double against Sacramento State two games ago. The freshman chipped in 14 points and five rebounds last time out against Northern Colorado. Bea is averaging 5.9 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game this season while making an average of five field-goals per game.

Last time vs. Southern Utah: Bea was one of three players who scored in double-figures last time out against Southern Utah with 12 points, to go along with nine rebounds and four assists.

Lizzy Klinker rounds out a group of three players averaging double-figures this season with 12.0 points per game and had a career-high 27 against Northern Arizona three games ago. Klinker, a senior, has recorded four double-doubles as a Vandal and is coming off a 17 point, and career-high five steal performance against Northern Colorado.

Last time vs. Southern Utah: Lizzy led the Vandals with 14 points and nine rebounds last time out against Southern Utah.  
 
Natalie Klinker leads the Vandals on the boards this season with 7.0 rebounds per game. The junior also ranks second in the Big Sky in offensive rebounding with 2.9 per game. Natalie totaled five offensive rebounds against Northern Colorado on Thursday night, on her way to na double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds.

Last time vs. Southern Utah: Natalie had five points and nine rebounds last time out against Southern Utah.
 
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 59.7 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 Southern Utah, one of the top offenses in the Big Sky, to just 56 points in their first meeting this season.


SCOUTING THE THUNDERBIRDS


Southern Utah (16-10, 10-7) enters the contest following four consecutive wins. The Thunderbirds are coming off a 70-67 win on the road against Eastern Washington on Thursday night.

The Thunderbirds offense, which ranks fourth in the Big Sky with 71.3 points per game, is led by a group of three players scoring in double-digits per game.
Rebecca Cardenas leads Southern Utah's offensive effort and the Big Sky with 17.2 points per game.

Last time vs. Idaho: Cardenas managed just nine points last time against Idaho and was held to 3-of-16 shooting from the field.   

Harley Hansen is the second leading scorer for the Thunderbirds with 13.1 points per game and is shooting 37.1 percent from three-point range.

Last time vs. Idaho: Hansen was the leading scorer for Southern Utah last time out against Idaho with a game-high 19 points.

Freshman Shalyn Fano rounds out the group of offensive leaders for Southern Utah with 10.4 points and 6.1 rebounds per game.

Last time vs. Idaho: Fano scored just five points and grabbed five rebounds last time out against Idaho.
 
Southern Utah boasts the fourth best offense in the Big Sky with 71.3 points per game. The Thunderbirds are averaging 75 points over their four-game win streak.


LAST TIME OUT VS SOUTHERN UTAH

Idaho and Southern Utah last met on Jan. 27^th, in Cedar City, Utah. The Vandals handed Southern Utah their first home loss of the season, 71-56. Three Vandals scored in double-digits, led by Lizzy Klinker with 14 points. Harley Hansen scored 19 for Southern Utah. Idaho's defense held the Thunderbirds to just 56 points including just nine from Rebecca Cardenas.

SERIES HISTORY

Idaho is 15-4 all-time against Southern Utah and has won the previous 13 meetings. Head Coach Jon Newlee is 11-0 all-time against the Thunderbirds. At home the Vandals are 7-2 in the series and have not lost to the Thunderbirds in Moscow since 1996.
 
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 300: Head Coach Jon Newlee recorded his 300^th NCAA Division I win last Saturday at Sacramento State.

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 542. Visit