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MOSCOW, Idaho- The University of Idaho women's basketball team will host the Montana State Bobcats in a battle for first place on Thursday, Feb. 6^th in Cowan-Spectrum Arena.

The Vandals (13-6, 8-2) are coming off a dominating 70-44 win over Sacramento State on Monday night. Montana State (13-6, 9-1) enters the contest following a 66-61 win at Montana.
The Bobcats enter the matchup first overall in the Big Sky conference standings and currently riding a five-game win streak. The last loss for Montana State was on Jan. 9^th to Idaho 69-68 in Bozeman.
The Vandals sit in second place in the Big Sky standings and have won six of the last seven games, with the only loss coming to Northern Arizona, 71-70.

Thursday's game will decided who is in first place with just nine conference game remaining.
The matchup against the Bobcats on Thursday marks the 55^th meeting all-time between the two programs.

SCOUTING IDAHO


Idaho enters its 11^th conference game of the season Thursday against Montana State.

Gina Marxen leads the Vandals in scoring this season with 13.8 points per game and in assists with 4.0 per game. Marxen dished out a team-high six assists against Sacramento State and has had at least six assists in her last four games. The sophomore from Sammamish, Washington leads the Big Sky in three-pointers made (61) and three-pointers made per game (3.2). In addition, Marxen leads the Big Sky in minutes played per game with 37.1. Marxen totaled a team-high 18 points and six assists against Sacramento State with just one turnover. Marxen is second in the Big Sky with a assist to turnover ratio of 2.0.

Beyonce Bea is right behind Marxen, averaging 12.4 points per game. The freshman from Washougal, Washington is playing an average of 34.5 minutes per game this season, more than any freshman in the conference. Bea scored 14 points against Sacramento State and has scored in double-figures a team-high 13 times this season. Earlier this year against Montana State Bea scored a team-high 26 points helping lead the Vandals to a 69-8 double-overtime win.

Lizzy Klinker rounds out a group of three players averaging double-figures this season with 10.9 points per game and had 10 against Sacramento State.

Natalie Klinker recorded a team-high 13 rebounds last time out and is averaging 5.5 rebounds a team-high 7.0 per game. Natalie and her sister Lizzy were both important in the win over Montana State a few weeks ago, combining for 23 rebounds.

Idaho continues to lead the Big Sky defensively in field-goal percentage defense, three-point percentage defense and scoring defense. The Vandals lead the conference in scoring defense allowing just 57.9 points per game. If the tough defense continues Idaho's 57.9 points per game would set an all-time school record surpassing 58.7 points per game from the 1979-1980 season.



SCOUTING THE BOBCATS

Montana State (6-13,4-6) will travel to Moscow Saturday afternoon following a come from behind, 66-61 win over Montana for their fifth straight win.

The Bobcats feature three players scoring in double-figures per game this season led by Fallyn Freije with 13.5 points per game. Frejie, the preseason Big Sky Player of the Year, and the reigning Big Sky Player of the Week, scored 27 points last time out against Montana.
Darian White and Oliana Squires round out the group of three players who lead Montana State offensively with 11.5 and 10.9 points per game, respectively.
Frejie also leads the Bobcats on the boards with 8.0 per game.
Montana State leads the Big Sky in scoring margin and rebounding margin this season. The Bobcats are outscoring opponents by an average of 11.8 points per game and outrebounding opponents by an average of 6.9 rebounds per game.


LAST TIME OUT VS MONTANA STATE

Idaho and Montana State last met on Jan. 9^th in Bozeman, Montana. The Vandals knocked off the Bobcats 69-68 in a double-overtime thriller. Beyonce Bea totaled 26 points in the contest while Gina Marxen chipped in 14. For Montana State, Fallyn Frejie scored 12 points and grabbed nine rebounds.

SERIES HISTORY

Montana State holds a 34-20 advantage all-time over the Vandals. Idaho is just 10-15 at home to the Bobcats and 7-16 on the road. Idaho has won the previous five meetings against Montana State with the last loss coming on Jan. 26^th, 2017, in Moscow.
 
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 200: Head Coach Jon Newlee recorded his 200^th win at Idaho and the 359^th of his career against Eastern Washington last night in a 69-60 win. Newlee is the all-time winningest head coach in the history of Idaho Women's Basketball.

MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS NIGHT: The Idaho SAAC is hosting Mental Health Awareness night at the game against Montana State on Thursday. One in every four people are affected by mental health disorders, please join us in raising awareness for this issue.

CLEAR BAG: Beginning January 1, 2020, all Idaho home events will have a clear bag policy. Check out the new details over at www.uidaho.edu/clearbagpolicy.
 

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 GoVandals.com/Tickets for more information on seas