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BOISE, Idaho- The University of Idaho Women's Basketball team will take on Idaho State tomorrow in the Big Sky Conference Tournament semifinals, following a 56-54 win over Portland State. The Bengals defeated Southern Utah, 70-63 to move on the semifinals.  
 
The Vandals will play the semifinal matchup tomorrow, March 11^th, 30 minutes after the conclusion of semifinal between Montana State and Northern Arizona.
Tomorrow's semifinal match up will feature five all-conference players. Idaho features three in Gina Marxen, Lizzy Klinker, and Beyonce Bea, while Idaho State's Dora Goles and Callie Bourne were also named to the all-conference teams.
The Vandals enter the semifinal match up on a six-game win-streak, and eight wins in the last nine games. Natalie Klinker posted a strong showing in the quarterfinal Tuesday, with 15 points and 12 rebounds in the win. Lizzy Klinker led the Vandals with 19 points, while Beyonce Bea chipped in 16 points and nine boards. Gina Marxen led the Vandals with nine assists.

Idaho boasts the league's best defense entering the semifinal contest, averaging just 59.0 points per game to their opponents.
 
Three players lead the Vandals offensively, scoring in double-digits per game. Gina Marxen leads the way with 13.4 points followed by Beyonce Bea and Lizzy Klinker each with 12.8 points per game.

This will be the 46^th meeting between the Vandals and Bengals all-time. Idaho leads the series 32-13 and won the last meeting 61-50, in Pocatello to close out the regular season last week.
Wednesday's semifinal match up will feature the top two defensive teams in the conference squaring off.

The game will be streamed live on Pluto TV Chanel 531. You can listen to the game with Doug Taylor on KMAX 840 AM or at govandals.com/listen.
 

SCOUTING IDAHO


Gina Marxen leads the Vandals in scoring this season with 13.4 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 (87) and three-pointers made per game (2.8). In addition, Marxen leads the Big Sky in minutes played per game with 38.0. She totaled nine assists and four rebounds during the quarterfinal against Portland State. Marxen has hit 152 career three-pointers as a Vandal which places her in 8^th place all-time.


Last time vs. Idaho State In the most recent game against Idaho State, Marxen had 11 points, three rebounds and two assists.
 
Beyonce Bea is right behind Marxen, averaging 12.8 points per game. The freshman from Washougal, Washington is playing an average of 33.7 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 earlier this season. The freshman chipped in 16 points and eight boards against Portland State, including 14 in the first half. Bea is averaging 5.9 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game this season while making an average of five field-goals per game.

Last time vs. Idaho State: Bea totaled nine points and three assists against Idaho State last time out.

Lizzy Klinker rounds out a group of three players averaging double-figures this season with 12.8 points per game and had a career-high 27 against Northern Arizona earlier this season. Klinker, a senior, has recorded four double-doubles as a Vandal and is coming off a 19-point, five- performance in the conference quarterfinal. Lizzy is averaging 17.1 points per game over the last six games.

Last time vs. Idaho State: Lizzy chipped in 12 points and seven boards against Idaho State a few games ago.
 
Natalie Klinker leads the Vandals on the boards this season with 7.4 rebounds per game. The junior leads the Big Sky in offensive rebounding with 3.1 per game. Natalie totaled 15 points and 13 rebounds against Idaho State and earned the final Big Sky Player of the week award with 11.5 points and 9.5 points per game over the final week of the regular season. Natalie scored 15 points and grabbed 13 rebounds against Portland State in the quarterfinal, including eight offensive rebounds.

Last time vs. Idaho State: Natalie led the Vandals on the boards against the Bengals last time out with 13 and had 15 points while shooting 7-of-8 from the field. Klinker was named Player of the Week for her performance at Idaho State.

 Idaho continues to lead the Big Sky in scoring defense this season. The Vandals lead the conference allowing just 59.0 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.
 
The Vandals are also one of the best teams in the country in terms of turnovers. Idaho is averaging a league-best 11.6 turnovers per game and are one of the top teams in the country, in that regard. Idaho turned the ball over just eight times in the quarterfinal game.

Idaho is second in the league with a 1.15 assist-to-turnover ratio, led by Gina Marxen who boasts a league-leading 2.3 assist-to-turnover ratio.

SCOUTING THE BENGALS

Idaho State (18-12, 14-6) enters the contest following a quarterfinal win over Southern Utah, 70-63.

The Bengals are led by two players scoring in double-figures per game.
Dora Goles leads the Bengals with 12.7 points per game and was named to the Big Sky All-Conference Second Team. Goles scored just 10 points against Southern Utah in the quarterfinal, but also totaled seven rebounds, and four assists.

Last time vs. Idaho: Goles was Idaho State's leading scorer during the game against Idaho last week. Goles totaled 21 points to go along with three rebounds.

Callie Bourne, who was also selected to the All-Conference Second Team, is averaging 12.1 points per game and totaled 12 points against Southern Utah. Bourne also contributed seven rebounds in the quarterfinal match up.

Last time vs. Idaho: Bourne was held to zero points and just two rebounds against Idaho last week. Bourne finished 0-of-7 from the floor.


Idaho State is just Idaho in the Big Sky defensively, averaging just 60.5 points to their opponents. The Bengals lead the league in defensive field-goal percentage while the Vandals are third.

LAST TIME OUT VS Idaho State

Idaho knocked off Idaho State to close the regular season last week, 61-50. Three Vandals scored in double-figures led by Natalie Klinker with 15. The Vandals held two Bengal starters scoreless in the contest while winning the battle on the boards, 50-27.

SERIES HISTORY

Idaho is 32-13 all-time against the Bengals and are currently on a two-game winning streak in the series.

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.

Natalie Klinker was named the Big Sky Conference Player of the Week for the final week of the regular season after averaging 11.5 points and 9.5 rebounds per game, while shooting 91 percent from the floor.

WINNING 300: Head Coach Jon Newlee recorded his 300^th NCAA Division I win against 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 531. Visit govandals.com for more information.