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BOISE, Idaho- The University of Idaho Women's Basketball team enters the 2020 Big Sky Tournament in Boise as the No. 2 overall seed with a 15-5 record in conference. The Vandals finished the regular season 20-9 for the fourth 20-win season under Head Coach Jon Newlee and the first back-to-back 20-win season since 1986.
 
The Vandals will play their first game of the tournament on Tuesday, Mar. 10^th at 4:30 p.m. PT/5:30 p.m. MT against the No.7 seed, Portland State.
 
The Vandals earn a first-round bye in the Big Sky Conference Tournament for the third consecutive year and will play the Portland State in the quarterfinal round. The Vikings knocked out the Vandals in the semifinals last season.
 
The Vandals closed out the regular season with five consecutive wins, and seven wins in the last eight games. Natalie Klinker finished the final week of the regular season strong with 11.5 points and 9.5 rebounds per game to earn the final Big Sky Player of the Week award.
In addition to a road sweep and a Player of the Week award, the Vandals also carry three All-Conference honors into the Big Sky Tournament. Gina Marxen earned All-Conference First Team honors while Beyonce Bea and Lizzy Klinker were each named to the All-Conference Third team.
 
Idaho boasts the league's best defense entering the conference tournament, allowing just 59.2 points per game.
 
Three players lead the Vandals offensively, scoring in double-digits per game. Gina Marxen leads the way with 13.8 points followed by Beyonce Bea with 12.7, and Lizzy Klinker with 12.6.
This will be the 31^st meeting between the Vandals and Vikings all-time. Idaho leads the series 26-14 and won the last meeting 65-52, in Moscow on Feb. 17^th.
Last season the two teams met in the Big Sky semifinals with the Vikings winning 75-59.
 

Tuesday's 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 13.8 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 (3.0). In addition, Marxen leads the Big Sky in minutes played per game with 38.0. She totaled 11 points, four rebounds, and two assists last time out against Idaho State. Marxen has hit 152 career three-pointers as a Vandal which places her in 8^th place all-time.


Last time vs. Portland State: In the most recent game against Portland State, Marxen only attempted two shots, but finished with four assists, two rebounds, and was +13 in the box score.
 
Beyonce Bea is right behind Marxen, averaging 12.7 points per game. The freshman from Washougal, Washington is playing an average of 33.4 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 nine points and three assists last time out against Idaho State. Bea is averaging 5.8 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game this season while making an average of five field-goals per game.

Last time vs. Portland State: Bea helped the Vandals offensively and on the boards last time out against Portland State, with 12 points and nine rebounds to go along with four assists.

Lizzy Klinker rounds out a group of three players averaging double-figures this season with 12.6 points per game and had a career-high 27 against Northern Arizona five games ago. Klinker, a senior, has recorded four double-doubles as a Vandal and is coming off a 12-point, seven rebounds, performance at Idaho State. Lizzy is averaging 16.8 points over the last five games.

Last time vs. Portland State: Lizzy chipped in 10 points, three rebounds, and two assists against Portland State in February.
 
Natalie Klinker leads the Vandals on the boards this season with 7.3 rebounds per game. The junior also ranks second in the Big Sky in offensive rebounding with 2.9 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.

Last time vs. Portland State: Natalie led the Vandals on the boards against the Vikings last time out with 11 and had 11 points for a double-double.

 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 59.2 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 averaged just 11.7 turnovers per game which leads the Big Sky, while only committing 339 turnovers, the seventh fewest in NCAA Division I

Idaho is second in the league with a 1.14 assist-to-turnover ratio, led by Gina Marxen who boasts a league-leading 2.35 assist-to-turnover ratio.

SCOUTING THE VIKINGS

Portland State (16-15, 9-11) enters the contest following a first round win over Eastern Washington yesterday, 83-70.

The Vikings are led by nearly five players scoring in double-figures per game this season. Desirae Hansen leads the way with 14.4 points per game and scored 27 against Eastern Washington yesterday.
Last time vs. Idaho: Hansen scored 17 points and totaled four rebounds last time out against Idaho but was held to just one assist.
Kylie Jimenez is just behind Hansen with 12.4 points per game and leads the squad with 4.3 assists per game.
Last time vs. Idaho: Jimenez totaled six points, four rebounds, four assists, and three steals in the loss to Idaho.
Tatiana Streun is averaging 11.8 points and 6.5 rebounds per game while Jordan Stotler leads Portland State on the boards with 7.5 per game while scoring 10.2 points per game.
Last time vs. Idaho: Streun was held to just five points and five boards last time out against the Vandals. Stotler totaled just six points and six rebounds, with no blocks. Stotler leads the Big Sky in blocks.
Belle Frazier is averaging 9.9 points per game, while shooting 36.8 percent from three-point range.
Last time vs. Idaho: Frazier was just 2-of-11 from the field last time out against Idaho but totaled eight points and six boards.

Portland State boasts the fourth-best offense in the Big Sky with 70.6 points per game, and just the sixth best defense with 69.4 points allowed per game. The Vikings enter the quarterfinal matchup as the top three-point shooting team in the Big Sky, shooting 37 percent from three with 8.3 made per game.  


LAST TIME OUT VS Portland State

Idaho and Portland State last met on Feb. 17^th in Moscow, Idaho. The Vandals defeated the Vikings 65-52. Isabelle Hadden led the Vandals with 16 points off the bench while Hailey Christopher contributed 11 from the bench. Five players scored in double-figures for the Vandals.

SERIES HISTORY

Idaho is 26-14 all-time against the Bengals and are currently on a one-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.