OGDEN, Utah- The University of Idaho Women's basketball team (19-9, 14-5) improved to 14-5 in conference play with a 91-57 win over Weber State (3-25, 1-18) to secure the No. 2 seed in the Big Sky Conference Tournament. The Vandals outscored Weber State 45-27 in the second half on the way to the win. Four Vandals scored in double-figures for the fourth consecutive game, led by senior Lizzy Klinker with 18 points.

THE GAME


Beyonce Bea opened the game for the Vandals with a jumper 40 seconds in. After Weber State tied the game 2-2, Gina Marxen knocked down a three-pointer to give the Vandals a 5-2 advantage. Idaho would lead the rest of the game. Lizzy Klinker capped a 13-0 run for the Vandals at the free-throw line with 3:50 left in the period to go up 15-2. The Vandals led 24-11 after the first period.

Natalie Klinker opened the second period with a layup to begin a 9-0 run over the next two and a half minutes. Lizzy capped the run with a jumper to give Idaho a 33-11 lead with 7:25 remaining in the period. Weber State found some offense down the stretch of the second period outscoring the Vandals 19-13 in the final seven minutes. Idaho carried a 46-30 lead into halftime.
In the third period, the Vandals outscored Weber State 22-4 in the third period to jump ahead 68-34 after the third.
Gina Marxen began a 13-0 run for the Vandals in the third with a jumper at the 8:11 mark. The Vandals strong defense held Weber State without a point over the next six minutes of play. A three-pointer form Janie King gave Idaho a 68-34 lead at the end of the third period.
King picked up where she left off in the third period, with three three-pointers in the first five minutes. Her fourth three of the game gave Idaho an 80-46 lead with 5:46 remaining in the game.


Idaho and Weber State each scored 23 points in the fourth period but the Vandals would win 91-57.



THE QUOTES

Head Coach Jon Newlee
 
"I thought our ball movement was great tonight, everybody was touching the ball. We talked about keeping the energy up and being ready to shoot the ball and we did a good job of that tonight."

"We came focused in. we knew we couldn't overlook these guys and we knew we couldn't just show up wand win. I like the way our defense played in the second half rather than the first in terms of fouling."

"We talked about not fouling. Let them take bad shots. We were not playing disciplined on defense in the first half and I wasn't happy. We talked about that at halftime and I thought we did a great job in the second half."

"We knew we needed this one. We can just relax and have fun in Pocatello. We want to stay sharp and get our reps in."



 
Janie King
 
"We were sharing the ball really well and had a really hot hand tonight and my teammates just had confidence in me"

"The chemistry with my team is what helps us work well together. Just knowing who has the hot hand that night and getting them the ball is important."

"Defense has been a huge part of our season. We know if we play good hard defense then it will lead to good offense."

"I'm excited to go back home and play in that gym. It's a familiar place so I'm excited"

 
THE NOTES


Lizzy Klinker led a group of four players who scored in double-figures with 18 points. Janie King totaled a season-high 17 points ahead of Beyonce Bea and Gina Marxen with 14 and 13 points, respectively.

Idaho outrebounded the Wildcats 37-27 including 9-5 on the offensive glass. Beyonce Bea led the Vandals with eight rebounds.

The Vandals shot 54 percent from the field and 46 percent from three-point range compared to just 33 percent and 27 percent from Weber State.
 
The Vandals forced 14 Weber State turnovers while only turning the ball over eight times.

The Vandals recorded 17 assists while Weber State totaled just nine. Gina Marxen led the Vandals with six assists.

 

THE NAME


Janie King scored 17 points off the bench in 20 minutes for the Vandals on 5-of-8 shooting from three-point range. King also recorded three rebounds and dished out one assist.

UP NEXT

The Vandals will travel to Pocatello, Idaho for the final game of the regular season against Idaho State in the Battle of t