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MOSCOW, Idaho- The University of Idaho women's basketball team returns to action on Thursday, Jan. 14 after sweeping Southern Utah last week. The Vandals (6-4,5-1) hit the road this week for two of five consecutive road games beginning with the Northern Colorado Bears (3-8, 2-4) in Bank of Colorado Arena at 5:30 p.m.

FOLLOW: Fans can watch the game live on the PLUTO TV Channel 1059 and listen to the game with Doug Taylor at Govandals.com/listen and on KMAX 840 AM. Live Stats can be found here.

SCOUTING THE BEARS (3-8, 2-4 BSC): Northern Colorado finished just 1-4 in nonconference play to begin the season. The Bears picked up an additional two wins in Big Sky play with splits over Montana and Montana State in the last two weeks. Last week Northern Colorado split with Montana State, but have won just two of their last eight games. The Bears picked up a conference win against Montana and earned their first win of the season against Denver. The Bears are 2-4 at home in Bank of Colorado Arena.

As a team, Northern Colorado is scoring 60.5 points per game while allowing 66.2. The Bears rank 10^th in points per game around the Big Sky. UNCO leads the Big Sky from downtown shooting 25.6 percent (64-of-180) from three-point range. The Bears are also a top-five rebounding team in the league with 38.1 boards per game.

Alisha Davis is averaging 10.5 rebounds per game to lead Northern Colorado and the Big Sky. Davis is also the league's block leader at 2.4 per game. Davis is a triple-threat for Northern Colorado also leading the team in scoring averaging 14.6 points per game. Jasmine Gayles is the only other Bear scoring in double-digits per game this season with 10.4 per game. Hannah Simental is 17of-34 from three-point range for 50 percent on the season to lead the Bears.

Most recently, Northern Colorado defeated Montana State 57-49 in Bozeman after dropping game one 46-54. Davis averaged just 10 points and 8.5 rebounds per game in the series. In the win Micayla Isenbart led the Bears with 15 points and was 2-of-2 from beyond-the-arc.

SCOUTING THE VANDALS (6-4, 5-1 BSC): Idaho finished 1-3 in nonconference play but have found winning ways in the Big Sky. Idaho opened the season in conference play with a sweep over Sacramento State. After restarting the Big Sky season in late December, the Vandals split on the road at Northern Arizona and returned to Moscow for a series sweep over Southern Utah, The Vandals are 6-4 overall and 5-1 in conference play having won three-straight games. Idaho sits in second place in the conference standings just behind Idaho State. Idaho is 5-0 at home this year and 1-4 on the road.Three of the Vandals' four road losses were to top-25 ranked Power 5 schools in No. 21 Texas, No. 11 Arizona and No. 25 Washington State.

The Vandals average 70.2 points per game, allowing 75.0 points per game. Idaho is one of the top rebounding teams in the Big Sky averaging 43.0 rebounds per game, just behind Southern Utah. The Vandals are the best team in the Big Sky in terms of turnovers, averaging a league-best 12.1 per game. The team has posted a 0.93 assist-to-turnover ratio this season, ranking third in the Big Sky.

Beyonce Bea leads Idaho with 15.1 points per game while three others are scoring in double-figures per game. Gina Marxen is averaging 13.2 points per game followed by Gabi Harrington (12.8) and Sydney Gandy (10.5). Natalie Klinker leads Idaho's rebounding efforts with 11.5 rebounds per game, having only played in six games this season. Gina Marxen leads Idaho with a league best 42 assists on the season and is averaging 4.2 per game to lead the Big Sky. In addition, Marxen has led Idaho in limiting turnovers only committing 15 herself. She is tied with Portland State's Kylie Jimenez for the league lead with a 2.8 assist-to-turnover ratio.

LAST TIME OUT: The Vandals defeated Southern Utah for their third consecutive win, 77-61 in Memorial Gym. Gina Marxen led the Vandals in scoring with 17 points and dished out a team-high five assists. Hailey Christopher led Idaho on the boards with seven.

SERIES HISTORY: Idaho and Northern Colorado have played each other 12 times dating back to 2015. The Bears lead the all-time series 7-4. Idaho has won the previous two meetings and is 2-3 all-time in Greeley. Last season Idaho defeated the Bears 57-46 on the road and 70-65 at home.

FRESH ON THE SCENE: .It didn't take long for freshmen Sydney Gandy and Paris Atchley to begin making their names known at Idaho. In the season opener each put up 14 points to begin their careers. Gandy started and played 27 minutes while Atchley contributed 23 minutes off the bench...both finished shooting 50 percent from beyond-the-arc. Gandy led the Vandals in scoring against Washington State as she scored a career-high 16 points. Atchley totaled a career-high 26 points in a win over Seattle U. In the game Atchley drew 12 fouls and finished 15-of-18 from the free-throw line. Both are used to the spotlight as Gandy was named the 2019-20 CIF Division 2AA Player of the Year after her senior season and Atchley was part of the National Champion La Jolla Country Day High School team as a senior. Against Seattle U the duo combined for 40 points on 45 percent shooting from the field.

TAKING CARE OF THE BALL: Last season one of many staples for the Vandals was limiting turnovers, a stat they led the Big Sky in. The trend continues this season as they are averaging a league-best 12.1 turnovers  per game. It all starts with junior point guard Gina Marxen. Marxen has dished out 42 of the Vandals 113 total assists, a league-best, so far this season and has only committed 15 turnovers. She is tied for the Big Sky lead with a 2.8 assist-to-turnover ratio and ranks 37th nationally. As a team the Vandals rank fourth in the Big Sky with a 0.93 A/TO ratio on the season. Idaho averaged just 10 turnovers per game in the weekend series against Southern Utah last week and have committed less than 15 turnovers in eight games this season, winning the turnover battle in six games. In all six of Idaho's win they have won the turnover battle. Dating back to last season the Vandals have only turned the ball over 15 or more times in 9 of their last 41 games and are 25-9 when committing less than 15 turnovers. 
 
OFF THE BENCH: Idaho's starting lineup has changed seven times this season and has consistently contained Beyonce Bea and Gina Marxen, the top two scorers. Many times, this season the Vandals bench has come up big. The bench scoring has been comprised over several players who have also started a few games. Gabi Harrington, Hailey Christopher and Paris Atchley have been the biggest bench contributors so far this season for the Vandals, but have also made at least two starts. In Friday's win over Southern Utah the Vandal bench scored a season-high 41 points. Harrington and Christopher combined for 26 points. The Vandals are averaging 29 bench points in the last three games.

HOME SWEET HOME: Jon Newlee's Vandals have always been successful at home. This season Idaho is 5-0 in Moscow. Last season Idaho finished 10-2 on their home floor. The last home loss was to Montana State, 62-56 on Feb. 6, 2020.
 
ON THE ROAD AGAIN: After a quick two-game home stand the Vandals return to the road this week for five straight road games. This week Idaho takes on Northern Colorado. Next week the Vandals will take a week off before traveling to Weber State. The road stretch will wrap up on Feb. 4 in Cheney.
 
THREE IN A ROW: After dropping two straight road games the Vandals picked up their first road win of the season against Northern Arizona and are on a three-game winning streak after sweeping Southern Utah.


Fans can stay up-to-date on all things Idaho women's basketball by following the team on twitter and Instagram, @VandalsWBB.

For more information on Idaho Athletics, visit GoVandals.com.  Fans can also find Idaho on Twitter and Instagram, @Idaho_Vandals, or on Facebook by searching Idaho Vandals.