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MOSCOW, Idaho- The University of Idaho women's basketball team returns to action on Thursday, Feb. 11 following a home-and-home series sweep against Eastern Washington. The Vandals (11-5,10-2) host Idaho State (14-1. 10-0) this week continuing a four-game home stand in Memorial Gym at 6 p.m.
The Vandals earned their fifth straight win defeating Eastern Washington 85-56, in Memorial Gym on Saturday. Idaho rolled the Eagles in the second half, leading by as many as 32.
Sydney Gandy totaled 21 points as the Vandals improved to 6-0 at home.
FOLLOW: Fans can watch the game live on the
PLUTO TV Ch. 1060 and listen to the game with Doug Taylor at
Govandals.com/listen and on KMAX 840 AM. Live Stats can be found
here.
SERIES HISTORY: Idaho defeated Idaho State last season, three times. In the most recent contest, the Vandals took down the Bengals in the Big Sky Tournament Semifinal game, 66-51.
Lizzy Klinker had 13 points while
Isabelle Hadden chipped in 12.
Gina Marxen added 11 points and
Natalie Klinker totaled eight rebounds and seven points. This marks the 47th and 48th matchups against Idaho State and Idaho all-time. The Vandals lead the series 33-13 and have won the last three meetings. In Moscow, the Bengals have won just three times. All three of those wins came from 2017-2019. Under Newlee the Vandals are 6-6 against the Bengals.
SCOUTING THE BENGALS (14-1, 10-0 BSC): The Idaho State Bengals are seeking their 14th and 15th consecutive wins this season in two road contests at Idaho. The Bengals are 5-1 in nonconference play this season which includes a win on the road at Kansas State. The only loss of the season is to Nebraska, 64-51. Idaho State is a perfect 10-0 in Big Sky play. Their last conference loss was on Mar. 11, 2020 in Boise, when the Vandals defeated the squad, earning a trip to the Big Sky Championship game.
As a team, Idaho State is averaging 70.9 points per game, which ranks second in the Big Sky. In addition, the Wildcats are giving up just 59.6 points per game, a conference best. Idaho State is outscoring their opponents by a margin of 11.4 per game, the most in the Big Sky. The Bengals also lead the league in field goal percentage, shooting 43.2 percent from the field. Their opponents are shooting just 35.4 percent overall. Turnovers and free-throw shooting are a bit of a weakness for the Bengals. They are shooting just 71 percent from the line on the season and are averaging 15.6 turnovers per game. Idaho State does, however, lead the league in assists with 15.3 per game.
Dora Goles leads the Bengals, averaging 13.2 points per game. Two other players are scoring double-digits per game. Diaba Konate is just behind Goles, averaging 12.1 points while Callie Bourne is scoring an even 10.0 points per game. Ellie Smith leads the Bengals, shooting 68.6 (48-of-70) from the field this season while Estafania Ors is shooting 42.6 percent from three-point range. Bourne leads the squad on the boards with 8.5 per game ranking second in the Big Sky. She also leads the team in assists with 3.5 per game.
Most recently Idaho State's series against Southern Utah was canceled. The Bengals picked up two non-conference games against Grand Canyon and Northwest Nazarene to fill in the gap. Idaho State's last Big Sky series was against Portland State on Jan. 21, and 23. The Bengals won 80-55 and 70-62. Bourne had 18 points in the first game and Goles had 22 in the second. Against Northwest Nazarene Goles led the effort with 24 points in a 91-50 win.
SCOUTING THE VANDALS (11-5, 10-2 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. Idaho began a five-game road-stint two weeks ago beginning with a series split at Northern Colorado that was followed up with a series sweep over Weber State, extending a three-game win streak. The Vandals finished off the road stint at Eastern Washington on Saturday and returned to Moscow defeating the Eagles for their fifth win in a row, improving to 10-2 in Big Sky play. The Vandals are 11-5 overall and 10-2 in conference play. Idaho sits in second place in the conference standings just behind Idaho State. The Vandals are 6-0 at home this year and 5-5 on the road. Three of the Vandals' five road losses were to top-25 ranked Power 5 schools in Texas, Arizona and Washington State.
The Vandals average 70.5 points per game, allowing 71.9 points per game and are one of the top rebounding teams in the Big Sky averaging, 39 rebounds per game, just behind Southern Utah, Montana and Idaho State. 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 1.02 assist-to-turnover ratio this season, ranking third in the Big Sky.
Beyonce Bea leads Idaho with 16.2 points per game while two others are scoring in double-figures.
Gabi Harrington is scoring 15.5 per game while
Gina Marxen is averaging 13. 4.
Natalie Klinker leads Idaho's rebounding efforts with 8.3 rebounds per game, having only played in nine games this season. Bea is also averaging 7.8 rebounds per game and shooting 41.2 percent from the field.
Gina Marxen leads Idaho with a league best 73 assists on the season and is averaging 4.6 per game. In addition, Marxen has led Idaho in limiting turnovers only committing 23 herself. She is leading the league with a 3.2 assist-to-turnover-ratio. Bea and Harrington have been on a scoring tear lately averaging 19 and 18 points, respectively, over the last five games. Harrington had 24 points and 16 rebounds on the road against Eastern Washington last week. Marxen leads the Vandals from deep, shooting 34 percent from three-point range on the season at 2.3 made per game.
LAST TIME OUT: Most recently the Vandals have won five straight games and are coming off a series sweep over Eastern Washington 79-69 and 85-56, on the road and at home. The two wins added to a previous three-game winning streak.
LETTING IT FLY: Jon Newlee's Vandals have always been known to shoot the three ball and have success at it. The Vandals have returned to their sharp shooting ways as of late, averaging 10.1 three-pointers per game over the last six games. Idaho is 7-1 when making at least nine three's and 4-4 when making less than nine. Idaho hit 12 three-pointers last time out against Eastern Washington.
AT THE LINE: One successful mark for the Vandals this season has been the ability to get to the free-throw line. Idaho has drawn 311 fouls this year and has attempted 297 free-throws so far. The Vandals are shooting 74.7 percent from the line on the season and averaging 13.8 points per game from the line.
Gina Marxen leads the squad in getting to the line with four free-throw attempts per game. She is shooting 55-of-64 from the charity stripe and was 14-for-14 over the last five games. Against Weber State she drew nine fouls and was 9-for-9 from the free-throw line. On average the Vandals are attempting 18.2 free-throws per game while opponents are attempting just 12.8 per game.
DEFENSIVE DISCIPLINE: While Idaho's defense has allowed more points this season than last year on average, this year's squad has played very disciplined defense. Idaho has only committed 205 fouls. The Vandals lead the Big Sky and rank third in the nation in personal fouls per game (12.8), staying very disciplined on the defensive end. Idaho has given up just 205 free-throw attempts has totaled just 205 fouls this season which is the second fewest in the Big Sky behind Portland State (188), who has played two less games.
SHORTHANDED: Over the last four games the Vandals have been a bit shorthanded, playing with eight players twice and nine twice. The lack of depth hasn't stopped the Vandals from finishing in the win column, recording an average margin of victory of 18.5 points per game.
Beyonce Bea and
Gabi Harrington have been on a tear recently, averaging 19.7 points, 8.25 rebounds and 18.6 points, 8.6 rebounds, respectively, over the latest stretch, helping the Vandals to five straight wins.
CLEANING UP THE BOARDS: Not only have the Vandals had success at rebounding this season they have also been able to turn those second-chance opportunities into points and prevent their opponents from doing so at the same rate. Idaho is averaging 12.9 points a game from second-chance points and their highest total of the season was 28 against Sacramento State in the season opener. Idaho's opponents are averaging 10.9 points per game from second-chance points. This biggest discrepancy on the season in this category happened last week as the Vandals scored 27 second-chance points and allowed Eastern Washington only two.
KIBRY AT THE LINE:
Allison Kirby is on pace to become the best free-throw shooter in Idaho women's basketball history. Kirby is shooting 91.7 percent from the line this season (11-of-12) and 91 percent in her career (91-100). If Kirby continues this pace, she will set the all-time career free-throw percentage record. The current record is 89 percent held by Jenifer Clay.
MARXEN IN THE RECORD BOOKS: Throughout her career Marxen has been known as a sharpshooter and has been successful at it. Earlier this season Marxen moved into seventh place all-time in career three-pointers made in the Idaho record book. She sits behind Susan Woolf (205) with 190 career threes.
HOME SWEET HOME:
Jon Newlee's Vandals have always been successful at home. This season Idaho is 6-0 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.
BATTLE OF THE DOMES: Idaho has beaten the Bengals in back-to-back Battle of the Domes games, presented by Idaho Central Credit Union. The Vandals swept Idaho State in the rivalry game twice last year. The last time Idaho State won was the final game of the 2019 regular season, but the Vandals were still named the Big Sky Regular Season Champions.
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.
