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MOSCOW, Idaho- The University of Idaho women's basketball team returns to action on Thursday, Feb. 18 following a series split against Idaho State. The Vandals (12-6,11-3) take on Portland State (8-7, 6-6) in a home-and-home series this week, completing a four-game home stand in Memorial Gym at 6 p.m., before finishing the series in Portland, Saturday, Feb. 20, at 12 p.m.
The Vandals snapped a five game winning streak on Thursday before handing Idaho State their first Big Sky loss of the season. Idaho took down the Bengals, 73-56, led by
Gabi Harrington who scored a career-high 25 points and grabbed 12 rebounds.
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: This marks the 42nd and 43rd matchups between Portland State and Idaho all-time. The Vandals lead the series 27-14 and have won the last two meetings. Idaho is on a two-game winning streak in the series, defeating the Vikings at home in February of 2020 and in March at the Big Sky tournament. Most recently, the Vandals took down the Vikings 56-54 in the quarterfinals of the Big Sky tournament in Boise, last season.
Lizzy Klinker led the Vandals with 19 points while
Beyonce Bea chipped in 16.
Natalie Klinker added a double-double with 15 points and 12 boards.
SCOUTING THE VIKINGS (8-7, 6-6 BSC): Portland State is seeking their third and fourth straight wins in a home=and-home series with the Vandals. The Vikings are 2-1 in nonconference play this season which includes wins over Dixie State and the College of Idaho and a loss to Air Force. The Vikings have had eight games canceled this season and are 6-6 in Big Sky play. The squad has won three of their last four conference games.
As a team, Portland State is averaging 65.2 points per game, which ranks eighth in the Big Sky. In addition, the Vikings are giving up 67.9 points per game, ranking sixth – one sport above the Vandals. Portland State is being outscored by a margin of 2.7 points per game by their opponents. The most successful part of the Vikings' game this season has been three-point shooting. The squad ranks fourth in the Big Sky, shooting 33.6 percent from downtown, making 7.3 per game.
Desirae Hansen leads the Vikings, averaging 13.9 points per game and is one of the top-10 scorers in the Big Sky this season. Kylie Jimenez is the only other player scoring in double-digits per game for the Vikings with 10.6. Tatiana Streun leads Portland State on the boards with 7.3 per game while scoring 9.5 points per game. In addition to being a top scoring option for the Vikings, Jimenez leads the team in assists, averaging 4.5 per game, tying with
Gina Marxen for the second-best mark in the Big Sky. Jimenez's assist-to-turnover ratio is just behind Marxen for second overall at 2.6. Jada Lewis leads the Vikings from three-point range shooting 44.9 percent on the season. She is 31-of-69 with an average of 2.2 made per game.
Most recently Portland State swept Northern Arizona in a home series last weekend. Jada Lewis drained a go-ahead three pointer with two seconds remaining to carry the Vikings over NAU, 75-73 in game one. In game two, Hansen converted three game-winning free-throws with four seconds to go, tying the game and giving the Vikings a two-point lead, 58-56. In game one Jimenez led the Vikings with 23 points and five assists, while Jenna Kitty had a team-high 16 points in game two, shooting four-of-seven from three-point range.
SCOUTING THE VANDALS (12-6, 11-3 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 11-2 in Big Sky play. The Vandals' winning streak was snapped on Thursday in a 63-58 loss to Idaho State. Idaho responded on Saturday giving the Bengals their first Big Sky loss of the season, 73-56. The Vandals are 12-6 overall and 11-3 in conference play. Idaho sits in third place in the conference standings just behind Idaho State (11-1) and Montana State (10-2). The Vandals are 7-1 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 are second in the Big Sky in scoring averaging 71.2 points per game while allowing 68.3 points per game. Idaho is also one of the top rebounding teams in the Big Sky averaging, 39 rebounds per game, just behind Southern Utah and Montana. 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 1.01 assist-to-turnover ratio this season, ranking third in the Big Sky.
Gabi Harrington, the reigning Big Sky Player of the Week, leads Idaho in scoring this season, averaging 16.8 per game while
Beyonce Bea and
Gina Marxen are averaging 15.8 and 13. 4 points per game, respectively. Technically, Bea is second in the Big Sky in scoring. The conference's scoring leaders are based on players who have played in 75 percent of their teams' games. Since Harrington has only played in 12 out of 18 games, she is not ranked. If she were, she would be leading the Big Sky in scoring.
Natalie Klinker leads Idaho's rebounding efforts with 8.3 rebounds per game, having only played in 11 games this season. Bea is also averaging 7.8 rebounds per game and shooting 41.3 percent from the field.
Gina Marxen leads Idaho with 81 assists on the season and is averaging 4.5 per game. In addition, Marxen has led Idaho in limiting turnovers only committing 26 herself. She is leading the league with a 3.1 assist-to-turnover-ratio. Marxen leads the Vandals from deep, shooting 32.5 percent from three-point range on the season at 2.2 made per game.
LAST TIME OUT: Most recently the Vandals split a series with Idaho State. Idaho fell 63-58 in game one on their home floor before defeating the Bengals 73-56.
Gabi Harrington totaled 25 points and 12 rebounds in the win and averaged 23.5 points and 11 boards in the series.
HEATING UP: Gabi Harrington has only played in 12 games this season but is leading the Vandals with 16.8 points per game, to go along with 7.0 rebounds per game. The graduate transfer has been on a tear lately, averaging 20.3 points and 10.3 rebounds in the last six games. The Vandals are 5-1 in those contests. Over that stretch, Harrington has totaled three double-double, set her career-high in scoring, and scored 22 or more points on three occasions. She is shooting 43.7 percent from the field on the season and 34.5 from three.
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 81 of the Vandals 219 total assists so far this season and has only committed 26 turnovers. She leads the Big Sky with a 3.1 assist to turnover ratio and ranks 10th nationally. As a team the Vandals rank third in the Big Sky with a 1.01 A/TO ratio on the season. The Vandals have committed less than 15 turnovers in 14 games this season and have won the turnover battle in 10 games. All 12 of Idaho's wins have come when they have either won or tied the turnover battle. Dating back to last season the Vandals have only turned the ball over 15 or more times in 10 of their last 47 games and are 29-10 when committing less than 15 turnovers. The Vandals committed less than 10 turnovers in both games against Weber State, totaling nine and seven, respectively. Seven is tied for a season low.
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 9.6 three-pointers per game over the last eight games. Idaho is 7-1 when making at least nine three's and 5-5 when making less than nine. Idaho hit eight three pointers in both games against Idaho State last weekend.
SPLITTING WITH IDAHO STATE:
Before the Idaho State series the Vandals were on a five-game winning streak. That streak was snapped Thursday night as the Bengals took game one, 63-58. In game two the Vandals struck back, winning 73-56 over the Bengals, opening the race for first in the Big Sky. The Vandals (11-3) currently sit in third behind Idaho State (11-1) and Montana State (10-2). The Vandals still have to play the Bobcats on the road later in the season.
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 345 fouls this year and has attempted 331 free-throws so far. The Vandals are shooting 75.2 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 3.8 free-throw attempts per game. She is shooting 58-of-69 from the charity stripe and was 22-of-24 over the eight 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 18.3 free throws per game while opponents are attempting just 12.5 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 232 fouls. The Vandals lead the Big Sky and rank third in the nation in personal fouls per game (12.9), staying very disciplined on the defensive end. Idaho has given up just 249 free-throw attempts. Idaho has totaled 232 fouls this season which is the second fewest in the Big Sky behind Portland State (214) who has played two less games.
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 15.4 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 10.3 points per game from second-chance points. This biggest discrepancy on the season in this category happened against EWU as the Vandals scored 27 second-chance points and allowed Eastern Washington only two. Second chance points were not really a factor in the Idaho State series as Idaho had six and 12 while the Bengals had seven and five, respectively.
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 194 career threes. In addition, Marxen has scored 939 points during her Vandal career.
HOME SWEET HOME:
Jon Newlee's Vandals have always been successful at home. This season Idaho is 7-1 in Moscow. Last season Idaho finished 10-2 on their home floor. Idaho State gave the Vandals their first home loss in more than 365 days on Thursday Feb. 11.
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.
