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MOSCOW, Idaho- The University of Idaho women's basketball team returns to action on Thursday, Feb. 25 following a series sweep over Portland State. The Vandals (14-6,13-3) take on Montana State (14-6, 11-3) in Bozeman for the final road series of the season. Tip-off is set for 5 p.m. Thursday.
 
The Vandals added two more wins this past week, moving into second place in the Big Sky standings. Idaho defeated Portland State 86-63 at home and 75-64 on the road in overtime. Beyonce Bea averaged 22 points, 11.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 3.0 blocks per game in the series.
 
FOLLOW: Fans can watch the game live on the PLUTO TV Ch. 1057 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 56th matchup all-time between Montana State and Idaho. The Bobcats lead the series 35-20. Idaho is 5-1 over the last six games in the series. Montana State ended Idaho's win streak last year in Moscow. Head Coach Jon Newlee is 5-8 overall against Montana State while at Idaho and is 3-3 in Bozeman. Last season the Vandals topped Montana State 69-68 in double-overtime giving them their only loss of the season. Idaho is just 7-16 all-time in Moscow. Most recently, Montana State defeated the Vandals 62-56 in Moscow on Feb. 6, 2020. The loss was the only loss at home for the Vandals in the 2019-20 season. The two sides were set to face off in the 2019-20 Big Sky Tournament Championship game before it was canceled due to COVID-19.
 
SCOUTING THE BOBCATS (14-6, 11-3 BSC): Montana State is seeking to extend a one game winning streak as they host the Vandals in Bozeman this week. The Bobcats finished 3-3 in nonconference play this season which includes wins over North Dakota, Portland and Utah Valley. The Bobcats have had two Big Sky games canceled this season and are 11-3 in league play. The squad has won nine of their last ten games.   
 
As a team, Montana State is averaging a league-leading 72.9 points per game. In addition, the Bobcats are giving up just 63.2 points per game, ranking second. Montana State is outscoring their opponents by a margin of 9.7 points per game. As a team Montana Sate leads the league in three-pointers made per game, 8.6, and is second in percentage, shooting 36.4 percent. One of the most successful areas for the Bobcats this season is turnovers. The squad is forcing an average of 18.1 turnovers by their opponents per game to go along with a league-leading 11.0 steals per game. A weak spot for the Bobcats this season has been rebounding. The team is averaging just 37.6 boards per game, which ranks sixth and is 10th in defensive rebounding with just 23.9 per game.
 
Darian White leads the Bobcats, averaging 14.6 points per game and is one of the top five scorers in the Big Sky this season. Tori Martell is the only other Bobcat averaging double-figures with 12.3 points per game. White also leads Montana State on the boards with 5.2 per game and in assists with 3.7. Martell leads the Bobcats from downtown shooting a league-leading 43.8 percent from three. She is making 2.7 three's per game, to lead the Big Sky. White also leads the Big Sky in steals with 2.9 per game.

 Most recently Montana State split a home-and-home series with Idaho State.  The Bengals topped Montana State 69-59 in Pocatello in game one. White led the Bobcats with 16 points while Martell finished with just four and was 1-of-7 from the field. In game two the Bobcats won 88-80 in overtime. Martell and Madison Jackson led the team in scoring with 20 points each. Martell was 4-of-5 from three.
 
SCOUTING THE VANDALS (14-6, 13-3 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 three 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 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 in a 63-58 loss to Idaho State the nest week. Idaho responded in game two giving the Bengals their first Big Sky loss of the season, 73-56. Last week Idaho swept Portland State in a home-and-home series extending a three-game win streak. The Vandals are 14-6 overall and 13-3 in conference play. Idaho sits in second place in the conference standings just behind Idaho State (12-2). The Vandals are 8-1 at home this year and 6-5 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 72.2 points per game while allowing 67.8 points per game. The Vandals are 8-2 over their last 10 games and have stepped up their defense averaging just 60.2 points allowed per game. Idaho is also one of the top rebounding teams in the Big Sky averaging, 40.8 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 1.1 assist-to-turnover ratio this season, ranking second in the Big Sky just behind Montana State.
 
Gabi Harrington leads Idaho in scoring this season, averaging 16.8 per game while Beyonce Bea and Gina Marxen are averaging 16.5 and 12.5 points per game, respectively. Bea is second in the Big Sky in scoring. Harrington does not meet the minimum games played requirements to be ranked in the Big Sky's stat rankings. 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 14 out of 20 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 8.4 rebounds per game, having only played in 13 games this season. Bea is also averaging 7.8 rebounds per game and shooting 42.6 percent from the field. Gina Marxen leads Idaho with 93 assists on the season and is averaging 4.7 per game. In addition, Marxen has led Idaho in limiting turnovers only committing 29 herself. She is leading the league with a 3.2 assist-to-turnover-ratio. Marxen leads the Vandals from deep, shooting 33.6 percent from three-point range on the season at 2.3 made per game.
 
LAST TIME OUT: Most recently the Vandals swept a home-and-home series with Portland State. Idaho topped the Vikings 86-63 in game one on their home floor before defeating the squad 76-64 on the road in overtime. Beyonce Bea averaged 20 points, 11.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 3.0 blocks per game in the series. She was named Big Sky Player of the Week.
 
HEATING UP: Gabi Harrington has only played in 14 games this season but is leading the Vandals with 16.8 points per game, to go along with 6.6 rebounds per game. The graduate transfer has been on a tear lately, averaging 19.3 points and 8.3 rebounds in the last eight games. The Vandals are 7-1 in those contests. Over that stretch, Harrington has totaled three double-doubles, set her career-highs in scoring, and scored 21 or more points on four occasions. She is shooting 42.1 percent from the field on the season and 32.4 percent from three.

BEA'S BIG WEEKEND: Beyonce Bea earned Big Sky Player of the Week for the second time this season after a series against Portland State. The sophomore averaged 22 points, 11.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 3.0 blocks and 1.0 steals per game. She finished 18-of-34 from the floor on the weekend for 53 percent. Bea recorded a career-high 15 rebounds in game two against the Vikings to go along with 24 points, a season-high six assists and three blocks. In game one Bea had 20 points, eight boards and three blocks. Bea has four double-doubles on the season and has scored 20 or more points four times this season.
 
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 93 of the Vandals 259 total assists so far this season and has only committed 29 turnovers. She leads the Big Sky with a 3.21 assist to turnover ratio and ranks sixth nationally. As a team the Vandals rank second in the Big Sky with a 1.1 A/TO ratio on the season. The Vandals have committed less than 15 turnovers in 16 games this season and have won the turnover battle in 11 games. 13 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 49 games and are 31-10 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. Last time out against Portland State the Vandals turned the ball over 11 and 14 times. In game two the Vikings won the turnover battle. This mark the first game of the season the Vandals have lost the turnover battle and won the game.
 
ON THE BOARDS: Idaho continues to remain one of the top-five rebounding teams in the Big Sky with 40.8 rebounds per game. The Vandals rank fourth in each category. Idaho held Northern Colorado to just 18 rebounds earlier this season. That marks the least number of rebounds allowed by the Vandals since 2015. Natalie Klinker, who has only played 13 games this season, is averaging 8.4 rebounds per game while Beyonce Bea is averaging 7.8 per game for the Vandals. Bea totaled a career-high 15 rebounds last time out. Idaho is 10-0 on the season when outrebounding their opponents and just 3-5 when being outrebounded. Idaho tied Portland State on the boards 45-45 last timeout. In game one, Idaho outrebounded the Vikings 52-40.
 
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 9.4 three-pointers per game over the last 10 games. Idaho is 8-1 when making at least nine three's and 6-5 when making less than nine. Idaho hit 10 three-pointers in game one against Portland State and just seven in game two's overtime win.
 
SPLITTING WITH IDAHO STATE: Before the Idaho State series the Vandals were on a five-game winning streak. That streak was snapped on Feb. 11, 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 (13-3) currently sit in second behind Idaho State (12-2). 

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 383 fouls this year and has attempted 371 free-throws so far. The Vandals are shooting 74.9 percent from the line on the season and averaging 13.8 points per game from the line. Beyonce Bea leads the Vandals in getting to the line with 3.75 free-throw attempts per game. She is 57-of-75 for 76 percent. Gina Marxen leads the squad in free-throw percentage. She is shooting 58-of-69 from the charity stripe for 84.1 percent and is 22-of-24 over the last ten games.  Against Weber State she drew nine fouls and was 9-for-9 from the free-throw line. On average the Vandals are attempting 18.5 free throws per game while opponents are attempting just 12.6 per game. Idaho leads the Big Sky in free-throw attempts
 
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 261 fouls this year. The Vandals lead the Big Sky and rank sixth in the nation in personal fouls per game (13.1), staying very disciplined on the defensive end. Idaho has given up just 252 free-throw attempts. Idaho's 261 fouls this season is the fewest in the Big Sky and in the top-93 fewest in the nation, which includes some teams who have played far 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 14.6 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 10.7 points per game from second-chance points. The 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 Portland State series. In game one Idaho and Portland State each totaled 15 second chance points. There was a bigger discrepancy in game two as the Vikings outscored Idaho 14-5 in second chance points.
 
OFF THE VANDAL BENCH: Hailey Christopher has been an important player for the Vandals this season off the bench, making a case for Top Reserve. Christopher is playing 24.2 minutes per game off the bench, averaging 6.3 points per game, 4.6 rebounds per game and 0.9 blocks per game. In the series against Portland State she averaged 7.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.0 blocks per game. She tied her season-high with four blocks in Saturday's win. She has 71 blocks in her career and is just 12 away from entering the record book.

BLOCK PARTY: Idaho recorded a season-high eight blocks last time out against Portland State. Beyonce Bea totaled three while Hailey Christopher led the Vandals with four.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Beyonce Bea earned the Big Sky Player of the Week honor for her performance this past week. Idaho has now won the award four times this season: Bea (2x), Gabi Harrington and Natalie Klinker.

SHARING THE BALL: On the season the Vandals are averaging just 13 assists per game but have averaged 20 apg over the last two games. In game one against Portland State the Vandals totaled a season-high 22 assists.

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 95.0 percent from the line this season (19-of-20) and 91.7 percent in her career (99-108). 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 199 career threes. In addition, Marxen has scored 954 points during her Vandal career. Marxen also has 367 assists and is just two away from passing Sherry Peterson for eighth place all-time.

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.