POSTSEASON GUIDE TOURNAMENT BRACKET
BOISE, Idaho- The University of Idaho Women's Basketball team enters the 2021 Big Sky Tournament in Boise as the No. 2 overall seed with a 14-3 record in conference. The Vandals finished the regular season 15-6, marking the highest win percentage since the 2013-14 season.
The Vandals will play their first game of the tournament on Tuesday, Mar. 9th at 4:00 p.m. PT/5:00 p.m. MT.
The Vandals earn a first-round bye in the Big Sky Conference Tournament for the fourth consecutive year and will play the winner of the No.7/No.10 seed matchup which will either be No. 7 Northern Arizona or No. 10 Weber State. Idaho swept Weber State 2-0 and split 1-1 with Northern Arizona in the regular season.
The Vandals closed out the regular season winning nine of their final 10 games, including four in a row.
Idaho boasts the league's best offense entering the conference tournament, scoring 73.1 points per game, led by two of the league's top scorers in
Gabi Harrington (16.9) and
Beyonce Bea (16.5)
Three players lead the Vandals offensively, scoring in double-digits per game. Harrington leads the way with 16.9 points followed by
Beyonce Bea with 16.5, and
Gina Marxen with 12.5.
Tuesday's game will be streamed live on Pluto TV Chanel 1050. You can listen to the game with Doug Taylor on KMAX 840 AM or at govandals.com/listen.
POSTSEASON NOTES
Towards the top: The Vandals were picked to finish first in the Big Sky Coaches' and Media polls in the preseason and finish just one spot below, in second place, earning the number two seed in the conference tournament. The Vandals have finished in the top two in the regular season for three consecutive years.
Terrific Trio: Graduate student
Gabi Harrington, sophomore
Beyonce Bea, and junior
Gina Marxen are leading the Vandals in scoring this season. All three also earned All-Conference honors. Harrington and Bea were each named to the Big Sky All-Conference First team after finishing second and third, respectively, in scoring in the Big Sky. Marxen finished din the top-15 in points per game and also was second in assists per game while leading in assist-to-turnover ratio and ranking inside the top-five in three-point percentage and three-pointers per game.
Pouring on the points: The Vandals scored 92 points to close out the regular season, the third most in a single game this year. Entering the conference tournament, the Vandals lead the Big sky in scoring with 73.1 points per game.
On the glass: Idaho finished the season second in the big Sky in rebounding with 41.1per game. The Vandals were also second in defensive rebounds per game with 28.8.
Limiting turnovers: Idaho finished the season averaging just 11.9 turnovers per game to lead the Big Sky, ranking 13th in NCAA Division I. In addition, the Vandals posted a 1.1 assist-to-turnover ratio which is second in the Big Sky.
Top Reserve: Hailey Christopher has been a staple off the bench for the Vandals this season. the junior from Spokane, Washington was recognized for her efforts, earning the Big sky Top Reserve award. She averaged 6.4 points and 4.3 rebounds per game in 24.2 points per game off the bench for the Vandals.
Best since 2013-14: Idaho finished an unusually shortened regular season with 15-6 overall record and a 14-3 Big Sky record. Idaho's 71.4 overall win percentage and 82.4 conference win percentage is the highest since the 2013-14 season. Idaho finished with a 73.5 overall win percentage that season and a 93.8-win percentage in the WAC.
Best since 1983-84: Idaho finished their 2020-21 home season at 9-1 for 90 percent, marking the highest home winning percentage since the 1983-84 season when the Vandals went 11-0.
FOLLOW: Fans can follow the Vandals all season long on Twitter and Instagram, @VandalsWBB and with the Voice of the Vandals, Doug Taylor, at GoVandals.com/Listen. The game will air on PlutoTV Channel 1050. Visit govandals.com for more information.
