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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 today, Tuesday Mar. 9, at 4:00 p.m. PT/5:00 p.m. MT against the No.7 seed Northern Arizona Lumberjacks (13-12, 10-10).
The Vandals earn a first-round bye in the Big Sky Conference Tournament for the fourth consecutive year and closing out the regular season inning nine of their final 10 games, including a current streak of 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. Live Stats can be found here.
SCOUTING THE LUMBERJACKS
Northern Arizona entered the conference tournament as the No. 7 overall seed after a 10-10 Big Sky record. The Lumberjacks defeated No. 10 Weber State, 82-68, in the first round yesterday, advancing to the quarterfinal to face Idaho.
Jacqulynn Nakai leads the squad with 15.0 points per game on the season and earned All-Conference honorable mention. Four other Lumberjacks are averaging double-digits per game, including Khiarica Rasheed (12.6), Regan Schenck (12.0), Miki'ala Maio (11.1), and Emily Rodabaugh (10.3). Rasheed also leads the Lumberjacks on the boards with 6.4 rebounds per game. Schenck led the Big Sky with 5.04 assists per game and earned All-Conference Second Team honors.
Northern Arizona is one of the top-three scoring teams in the Big Sky at 72.5 points per game but ranks towards the bottom in rebounds with just 35.8.
LAST TIME OUT VS NORTHERN ARIZONA
Idaho and Northern Arizona split in the regular season this year. In game one Northern Arizona topped the Vandals 84-62. Idaho responded in game two, defeating the Lumberjacks 66-59. Gina Marxen had 15 points and Natalie Klinker had 15 rebounds.
VANDALS vs. LUMBERJACKS ALL-TIME
Idaho is 22-12 against the Lumberjacks all-time. Currently the Vandals are on a one-game win streak in the series. The win snapped a three-game losing streak to NAU. Idaho is 6-4 in the last ten meetings. The two teams have only met once at a neutral site. The squads squared off in Boise at the 2019 conference tournament, winning 90-73 in the quarterfinal.
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.
