📍 Moscow, Idaho
🗓 Thursday, Jan. 14, 6 p.m.
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MOSCOW, Idaho – The Battle for King Spud for the Idaho Vandals Women's Basketball (11-5, 2-1) team tips off on Thursday, Jan. 14 at 6 p.m. in ICCU Arena, where they will take on the Idaho State Bengals (10-6, 3-1). Thursday's game has a "Blackout the Bengals" theme, and fans in attendance are encouraged to wear black as they cheer on the Vandals.
 
The rivalry game between Idaho and Idaho State can be seen on ESPN+. Trevor Williams and Stephen Madison can be seen on the broadcast, and Doug Taylor – The Voice of the Vandals – can be heard on the Vandal Athletics Radio Network. 
 
This is the 59^th meeting between the two in-state institutions; Idaho, the Flagship Institution of the Gem State, leads the overall series 37-21. The rivalry dates back to Dec. 7, 1979, a game the Vandals went on to win 93-70. The Vandals have played the Bengals the second most of any program Idaho has ever faced. 
 
Currently, these are the third and fourth teams in the Big Sky Conference standings. Idaho was picked third in the conference's preseason polls, while ISU was picked fourth. Thursday's game features the top scoring offense in the Big Sky in Idaho (79 ppg), against the league's best scoring defense in Idaho State (56.6 ppg).
 
Idaho has been elite at rebounding since Head Coach Arthur Moreira took over. The Vandals lead the Big Sky and are in the top 20 nationally in every major rebounding statistic. In addition, Idaho leads the Big Sky Conference in assist/turnover ratio (0.99), blocks per game (4.4), and field goal percentage (43.5%).
 
Idaho's electric offense has been led by Kyra Gardner, who is putting up 14 points per contest and leads the team with five double-doubles. All-conference guard Hope Hassmann is second on the team with 13.3 points each game. Sophomore Ana Pinheiro has also been on fire lately, leading the team in scoring in five of the last six games. 
 
ISU is under the direction of 18^th-year Head Coach Seton Sobolewski, who has wracked up 296 wins in his career. Guards Kacey Spink and Alyse Aby each received all-conference accolades last season. 
 
THE BATTLE FOR KING SPUD
 
The trophy, originally unveiled in 1962, was for the men's games. It was lost in 1979 prior to the first matchup between the Idaho and ISU women. The trophy was brought back prior to the 2022-23 season. 
 
King Spud, a trophy in the shape of a potato that oddly has a face with a mischievous look and wears a crown, goes to the institution that wins the majority of the four games played between the Idaho and Idaho State men and women. Should they split the series 2-2, the trophy goes to the school that had the better point differential. 


IDAHO NOTES 

• The Vandals have made 112 three-pointers this season and have made a three ball in 559 consecutive games.
• With Arthur Moreira at the helm, Idaho has the first Brazilian head coach in Division I history. The Vandals also have the most Brazilians on roster of any team in Division I with three.
• Idaho has one of the youngest coaching staffs in Division I, with an average age of 32.
• UI has scored 80 or more points nine times this year, and is 8-1 in those contests.

TICKETS: Tickets can be purchased here or by calling the Vandal ticket office at (208) 885-6466. 

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