Idaho women take down Southern Utah for fifth straight win

January 27, 2020 8:30 PM

Keith Osso,

Posted: January 27, 2020 8:30 PM

by Keith Osso

The University of Idaho will limit the capacity of home football games to 5,100 fans in 2020

CEDAR CITY, Utah– The University of Idaho Women’s basketball team (12-5,7-1) topped the Southern Utah University Thunderbirds (9-8,3-5) 71-56 in America First Event Center for their fifth consecutive win. Idaho held the Thunderbirds to just 56 points in the game, outscoring the home team 39-27, while scoring a season-high 71 points in regulation. Six Vandals scored at least nine points in the win, led by Lizzy Klinker, Gina Marxen, and Beyonce Bea who scored 14, 13 and 12, respectively. A strong offensive performance was complimented with a strong defensive performance as the Vandals held the Big Sky leading scorer, Rebecca Cardenas to just nine points in the game.

Idaho fell behind to Southern Utah to begin the game before Lizzy Klinker put Idaho ahead 8-7 with her third consecutive bucket.

The Vandals and Thunderbirds traded points throughout the first period. However, Idaho held an 18-16 lead at the end of the period following a three-pointer from Janie King with four seconds remaining. King knocked down two three-pointers in the final minute and a half of the first for the Vandals.

Less than two minutes in to the second period King drained her third three of the game to give Idaho a 24-18 lead.

With 4:12 remaining in the second period and the game tied 25-25, Hailey Christopher scored seven points over the next two minutes pushing Idaho to a 32-25 with 2:11 left to play.

Southern Utah ended the half on a 4-0 run, but the Vandals held a 32-29 lead at the break.

Idaho’s offense was firing on all cylinders in the third period as Gina Marxen and Beyonce Bea opened with back-to-back three-pointers, pushing the lead to 38-29. The Vandals scored a game-high 24 points in the third while holding Southern Utah to just 13 points.

A 9-0 run in the period saw the Vandals build a 14-point lead over the Thunderbirds, 56-42, entering the fourth period.

A free-throw from Isabelle Hadden at the 1:38 mark in the first gave Idaho an 18-point lead, 70-52, their largest of the night. Idaho would go on to win, giving the Thunderbirds their first home loss, 71-56.

idaho athletics