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 University of Idaho guard, Shaena-Lyn Kuehu, shoots the ball during the basketball game with Pacific University. The Vandals will play their last game of the year on Sunday at 2 p.m. against Washington State team. Kate Kucharzyk/Argonaut
Winter Break is a time to forget about school, hit the ski slopes and spend time with your family. But for the University of Idaho women’s basketball team, it’s a time to wrap up loose ends and dive into conference play.
The Vandals have just three games remaining before they open conference play at home against the Boise State Broncos.
After a slow start, the team is now focusing on blocking out, rebounding and free throws, three things that hurt them in Sunday’s one-point loss to Long Beach State.
Sophomore guard Rachele Kloke said the young team is beginning to play better as a team, and now needs to focus on being more aggressive.
“Every game seems to be getting better,” Kloke said. “We’re getting more comfortable with each other, learning about one another more and just executing more.”
She said the busy schedule will be tough, but that’s what the team is here for.
“It would be nice to go home and see your family but really we’re here to get wins,” Kloke said.
Idaho coach Jon Newlee said the young team may not be used to this kind of schedule, but he said so far they’re keeping up their intensity, and they understand the opportunities the break provides them.
“We pretty much tell them, ‘Hey, this is what we’re here for, this is a fun time of year,’” Newlee said. “You don’t have to worry about scholastics right now … you can just really concentrate on basketball.”
Newlee said the Western Athletic Conference has physical teams, and they’ll be using the break to get more aggressive and more physical themselves before the Broncos come to town.
“We can’t let teams push us around … so we’re going to have to work on every day getting after one another in practice and getting used to it,” he said. “Our players are very nice, that’s not always a good thing to have on the basketball floor. They’ve got to get a little meaner and a little more physical, but we’ll work on it.”
With both WSU and BSU coming up on the schedule, it should be an exciting few weeks and Newlee hopes fans will come out and fill the stands.
“I think we’re playing a fun style,” he said. “Our kids are playing hard, and they’re getting after it. We’ve been in a bunch of close games, and we need (fans) support to push us over the edge.”
Washington State Dec. 14
The Cougars are 5-2 and will be looking to add another win to their three-game winning streak. WSU defeated Long Beach State 68-50 one day before the Vandals lost to Long Beach State by one point. The game will be played at 2 p.m in the Cowan Spectrum.
Montana State Dec. 20
Montana State is 4-3 but will face two tough opponents in San Diego State and USC, before welcoming Idaho into town for the 1 p.m. tipoff.
Montana defeated Great Falls 100-62 Sunday and had six players score double digits.
Portland Dec. 28
The Portland Pilots are 3-5 and will be relying on their junior guard Laiken Dollente, to secure a win for their home crowd. Dollente averages 18 points a game, double the average of their No. 2 scorer Tara Cronin. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m.
Boise State Jan. 3
The Vandals will play their first WAC game of the season against the Broncos (3-5) at 2 p.m in the Cowan Spectrum. The Vandals will need to improve their rebounding before facing the broncos who average 41 rebounds a game.
Utah State Jan. 5
The Aggies (4-3) will also face the Vandals in both team’s second conference game of the season in the Cowan Spectrum. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.
San Jose State Jan. 8
The Spartans got off to a rough start this season with a four-game losing streak. Currently 1-6, San Jose State picked up their only win of the season with a one-point victory over Sacramento State. The game will be played at 7 p.m at San Jose State.
Fresno State Jan. 10
Opposite of San Jose State, the Bulldogs started the season with a four-game winning streak. Currently 7-2, the Bulldogs will welcome the Vandals into Fresno for a tough conference matchup.
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