After many broken records and thrilling regular season play, women’s basketball is set to finish the regular season this weekend.
Idaho (18-9, BSC 15-3) is riding a five-game win streak into a final homestand against Weber State and Idaho State. With a win in either matchup, the Vandals can clinch a share of the regular season Big Sky title.
A sweep would guarantee an outright conference championship.
The Vandals’ opponents for this weekend are finishing remarkably different season and have varying mo- tivations coming into their respective games.
Weber State (5-23, BSC 2-16) has underperformed this season, but an opportunity to spoil Idaho’s dream season should be more than enough to motivate the Wildcats when they arrive in the Cowan Spectrum. The Vandals escaped with a five win when the teams faced off in Ogden, Utah, but there are plenty of reasons to have faith in Idaho avoiding the upset.
On top of having the motivation to secure a share of their first regular season championship since 2016, Idaho holds just about every statistical advantage over the Wildcats. The Vandals can obviously shoot the lights out, but much of Idaho’s opportunities come from gameplanning and taking care of the ball.
Senior guards Mikayla Ferenz and Taylor Pierce get many open looks in part because the Vandals average a league-low 12 turnovers a game while dishing out 14.8 dimes per matchup, good for third in the conference. Weber State does not have the defense necessary to stop an Idaho attack on all cylinders and their league-worst output on offense puts the Wildcats in a difficult spot.
In their last matchup, 46 of Idaho’s 79 points came from Ferenz and Pierce, but recent developments around the roster point to the possibility of an more potent and diversified attack. Freshman guard Gina Marxen is averaging 13 points per game over her last three games and her 10-18 shooting from 3-point range makes it difficult for teams to double team Ferenz or Pierce. Expect head coach Jon Newlee to spread out the team’s opportunities to keep Weber State out of balance.
Ferenz and Pierce will play their final home game when Idaho takes on Idaho State for senior night on Saturday. Unlike Weber State, the Bengals (18-9, BSC 13-5) are gearing up for an extended postseason run after clinching a first-round bye.
In their final tune-ups before the tournament, both teams could be in for a bit of a surprise. Their last matchup came back on Dec. 29 in Pocatello and plenty has changed for both teams since then.
The Bengals were among Idaho’s competition for the regular season title, but a 4-3 finish to the regular season that included losses to Montana and Northern Arizona crippled Idaho State’s chances. Regardless, the Bengals have secured a first-round bye in the tournament thanks in large part to the best defense in the conference (58.6 points per game) and an offense that thrives on finding good shots.
Idaho State’s .446 field goal percentage is also best in the conference, thanks in large part to the trio of Grace Kenyon, Estefa- nia Ors and Saylair Grandon. Each upperclassman averages at least 12 points and four rebounds per game and Kenyon leads the team with 14.2 points and 7.1 rebounds per contest. Newlee’s approach to this second contest could depend largely on the results of Thursday’s games.
If Northern Colorado drops its matchup with Southern Utah and the Vandals defeat the Wildcats, Idaho will clinch the regular season title without having to win against Idaho State. Pierce and Ferenz’s workloads throughout this season (sixth and ninth in minutes played this season, respectively) could come into consideration, even on senior night.
No matter the weekend’s results, the Vandals have put together a remarkable season with advantageous seeding secured in the tournament.
They didn’t get this far by accident and Vandal fans can expect more of the same success in the team’s final weekend at home.
Idaho will play Weber State 6 p.m. Thursday and Idaho State 2 p.m. Saturday. Both games will be in Cowan Spectrum.
Jonah Baker can be reached at [email protected]