Going to college is often an exciting but emotional time for students.

Hitting the road to start a new adventure, often going hundreds of miles away from family and only getting to see them over holiday weekends.

But for junior post Natalie Klinker and her sister, senior wing Lizzy of Idaho women’s basketball, not only do the sisters get to share the court, but they have found a second family in the process at UI.

Lizzy was born in 1996 and Natalie in 1998, to Marty and Marcia Klinker in Great Falls, Montana, and grew up in the small town of Fairfield, Montana, with their siblings Tyler and Molly. 

Basketball runs in the family, with their dad, aunt and sister all playing at the collegiate level in Montana, either in Bozeman or Missoula, while their grandfather played on the hardwood too.

Before coming to UI, Natalie and Lizzy played at Fairfield High School, where they were part of a historic 120 game win streak, lasting until Lizzy returned to Fairfield High for her senior year toward the end of the season.

“It helped me because I felt that we had to constantly play with a target on our back,” Natalie said. “It was just those high-pressure games, playing in those, especially the super close ones. I remember when we lost the opposing team made t-shirts.”

After the streak was broken and the hype died down, the Klinkers knew how their mentality would translate at the next level.

“But now we know how to win in games that everyone wants us to lose,” Lizzy said. “We can kind of bring that winning culture and feed off the winning culture at Idaho as well and know how to grit down in those tough games and find a way to win.”

When Lizzy graduated, she went to Utah State to join the Aggies, while Natalie chose the coaching staff and the family culture under head coach Jon Newlee at Idaho.

“(Newlee) would always talk about how important his family is to him,” Natalie said. “Just hearing him talk about that, just how much he loves his family and will reiterate how much he loves us, I think that’s one thing that really brings us close.”

After two seasons at Utah State, Lizzy felt a change in scenery was needed, and the answer came in her final game as an Aggie, which happened to come against her sister and the Vandals in the postseason tournament.

“I had never been to Moscow before, and when we lost, the next time I put on a jersey, it was actually a Vandal jersey,” Lizzy said. “I got the inside from Nat and how she liked her first semester, so I was like, ‘You know what? This is a great place to continue my career’.”

When Newlee heard the news that he could bring in another Klinker, he did not hesitate.

“When we had the opportunity to talk to (Lizzy) when she was looking for somewhere else to go – I pretty much jumped at it,” Newlee said. “I just thought, ‘Natalie’s been so great for us, to have another Klinker,’ it’s just been so great for us.’”

After Lizzy saw how important being a family was to Newlee’s team and saw the opportunity to play with her sister again, she said it “truly was a blessing.”

Both Klinkers are a mainstay in the starting lineup, and it’s easy to see why.

Natalie averaged almost eight rebounds a game and over five points last season.

She was also tasked with being the main defender in the paint, all while shooting over 56% from the floor.

Natalie’s physical presence on the court has pushed freshman forward Beyoncé Bea to step up her game inside the paint.

“Natalie is one of the hardest workers I have ever met,” Bea said. “She just has a crazy motor and just wants to do her best for the team – it has definitely rubbed off on me and pushed me to become a better rebounder as well.”

Lizzy works more on the outside, shooting 47% from three and nearly averaged 10 points to go along with over seven rebounds a game.

Newlee said he knew when bringing in the Klinkers he would get no shortage of energy on the floor.

“They are both extremely, extremely athletic,” Newlee said. “That, their physicality and their high motors are what make them so successful.”

Although the sisters have only shared the court for a single season, Natalie said that in that time she accomplished a childhood dream.

“My favorite memory was winning the regular-season championship playing with Liz. That topped it all, just that moment,” Natalie said. “Definitely winning regular season champs with Liz, and with everyone else, but it was unreal having my sister there with me because that’s been a goal of mine since I was probably 10.”

Now with half the season done and the Big Sky right around the corner, the Klinkers gave the same answers on how this season is going to end: winning the Big Sky and making it to the NCAA tournament.

“Regular season champs and a big game in the dance. I’ve never been, so I would love to help Nat and the rest of the team get there,” Lizzy said.

With this being the final ride, Lizzy wants to make sure she doesn’t just enjoy this season with Natalie, but with this team that has become her family.

“What I try to tell everyone is that I’m a fifth-year and how fast time flies and to just cherish these moments. That’s been one of my goals this year, to enjoy every moment,” Lizzy said. “Yes, I am going to turn the ball over and yes coach might yell at me, but it’s another moment to look back on and enjoy. I don’t want to have regrets and playing together, it’s crazy that we got to play together and it’s crazy that it’s going to end.”

Newlee said he knew that bringing in these sisters would build on the key to Idaho’s winning culture: family.

“We talk the talk and we walk the walk here in regard to family,” Newlee said. “I am huge on that, I take care of our girls just as I would take care of my own daughters. This is a family atmosphere. I want them to leave here thinking, ‘I loved being a Vandal and I am going to be a Vandal for life.’”

Zack Kellogg can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @kellogg_zack