The regular season ends for Idaho women’s basketball Saturday when Hawaii comes to town seeking revenge in a senior night match-up.
It will be the last game in Cowan Spectrum for seniors Keri Arendse, Adrie Shiels and Ganeaya Rogers. The Vandals beat Hawaii earlier in the year by overcoming an 18-point deficit to win 89-81.
Arendse said the seniors want to go out on top.
“I’m just excited,” Arendse said. “I think it’s going to be a big game for us. We’re going to have a lot of people there to support us. Obviously it’s our last game so we’re just excited to go out and get a W.”
The Rainbow Wahine are led by Kamilah Jackson, who is averaging 11.3 points per game. Hawaii is No. 4 in the WAC, two games behind La. Tech at No. 3.
On the Idaho side, sophomore Alyssa Charlston leads scorers, averaging 16.3 points per contest. The Vandals are No. 6 in the conference and can get as high as No. 4 or as low as No. 7 in the final week of play.
Idaho coach Jon Newlee said his team must come ready to play Saturday because the ‘Bows play physical.
“Hawaii’s such an extremely physical basketball team,” Newlee said. “We’re going to have to come ready to go to war. Physically we’re going to have to hold our own.”
The trip from Hawaii to Idaho can drain players. Newlee said players can lose focus on such a long trip and said he hopes the trip will work to his team’s advantage.
“It’s a long way,” Newlee said. “It took us all day to get out to the islands. Here it’ll be different for them because it’s snowing and it’s going to be cold. I hope it’s snowing like crazy and really cold when they come out here.”
Shiels said the atmosphere is different in Moscow from Hawaii and teams need to have the ability to adjust.
“It’s a completely different atmosphere playing at each place,” Shiels said. “It’s really who can adjust better.”
Last time out the Vandals overcame an 18-point second-half hole to win at Hawaii. The win snapped an eight-game losing streak for Idaho and the Vandals followed it with two more victories to climb out of last place. The Vandals will attempt the season sweep over the Rainbow Wahine as a send off to Hawaii, which is in its last year in the WAC.
Ending at home is an advantage for the Vandals this season as compared to last year when the Vandals’ final three games of the year were away. Idaho only won one of the three. Newlee said he hopes to build momentum at home heading into the WAC tournament.
“At the end of every year you get worn down and it’s nice to end at home and get rejuvenated and head to the conference tournament,” Newlee said.
The WAC tournament begins Wednesday in Las Vegas.