The Idaho women’s basketball team returns home at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 1 to take on the University of Montana. Idaho lost to Northern Arizona and beat Northern Colorado over the weekend for its first win since Jan. 6.
Following the game against Montana, the Vandals will stay home to take on Montana State on Saturday, Feb. 3 and Sacramento State on Feb. 5. The games will be at 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. respectively.
“The three games in five days stretch is challenging,” Head Coach Carrie Eighmey said during a press conference. “I think the important thing to remember is that everybody’s doing it or will have had to do it at some point in the season. It doesn’t really change anything other than our schedule.”
Montana – Teddy Bear Toss
Although the first game of that stretch isn’t a true “rivalry” for either team, Montana is about as close as it gets to a rival for Idaho outside of Idaho State. UM leads the all-time series 15-11, and they beat Idaho in the final game of the 2022-23 regular season.
“I think there is a rivalry,” Eighmey said. “I haven’t experienced it yet, but I feel that a little bit just with players that are returning, and just from conversations that I’ve had with various people. For me personally, it’s probably no different than any other game, but I think for the players, there’s definitely a rivalry that’s maybe developed over the years.”
This will also be the final time that former Vandal Gina Marxen will have a chance to play in ICCU Arena. The fifth year guard played at Idaho from 2018-2021 before going to play for the Griz.
Montana State – Space Jam Night
After Idaho takes on Montana, another school from Big Sky Country, Montana State, will travel to ICCU Arena. Similarly to Montana, this game also has kind of a rivalry feel around it.
It all started back on March 9, 2022, when MSU beat Idaho to advance to the Big Sky championship game in Boise. From that game, junior guard Ashlyn Wallace is the only Vandal still on the roster. Meanwhile, MSU still has three from the 73-67 win.
Since that game, the two teams have split their matchups, with each team getting the home win. Needless to say, Space Jam Night could provide a better matchup than the Tune Squad taking on the Monstars.
Sacramento State – Tribal Nations Night
Finally, the Vandals will wrap up their homestand against the Hornets of Sacramento State. Idaho took this matchup 88-51 in the conference opener. Since then, Sac State has won one game against California State – Northridge and lost to 11 other teams.
Idaho will have two very tough matchups to kick off the weekend, and with Hope Butera being out for the season, the whole team will need to step up. The Vandals will also have to make sure they don’t fall for a trap game when they face Sac State.
James Taurman-Aldrich can be reached at [email protected] or on X @jamesaldrich25