Idaho Women Kick Off Big Sky Showdown Against MSU

MOSCOW, Idaho – Idaho begins their Big Sky Conference competition in a face-off between the two squads boasting the highest non-conference victory percentage among any conference teams. The Vandals and Bobcats are recognized as premier defensive teams within the league, demonstrated by their non-conference performances. Montana State permits only 54.8 points per game, while Idaho is allowing a mere 56.3, placing Idaho among the NCAA’s top defensive teams in terms of field goal percentage. 

ABOUT IDAHO

Idaho wrapped up its non-conference schedule with an emphatic 68-52 road victory over CSUN, marking the most non-conference wins for the program since the 2015-16 season. Three Vandals achieved double-digit points, led by Hope Hassmann, who averages 12.6 PPG. Jennifer Aadland stands out as one of the nation’s top rebounders, grabbing 10.8 rpg. First-year head coach Arthur Moriera boasts the second-highest wins among first-year coaches in the mid-major division. 

ABOUT MONTANA STATE

Marah Dykstra paces MSU with 14.8 points per game while two additional Bobcats also average double figures. MSU holds a 10-2 record this season, with one defeat coming in overtime. The Bobcats excel nationally in turnover margin, steals, and forced turnovers. Veteran head coach Tricia Binford is in her twentieth season leading the team in Bozeman. 

GRADUATE TRANSFERS

Three Vandals; Olivia Nelson, Rosie Schweizer, and Jennifer Aadland contribute a wealth of experience to Idaho. Nelson has started every game throughout her four-year tenure at Central Missouri (117). Jennifer Aadland made 98 starts in her 99 games at Augustana (S.D.). The two matched up early in the last season, with Central Missouri emerging victorious. Aadland tallied 16 points, while Nelson achieved a career-high 29. 

Schweizer has participated in 93 games, including six starts for the West Coast Conference team Pacific.

ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM TRANSFERS

Kelbie Washington and Hope Hassmann both received All-Freshman Team recognition from their respective squads. Hassmann participated in and started all 31 games for Fullerton last season, accumulating 302 points and 87 assists. 

Washington was named an All-Big 12 honoree at Oklahoma and received National Freshman of the Week accolades. She has missed the last two seasons due to an illness. 

INTERNATIONAL INFLUENCE

Five players on this year’s roster hail from international backgrounds, including two from Brazil, the home country of head coach Arthur Moreira, and one from Portugal, sharing the Portuguese language with Brazil. 

Vitória Carvalho and Ana Beatriz Passos are from Brazil, while Ana Pinheiro represents Portugal. Anja Bukvic comes from Belgrade, Serbia, and Rosie Schweizer is from Australia. 

ICCU ARENA

The Vandals are entering their fourth season at the impressive ICCU Arena in Moscow. The $51 million facility accommodates just over 4,200 spectators and features state-of-the-art technology for fan and student-athlete experience. Historically, the Vandals have a record of 22-20 in the Arena. Their game against St. Thomas on December 7 was played in Memorial Gym due to practice schedules. 

DEFENSIVE DOMINANCE

The Vandals rank sixth in the NCAA for field goal percentage defense, restricting their opponents to 33.1 percent shooting. They are fourth in defensive rebounds and 43rd in scoring defense, as well as 69th in scoring margin. Throughout Idaho’s seven-game winning streak, the Vandals kept every opponent to 56 points or fewer. 

COACHING STAFF

First-Year Head Coach Arthur Moreira has assembled a coaching team composed of former colleagues, rivals, and reputable recruiters. 

His initial action was to retain and elevate Drew Muscatell. Muscatell ascended to Associate Head Coach during the offseason. He embarks on his seventh season as an assistant for the Vandals and has collaborated with three distinct head coaches. 

Moreira incorporated former Montana Assistant Coach Lindsey Foster into his staff. Foster spent one season coaching at Montana, prior to which she was the head coach at DII Academy of Art in San Francisco. 

Derek Saich served as the Director of Operations and Assistant Coach at Moreira’s previous institution, San Francisco. The two collaborated for two seasons at USF. 

The final assistant is Denise Rosario, a seasoned junior college coach from South Plains Junior College in Texas. She possesses substantial international recruiting connections, originally from Minas Gerais, Brazil. 

NET HISTORY

The Idaho women’s team achieved the highest net ranking in the program’s history last week, breaking into the top 80 for the first time, reaching as high as 78th. They currently stand at 105, even after their latest victory against CSUN.

During the 2020-21 season, women’s basketball initiated daily NET rankings for Division I. In that season, the Vandals attained their top ranking of 126 on March 11, 2021. They concluded with an overall ranking of 133, improving by 86 spots from their initial position of 219.

In the following seasons of 2021-22 and 2022-23, Idaho faced challenges in the rankings, failing to exceed the 200 mark. Their highest ranking in 2021-22 was 202 (February 5, 2022), while in 2022-23 it was 205 (March 5, 2023). 

In the current season of 2023-24, Idaho has commenced with its highest start at 167 and continues to rise. On January 10, 2024, the Vandals ranked at 125, breaking the previously set program record.

REBOUND LEADERS

After competing against a couple of challenging, lengthy power-five level teams, one might assume Idaho would have struggled on the boards; however, the Vandals have outrebounded nine out of ten adversaries thus far this season, including a 52-36 edge over Washington State. The Vandals lead the Big Sky in rebounding margin and are ranked seventh nationally for defensive rebounds. Jennifer Aadland has been exemplary, averaging 10.8 rebounds per game, highlighted by 18 rebounds against Washington State. 

PRESEASON BIG SKY POLLS

The Vandals were predicted to finish eighth in the Big Sky Coaches Poll and seventh in the Big Sky Media Poll. No players from Idaho were recognized in the Big Sky Preseason All-Conference Team. Northern Arizona was favored to win the league in both polls. 

Idaho was placed in the same position the prior season and finished sixth in the league. 

BIG SKY-SUMMIT CHALLENGE

Idaho triumphed over St. Thomas 76-54 as part of the Big Sky/Summit League Challenge. Both the Idaho men’s and women’s teams participated in the challenge, each securing victories in their respective games. 

NEWCOMER IMPACT 

All five starters so far this season are new to the team. Of Idaho’s 761 points this season, 719 have been contributed by players not on the roster last year. Rosie Schweizer has registered a pair of 20+ point performances on the road, while Olivia Nelson has scored 20 points in two of the last three contests. 

AADLAND ON THE BOARDS

Jennifer Aadland ranks eighth nationally in defensive rebounds and tenth in rebounds per game. She achieved a career-high 18 rebounds against WSU and has recorded double-digit rebounds in nine of the eleven games.

MORIERA AMONG FIRST-YEAR COACHES

Head coach Arthur Moriera has guided the Vandals to eight non-conference victories in his inaugural season. This marks the most wins for the Vandals in non-conference play since 2015-16. Additionally, it ranks as the second-most non-conference victories among mid-major first-year coaches, second only to Air Force’s Stacy McIntyre, who concluded non-conference play with ten wins.