Northwest Notes Nov. 15, 2020
Vandal women finalize nonconference schedule, which includes game with WSU
MOSCOW — The Idaho women's basketball team has finalized its 2020-21 schedule with five nonconference games.
The Vandals will play host to Lewis-Clark State College on Nov. 25 to begin the season.
Before opening conference play on Dec. 3, Idaho will travel to Corvallis, Ore., to face Oregon State on Nov. 29.
After returning home to open Big Sky play on Dec. 3-5, the Vandals will hit the road to face another Power-5 opponent in Texas.
On Dec. 13 the Vandals will travel 8 miles down the road to face Washington State.
"I like to schedule hard. I like to see what our team is made of in the non-conference," Idaho coach Jon Newlee said. "The number of nonconference games we could play made it a little difficult to kind of mix it up. Oregon State I'm sure will be top-15 in the country for the preseason, maybe 10. Texas will be right up there as always, and then we get another tough Pac-12 team in [Washington State] which is the first time in 12 years maybe that they've finally decided to play us. I've certainly tried every year, so I commend Kamie for wanting to get the regional rivalry and border war going with us. It's awesome to be able to play those guys and in fact we scheduled a home-and-home. We are already are looking forward to having them over here when the arena opens."
The non-conference season will conclude at home on Dec. 21 as the Vandals host Seattle University.
Zag women ink highest-rated recruit in history
SPOKANE — Gonzaga women’s basketball coach Lisa Fortier announced the signing of Bree Salenbien to a national letter of intent for the 2021-22 season.
Salenbien, a 6-3 guard from Lenawee Christian High in Adrian, Mich., is the fourth and final Zag to be announced as part of the incoming class for the 2021-22 season.
Salenbein, a four-star recruit that is ranked the seventh-best guard in the nation and 44th-ranked player in her class by ESPN, is the highest recruit to sign with the Bulldogs in history. Currently, she is the second-highest ranked recruit from the state of Michigan for the class of 2021.
The AP Division IV Player of the Year each of the last three seasons, Salenbein led Lenawee Christian to back-to-back Division IV state championships in 2018 and 2019. Last season, Salenbien averaged 20.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 3.3 blocks and 3.0 steals per game.
"Bree is a phenomenal shooter and passer," Fortier said. "She is extremely smooth and comfortable anywhere she is on the floor. She has the ability to post up players smaller than her, make full court passes, defend the best player on the other team, you name it."