Gonzaga’s women will welcome Vandals

Gonzaga and Idaho’s record books don’t agree on how often their women’s basketball teams have met or how the all-time series stands. One thing’s for certain: Idaho dominated the first part of the all-time series and Gonzaga has come out on top in recent years. Idaho appears to lead the series 20-13, winning the first 13 games and 18 of the first 21 between the teams. Gonzaga has won 10 of the last 12 matchups, including a 91-42 blowout last season in Moscow. The teams meet at 6 tonight at McCarthey Athletic Center, marking the end of UI’s nonconference schedule and GU’s final game for nine days. Both teams have defeated UC Riverside and Eastern Washington this season, but Gonzaga is 9-3 and the Vandals are 3-7. “It’s always important that you win your backyard brawls,” GU coach Kelly Graves said. “Idaho’s really good. I’ve admired coach (Jon) Newlee for a long time. He has some good talent and they really spread the floor well.” Gonzaga is coming off a 65-60 loss to Ohio State. Idaho, playing its sixth consecutive road game, just lost to Washington 62-48. “Our margin of error is much thinner than it’s been in the past,” said Graves, whose Bulldogs were 115-23 in their last four seasons. “It’s just our new reality.” Junior Alyssa Charlston leads the Vandals in scoring (13.6 points per game) and rebounding (7.5 per game). Gonzaga’s leaders are junior Haiden Palmer (12.5 ppg) and freshman Shelby Cheslek (5.3 rpg).