Preview: Southern Idaho Eagles at North Idaho Cardinal

COEUR D’ALENE, Idaho (Interstat) — The top-ranked Southern Idaho women’s basketball team looks to continue its dominant season when it visits North Idaho in a junior college matchup on Saturday.

The Eagles (23-3) enter on a five-game winning streak and have won 10 of their last 11. Their most recent victory was a 67-39 road rout of Salt Lake on Feb. 14, where sophomore forward Savannah Stoker exploded for 30 points and eight rebounds in just 30 minutes.

Stoker has been a consistent force, averaging a double-double over her last six games. She posted 15 points and 10 rebounds in a 102-38 win over Colorado Northwestern on Feb. 12 and nearly had a triple-double with nine points, 10 rebounds and three assists in the team’s previous meeting with North Idaho, a 55-43 home win on Feb. 7.

Southern Idaho’s defense has been stifling, holding opponents to an average of 45.2 points during its current win streak.

North Idaho (7-14) seeks an upset at home after a 73-48 victory at Colorado Northwestern on Feb. 14 snapped a two-game skid. The Cardinal are led by guard Karsyn Freeman, who logged 38 minutes and filled the stat sheet with 21 points, seven rebounds and five assists in that win.

Freeman, who averages 37.3 minutes per game, scored 13 points in the loss at Southern Idaho earlier this month. She will need a similar high-usage performance for the Cardinal to challenge the Eagles’ depth.

The recent series has been one-sided. Southern Idaho has won the last two meetings by an average margin of 19.5 points, including a 78-51 victory in Coeur d’Alene on Jan. 3.

Southern Idaho’s balance, featuring contributors like Ashley Garner and Samara Morrow, contrasts with North Idaho’s reliance on Freeman and Chloe Collin. The Cardinal will need to improve significantly on their 43-point offensive output from the Feb. 7 matchup to have a chance.

Tipoff is set for Saturday afternoon at North Idaho College.