Box Score
CALDWELL, Idaho – Dayna Drager scored a game-high 22 points, including a big three-pointer in a 20-4 run late in the second half, as The College of Idaho defeated Montana Western 65-56, inside the J.A. Albertson Activities Center.
The win for the Lady Yotes (1-4) ended a season-opening four-game losing streak, as the Purple and Gold rallied from a 12-point first half deficit for the win.
The Bulldogs (4-1) used a 12-2 run midway through the first half to take their biggest lead of the night at 23-11, but the Yotes closed the period on an 11-2 run of their own, with a Drager trey cutting the margin to 25-22.
Elisha Hensey had a pair of free throws and a three-pointer in an 11-2 run to open the second half, giving C of I a 33-27 lead – only to watch Sammi Bignell scored seven points in a Western 14-2 surge to lead 43-37 midway through the half.
Trailing 48-43 with eight minutes remaining, the Yotes limited the Bulldogs to just one made field goal over the next seven minutes – taking the lead for good on back-to-back Chakala Carthen baskets, with a Drager trey giving C of I a 56-50 lead with four minutes to play. The Coyotes made 7-of-8 free throws in the waning moments to seal the victory.
Drager made 4-of-6 shots from outside the arc on the night, with the Yotes making 54-percent of their field goals after halftime.
Carthen had 17 points and 14 rebounds and Hensey added 12 points in the victory for the Coyotes – forcing 22 Western turnovers.
Bignell led the Bulldogs with 20 points and seven rebounds, with Melody McCloud scoring 12 and McCall Hasquet adding 10 points and nine rebounds.
C of I returns to action next weekend, hosting the Best Western Caldwell Inn and Suites Lady Yote Classic – meeting Puget Sound on Friday and Walla Walla on Saturday.
