CALDWELL, Idaho – KC McConnell scored 22 points and added 13 rebounds, as Whitworth University held off a late College of Idaho rally, earning a share of the Best Western Caldwell Inn and Suites Lady Yote Classic title with a 57-54 victory inside the J.A. Albertson Activities Center.
The Division III Pirates (4-0) finished the tournament undefeated, joining Westminster College as tourney champs, as the Griffins defeated Eastern Oregon, 58-39, in the early game. It is the fifth time in the 15-year history of the event that two teams finished a perfect 2-0.
WU took their biggest lead of the night at 49-41 on a Lexie Zappone steal with five minutes remaining, but the Lady Yotes (1-7) did not quit. Aleah Lowber scored six of her team-high 18 points in a late surge, with an Elisha Hensey three cutting the margin to 55-54 with five seconds left. The Bucs turned it over to Zappone, who canned a pair of free throws and forced a turnover on C of I's final possession to seal the victory.
Back-to-back baskets by Lowber early in the contest gave C of I their largest lead of the night at 11-6, before McConnell had a driving lay-up and a go-ahead three-pointer, part of a 16-4 run that gave the Pirates a 22-15 lead with seven minutes remaining in the period.
C of I scored the first six points of the second half to erase a 31-28 WU halftime lead, but McConnell scored five points in an 11-2 run that helped the Bucs grab the 49-41 lead.
Zappone adding 11 points for WU, as the Pirates won despite making just 28-percent of their field goal attempts.
Hensey scored 16 points, including a perfect 4-of-4 from outside the arc, with Alicia Jones recording a double-double with 12 points and 14 rebounds. C of I, however, made just 9-of-17 free throws and committed 17 turnovers.
The Lady Yotes close out their non-conference schedule on Monday with a 7 p.m. meeting against Carroll College.
