CALDWELL, Idaho – Northwest University opened the second half on a 26-2 run to erase a halftime deficit to defeat the College of Idaho, 67-62, in the Cascade Conference opener for both teams inside the J.A. Albertson Activities Center.
Haylee Burnham scored 14 of her career-high 16 points in the first half, staking the Lady Yotes (1-9, 0-1 CCC) to a 33-25 lead at the break. However, the hosts went stone cold over the first nine minutes of the second half, missing their first 15 shots and turning the ball over four times.
The Eagles (6-2, 1-0) responded, getting seven of Chanara Greene's team-high 18 points in a 20-point push to open the period, extending the lead to 51-35 on a Paige Burson put-back with just over nine minutes to play.
C of I did not quit, getting an Aleah Lowber three, a Kilee Jafek three-point play, and a long trey from Kellie Ross in a 14-2 run, cutting the margin to 59-56 on a Lowber basket with 2:39 left. NU answered on the next possession, as Kristen Frey converted a baseline runner, and following a C of I turnover, Greene got a key offensive rebound and put-back to extend the lead to 63-56 – closing out the Yote threat.
The Eagles made 47-percent of their second half field goals, riding a 49-39 rebound edge in the win. Greene had 17 rebounds and seven blocks in the victory, with Jordan Asher and Hannah Carlson each recording 15 points.
Elisha Hensey scored 17 points and added 10 rebounds and six assists, with Lowber chipping in with 11 points and eight rebounds for the Yotes.
C of I returns to action tomorrow night, hosting Evergreen at 5:30 p.m.
