OLYMPIA, Wash. – A 9-0 run late in the second half broke a 55-55 tie, leading the Evergreen State College to a 75-72 victory over the College of Idaho inside the CRC Gymnasium.
The win for the Geoducks (15-8, 9-7 CCC) clinched their first-ever home Cascade Conference playoff game.
Following the eighth and final tie of the game, ESC got baskets from LaNiecia Witherspoon and Sadee Jones, followed by a 3-pointer and a jumper from Uriah Thomas, to build a 64-55 lead with six minutes left.
The Lady Yotes (8-18, 7-10) closed the gap in the waning seconds to 73-72, but Natasha Trinidad converted two free throws with five seconds left to close the scoring. C of I had a chance to tie, but Aleah Lowber's 3-pointer at the horn missed.
Both team traded first half runs, as Jones and Thomas each scored four points in an ESC 10-2 run to grab a 13-6 lead. C of I countered with a 13-3 run, including three Elisha Hensey jumpers and five points from Kilee Jafek, to regain the lead. The two teams played to a 34-34 tie at the break.
Hensey led all scorers with 23 points and six rebounds in the loss, with Haylee Burnham going 4-for-5 from outside the arc, scoring 16 points. Jafek logged a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds.
Witherspoon led the Geoducks with 21 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists. Jones had 17 points and 11 rebounds; Thomas added 15 points; with Trinidad scoring 16.
C of I closes out the regular season tomorrow night at Northwest University.
