CALDWELL, Idaho – In the highest-scoring game in the long history between the College of Idaho and Northwest Nazarene, the Crusaders used a third quarter rally to put away the upset-minded Lady Yotes, 99-95, inside the J.A. Albertson Activities Center.
Danielle Jardine scored 10 of her 21 points in the third quarter, as NNU (2-0) erased a 64-58 deficit to remain unbeaten all-time against C of I in exhibition games. Her 3-point play tied the score at 64-64, while a put-back basket gave the visitors a 70-68 lead – a lead they would not let go of.
The Crusaders would extend the lead to 90-81, only to withstand a late barrage by the Lady Yotes (0-4, playing game as an exhibition) – as
Jaycin Tini and
Kiara Skinner hit 3-pointers, but could not get closer than four points.
NNU jumped out of the gates to a 15-3 lead, getting two early triples from Lexi Tubbs, only to see the Yotes whittle away at the deficit, getting three second quarter treys from
Maddie Skaggs, including two in a 15-6 run that gave the hosts a 39-38 lead. Skinner would push the lead to six in the third quarter with a 3-pointer, but the Division II rival made the late rally.
CoCo Gall and McKenna Walker each had 17 points for the Crusaders, who made 56-percent of their field goals, including 61-percent in the second half.
Six C of I players scored in double figures, with Skinner scoring 24, with Skaggs scoring 16 off the bench.
Petra Lumpert had a double-double with 13 points and 11 assists – as the Yotes lost despite making 16 3-pointers.
The Lady Yotes return to action next weekend, hosting Rocky Mountain and Montana Western as part of the Best Western Caldwell Inn and Suites Lady Yote Classic.
