RIVERSIDE, Calif. –
Alyssa Case scored 20 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, helping the College of Idaho give new head coach
Janis Beal her first win with the Lady Yotes, topping La Sierra University, 67-55, inside Alumni Pavilion.
The Lady Yotes (1-2) allowed the first basket of the game – but never trailed again – as Case scored six points in a 10-2 first quarter run that gave the visitors a 16-8 lead.
The Golden Eagles (2-5), a NAIA Division II member of the California Pacific Conference, closed the margin to 25-22 on a Siena Jones 3-point play midway through the second quarter. Case answered with a jumper and
Madison Holly canned a triple – helping the Yotes take a 34-24 lead to the break.
LSU opened the third quarter on an 8-0 run, with an Octavia Williams lay-in cutting the gap to 34-32. The hosts trailed just 47-41 at the start of the fourth quarter – only to see the Yotes extend the lead to 52-42 on an
Emily Harwood 3-point play – as C of I controlled the period and claimed the win.
Case finished 8-for-14 from the field in the win, recording her fourth career double-double – with the 12 boards a new career high. Holly had 17 points and a career-high five steals, with Harwood scoring nine points with six rebounds. C of I finished the night with a 51-38 rebound edge – including 22 offensive boards – and won despite 27 turnovers.
The Golden Eagles were paced by 22 points from 6-foot-4 post Alexis Davis, with Arianna Sheehy scoring 10. LSU was held to just 33-percent shooting from the field and committed 24 turnovers.
C of I returns to action tomorrow, meeting the University of La Verne at 5 p.m. (PST)
NOTES: The win ended a 14-game losing streak in non-conference games (all against NAIA Division I competition), dating back to the 2015-16 season...it was C of I 's first non-conference game against an NAIA Division II team since the 2011-12 season - a victory over Menlo College.
