DILLON, Mont. – Four College of Idaho players scored in double-figures, but a late fourth quarter 3-point flurry wasn't enough, as the Lady Yotes dropped a 77-72 decision to Montana Tech inside Straugh Gymnasium.
C of I (0-1) connected on 12-of-20 3-point shots on the day – including five in the final two minutes – but Tech made six-straight free throws to hold off the charge. The 60-percent shooting clip outside the arc for the Lady Yotes was the second-highest 3-point percentage in program history.
The NAIA Division I Orediggers (4-1) bolted out to a 12-2 lead on the strength of four points each from posts Kaylee Zard and Shay Potter – but the Lady Yotes battled back. A
Mackenzie Collins 3-point play and a
Kaylee Krusemark triple capped a 12-0 run that gave C of I their first lead of the night.
Tech regained control of the lead at 25-20 midway through the second quarter, only to see
Madison Holly can a triple – starting a 7-0 C of I run that gave the Yotes a 31-30 halftime lead.
A deep Krusemark 3-pointer gave the Yotes a 45-44 lead with two minutes left in the third quarter, but the Diggers rattled off the next nine points – extending the margin to 69-57 with two minutes left in the contest. C of I didn't stop – as
Alyssa Case drained two 3's, with Krusemark, Mackenize Royce and
Emily Harwood all making triples in the last surge – but the Coyotes fell five points short.
Krusemark scored 18 points in her C of I debut, with Case scoring 13 points and grabbing a team-high six rebounds. Royce was a perfect 3-of-3 from outside the arc, scoring 12 points, with Harwood adding 10.
Dani Urick led MT with 17 points, with Potter scoring 16 and Zard recording a double-double with 16 points and 13 boards. The Orediggers had a 26-10 edge in made free throws in the win.
C of I returns to action tomorrow, meeting host Montana Western at 3 p.m.
