CALDWELL, Idaho – Maren Herrud converted a driving lay-up with 0.8 seconds remaining, lifting No. 14-ranked Eastern Oregon past upset-minded College of Idaho, 86-84, inside the J.A. Albertson Activities Center.
The Mountaineers (10-2, 5-0 CCC) saw a 15-point third quarter lead erased in the final minute before Herrud was isolated on the left block, drove to the basket and banked home the game-winner. C of I had a chance to tie, but the inbounds pass was knocked away – allowing the clock to expire.
Leading 45-37 at the half, EOU got three quick Maya Ah You Dias baskets in an early third quarter run to give the Mounties a 57-42 edge. However, the Lady Yotes (4-7, 2-3) responded in a big way – as
Alyssa Case canned a 3-pointer,
Jocelyn Cook-Cox scored seven-straight points and a Case baseline runner late in the period capped a 17-6 run to pull the hosts within 65-63.
Long 3-pointers from Whitney Meier and Madison Crews helped EOU regain a 82-75 lead with 2:31 remaining – but a 9-2 C of I run got the hosts even. Case splashed a triple and
Mackenzie Royce drove for a deuce, with both players making key free throws – the last two by Case with 24 seconds to make it 82-82 – setting up the finish.
Ah You Dias dominated the opening quarter – scoring nine-straight points in an 11-2 run, as the Mountaineers built a 23-11 lead. C of I would ride both Case and Royce, who combined for 25 first half points – cutting the margin to eight at the half.
Case had a career night, scoring 28 points and 16 rebounds – as the Lady Yotes held a 36-28 edge on the glass – including 13 offensive rebounds. Royce scored a career-high 24 points, with Cook-Cox scoring a season-high 21 – the first time three C of I players scored 20 or more points in over 15 years. The Yotes made 52-percent of their field goal attempts.
EOU was led by Ah You Dias, who scored 28 points with 11 rebounds, six assists and five steals, with Herrud adding 17. The Mounties made 54-percent of their field goals, but were 10-of-20 from the foul line. Eastern was helped by their bench, which outscored the C of I reserves, 31-0.
C of I returns to action following the Christmas break with back-to-back games at Walla Walla on Dec. 29-30.
