CALDWELL, Idaho – College of Idaho went toe-to-toe with 10th-ranked Southern Oregon, leading midway through the third quarter, before eight fourth quarter turnovers proved to be the difference, as the Raiders outlasted the Lady Yotes, 70-62, inside the J.A. Albertson Activities Center.
Remi Mejia scored 17 points for the Raiders (25-2, 17-2 CCC) – as the visitors forced 24 turnovers in the win.
The Lady Yotes (10-15, 10-9) made 10-of-18 field goals in the opening 20 minutes – becoming just the fourth team this season to hold a halftime lead on SOU. C of I started the game on a 16-3 run – including five quick points from
Alyssa Case and four more from
Jocelyn Cook-Cox. Southern cut the margin to 21-17 at the end of the first quarter and pulled ahead for the first time at 32-30 on a Daranda Hinkey bucket late in the half, but
Sophia Jackson drained a triple to give C of I the halftime lead.
Tied 43-43 midway through the third quarter, Mejia hit a 3-pointer and Nitteayah Barfield converted on the block to grab the lead, with consecutive lay-ups by Toria Bradford extended the margin to 52-45 early in the fourth quarter – as the Raiders kept the lead at five or above the rest of the way.
Cook-Cox scored 17 points to lead C of I – adding five assists and four rebounds – converting 7-of-8 free throws.
Madison Holly had 12 points – on four made 3-pointers – with Jackson and
Lindy Westendorf each scored nine.
Bradford scored 15 points with six assists and five steals, with Ariel Augustine scoring 13 for the Raiders.
C of I closes out the regular-season tomorrow, hosting Oregon Tech, before the two teams meet in Klamath Falls on Tuesday in the Cascade Conference Tournament quarterfinals.
