LA GRANDE, Ore. – A big first quarter wasn't enough for the College of Idaho, as No. 10 ranked Eastern Oregon used a 14-2 second quarter run to take the lead and survive the upset-minded Yotes, 80-66, inside Quinn Coliseum.
The Mountaineers (18-2, 12-0 CCC) ran their win streak to an NAIA-leading 18-games in a row behind a career-high 32 points from Maya Ah You Dias. EOU outscored C of I 51-27 in the middle two quarters to complete a season sweep of their I-84 rivals.
C of I (9-11, 7-7) controlled the game early – getting baskets from
Jocelyn Cook-Cox,
Kiersten Rasmussen and
Emily Harwood to take an 8-2 advantage – extending the lead to 18-10 late in the first quarter on a fast break layup from
Kaylee Krusemark.
The visitors led 23-15 following a
Mackenzie Royce layup on the Yotes first possession of the second quarter, but Eastern answered in a big way. Maren Harrud and Ah You Dias each hit 3's and Ah You Dias added a 3-point play to tie the score at 25-25. Jane Nelson capped the run with consecutive treys to close the period, as EOU led 39-30 at the break.
Eastern put the game away in the third quarter – converted 10-of-17 field goals – with Ah You Dias scoring 14 points in the frame, as the lead grew as many as 21. C of I had one last push, getting 3-pointers from
Madison Holly and Harwood in a 13-2 run that cut the gap to 68-58 – but could not get closer.
Royce led the Yotes with 15 points and four assists, with Harwood scoring 10 and Krusemark adding nine.
Alyssa Case had nine points and four steals – needing just one steal to surpass the 200-steal mark for her career. C of I made 9-of-19 3-point baskets in the loss – but recorded 22 turnovers and managed a season-low six offensive rebounds.
Ah You Dias had seven rebounds and six steals in the victory, with Nelson recording a double-double (15 points, 10 rebounds) and Herrud scoring 12. EOU made 54-percent of their field goals after the break and won despite 25 turnovers.
C of I returns to action this weekend, hosting Yellowstone Christian for a pair of games – Friday at 5:30 p.m. and Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m.
