CALDWELL, Idaho –
Alyssa Case and
Madison Holly each recorded double-doubles and
Kiersten Rasmussen had a career night on the glass, leading the College of Idaho to a 69-61 win over Northwest University inside the J.A. Albertson Activities Center.
The Lady Yotes (7-7, 5-3 CCC) won for the third-straight time and logged their sixth win in seven games – getting to the .500 mark for the first time since the 2013-14 season.
Case was instrumental throughout – recording consecutive steals for fast-break lay-ups in a second quarter run – and added a big 3-pointer in a late game surge.
Rasmussen finished with 15 rebounds and five blocked shots – the most by a C of I player in two seasons – while limiting the Eagles' (5-13, 2-6) interior game, featuring five players 6-foot or taller.
NU started quickly, as Mariah Stacona drained two long 3-pointers and Sam Van Loo scored three baskets in the paint, as the Eagles took a 15-8 lead midway through the first quarter. C of I countered with a pair of
Mackenzie Royce buckets and the two Case swipes for scores – with a 14-4 Lady Yote run giving the hosts a lead they would never surrender.
C of I led 37-30 at the break, but the Washington squad cut the margin to 48-45 on a Livi Lindsey 3-ball late in the third quarter. The Yotes answered with eight in a row – as Holly and
Lindy Westendorf each made a pair of free throws and Case bombed a trey, giving C of I their largest lead of the night at 55-45 with nine minutes left.
Back-to-back 3-pointers from Andi Kristenat and Alyx Fast keyed an 8-0 NU run, pulling the visitors within 55-53 with 4:31 remaining – but
Jocelyn Cook-Cox splashed a free throw line jumper and converted on a post move to jumpstart the C of I offense and the Yotes made 5-of-6 free throws in the final two minutes to complete the win.
Case had 13 points and 11 rebounds – her fifth double-double and seventh double-digit rebound game of the season – with scoring 11, with a career-high 10 boards. Royce had 12 points and four assists and Cook-Cox scored 10 in the win. C of I dominated the glass, holding a commanding 57-39 rebound edge.
Stacona led the Eagles with 15 points and Van Loo scored eight – with the Yotes limiting NU's leading scorer Miranda Langenhorst to just five points on the night – as the Eagles posts combined to make just 7-of-26 field goal attempts.
The Yotes return to action tomorrow night, hosting The Evergreen State College at 5:30 p.m.
