CALDWELL, Idaho – Montana Western built an 18-point lead and held off a frantic fourth quarter comeback effort from The College of Idaho to win 71-67 on Friday evening.
Trailing 52-34 with 3:43 left in the third quarter, the Yotes (1-5) went on a 10-3 run to end the period before outscoring the Bulldogs (5-2) 23-16 in the final quarter.
Mackenzie Royce-Radford sparked the comeback for C of I with 14 fourth quarter points, finishing with 19 for the game on 6-of-9 shooting, including 5-of-6 from distance. The senior added four rebounds, three assists and two steals in addition to her point production.
A Royce-Radford 3-pointer with 26 seconds left brought the Yotes within a basket at 66-63, however Shannon Worster would then hit back-to-back free throws to extend the lead to five. Baskets from Royce-Radford with 12 seconds and
Kaylee Krusemark with eight ticks remaining would also cut the lead to three points, but that was as close as C of I would get.
Worster and Paige Holmes hit three of their final four opportunities at the charity stripe to seal the win for the Bulldogs.
Freshman
Emma Anthony made a major impact on the interior for the Yotes, chipping in six points, 11 rebounds and three blocks in a breakout performance.
Krusemark hit all three of her tries from outside, finishing with 13 points on 4-of-5 shooting from the floor.
It was a strong effort from the perimeter for C of I, which went 11-of-27 (41 percent) for the night.
In earlier women's basketball action at the J.A. Albertson Activities Center on Friday, Montana Tech defeated William Jessup 60-50 behind 24 points and six rebounds from Mesa Williams and a double-double of 11 points and 22 rebounds from Tavia Rooney.
The Yotes host the Orediggers tomorrow night at 5 p.m. to round out the weekend.
