LA GRANDE, Ore. - Upset-minded College of Idaho battled ninth-ranked Eastern Oregon for 50 minutes in tonight's semifinal match-up in the Cascade Conference Championships, presented by U.S. Bank, but the top-seeded Mountaineers outscored the Yotes, 19-10, in the second extra session to earn a 96-87 win inside Quinn Coliseum.
The victory for EOU advances the Mounties into Monday's title game where they will host Corban.
The loss ends the season for the Yotes (16-14) - but the visitors pushed the CCC champs to the brink.
Emily Harwood forced overtime with a put-back bucket with 10 seconds left in the fourth quarter, squaring the game at 65-65. Tied 77-77, a
Mackenzie Royce steal inside the final five seconds of the first overtime gave C of I a chance, but her 30-foot desperation heave at the buzzer fell short, forcing a second five-minute period.
Eastern (27-3) never trailed in the second overtime, as Maya Ah You-Dias canned a pair of 3-pointers - part of her 42-point, 15-rebound night, giving the hosts an 85-81 lead.
Mackenzie Collins answered with a driving lay-up - but the Yotes recorded three turnovers and missed two shots on their next five possessions, as EOU closed the game on an 11-4 run.
The game featured 15 ties and 11 lead changes - as EOU built a 22-16 second quarter lead, but five quick points from
Alyssa Case and a
Kaylee Krusemark bucket gave the visitors a one-point lead. C of I controlled the third quarter, making 7-of-12 field goals - including four 3-pointers - to lead 47-44 heading into the final period. The margin would grow to 57-52 on a
Jocelyn Cook-Cox jumper with five minutes left, but Eastern used a 7-0 run, including a go-ahead basket from Ah You-Dias, to take a 59-57 lead with three minutes to play - setting up the wild finish.
Five C of I players scored in double-figures, as Case had 15 points and four rebounds, with
Madison Holly scoring 14 on 6-of-8 shooting, in their final collegiate games. Royce had 15 points, six assists and five rebounds; Harwood had 14 points and nine boards, with
Makenna Schritter recording a career-high 11 points and five steals. Senior
Jocelyn Cook-Cox had eight points and five boards. Â
The Yotes made 46-percent of their field goals, but EOU held a 15-4 edge on the offensive glass.
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