CALDWELL, Idaho –
Mackenzie Royce led a balanced College of Idaho scoring attack with 14 points, as the Yotes clinched their 20th-straight Cascade Conference Tournament berth with a 71-55 victory over Multnomah University inside the J.A. Albertson Activities Center.
The Coyotes (13-12, 9-8 CCC) pulled even with Warner Pacific for fifth-place in the league standings with the win – with the two rivals set to meet tomorrow night at 5:30 p.m.
Spotting the Lions (10-15, 6-11) a 4-0 lead, two baskets from
Jocelyn Cook-Cox started an 8-point C of I surge that gave the hosts a lead they would never lose.
Kaylee Krusemark splashed a triple to extend the margin to 20-13, before a put-back from Erykah Campbell and a late 3-pointer from Milan Woods off of a steal, cut the gap to two points at the close of the quarter.
C of I responded quickly, starting the second quarter on an 11-2 run – as
Madison Holly canned a 3-pointer and following three consecutive offensive rebounds, Royce drained a corner 3.
Lindy Westendorf scored on the block and Holly ended the run with another trey, giving the hosts a 31-20 edge.
The Yotes picked up the defensive pressure in the second half, limiting the Lions to just 34-percent shooting after the break – with the margin growing to as many as 20 points late in the fourth quarter.
Royce added five rebounds and three steals in the win, with Cook-Cox scoring 13 and Krusemark adding nine points and six boards. Both Holly and
Alyssa Case had eight points, with C of I holding a commanding 44-28 rebound margin.
MU was paced by an 18-point night from Alaygza Portis, with Campbell, the Lions' 6-foot-6 post, scoring 11.
