PORTLAND, Ore. –
Lexi Mitchell and
Mackenzie Royce-Radford hit a pair of 3-pointers late to bring The College of Idaho within one possession, but Warner Pacific would hold on and win 78-75 on Saturday night.
Trailing 65-63 with 5:41 remaining, the Knights (11-11, 8-6 CCC) went on a 13-2 run to regain the lead, jumping ahead 76-67 with 1:47 left.
Mitchell and Royce-Radford then hit their late 3-pointers to erase the nine-point deficit, making it 76-73 with 29 seconds left.
Following a split at the free throw line by Warner Pacific, Mitchell hit a basket to make it 77-75 with 15 seconds remaining. C of I (10-14, 8-7 CCC) then fouled Payton Whitmore, who also went 1-for-2 at the stripe.
Down three points, one last opportunity would present itself for the Yotes, however
Hannah Maupin's final attempt from the corner just prior to the buzzer did not fall and the Knights held on for an important CCC win.
Sophia Jackson scored a C of I season-high 22 points in the loss, including a 6-of-8 shooting night from downtown.
Royce-Radford posted 14 points and seven assists and Maupin had 10 points and two assists.
It was a hot shooting night from the perimeter for the Yotes, who went 13-of-24 (54 percent) from beyond the arc. C of I went 24-of-58 (41 percent) from the floor. Warner Pacific shot 26-of-64 (41 percent) from the field and 4-of-13 (31 percent) on 3-pointers.
The Knights outrebounded the Yotes 50-31.
Four players scored in double-digits for Warner Pacific, including Darbi Pink and Courtney Jackson, who each tallied 17 points.
Following the return home from the weekend trip to Portland, C of I will embark back up I-84 on Wednesday to play rival Eastern Oregon in La Grande. Game time is 5:30 p.m. PT.
