Women's Basketball Notebook - Week 6

GAME COVERAGE: The game on Wednesday at Portland State will be broadcast live on Pluto TV Channel 1051. Live Stats will be on the Vikings StatBroadcast Platform. Both games at Seattle Pacific will be broadcast on the SPU Sports YouTube Channel. Live Stats will be available on the SPU SIDEARM Sports Portal.

COMPLETE MEDIA GAME NOTES
 
OPPONENT PREVIEW - PORTLAND STATE: The Vikings will be the third Big Sky Conference foe that C of I has faced this season, with the Yotes already having traveled to Eastern Washington and Montana. PSU is led by former Southern Oregon head coach Lynn Kennedy, who led the Vikings to the 2018-19 Big Sky tournament title. Desirae Hansen paces the offensive attack for Kennedy, averaging 14.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.6 steals per game this season. Kylie Jimenez is another key contributor, averaging 11.3 points, 2.3 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 2.1 steals per contest. Jada Lewis is a dangerous option from the perimeter, draining 20-of-45 (44 percent) triple attempts on the year.
 
OPPONENT PREVIEW - SEATTLE PACIFIC: After not starting the season until Jan. 11, the Falcons have played five games over the past two weeks, going 3-2. Ashley Alter is the player to watch for Seattle Pacific, as she is averaging a team-high 16.8 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game. Kayla Brundige is the go-to option inside for the Falcons, with the 6-footer from Fort Lewis, Wash. averaging 9.4 points and 6.6 rebounds per game.
 
SCHEDULE CHANGES: C of I has added a non-conference game against Lewis-Clark State on Feb. 6 at 7 p.m. inside the J.A. Albertson Activities Center. The start time for the home game on Feb. 10 against Northwest Nazarene has also been changed to 7:30 p.m. In addition to the regular season game additions, the Yotes will also take part in a best of three Cascade Conference Tournament with Lewis-Clark State Feb. 20-26, with the winner earning a trip to the NAIA National Tournament. Fans can find the most up-to-date version of the women's basketball schedule on YoteAthletics.com under the women's basketball tab.
 
JANUARY SUCCESS: The Yotes have posted a .500 or better record in January in four consecutive years, going 6-4 last season, 5-4 in 2018-19, 5-4 in 2017-18 and 4-4 in 2016-17. Last January saw multiple highlights for C of I, including knocking off eventual conference champion Northwest Christian 78-70 at home, picking up a 66-63 road win at Evergreen, sweeping Walla Walla and capping off the month with a 69-61 victory over Oregon Tech and an 81-71 defeat of Multnomah on the road.

HOLDING AN OPPONENT BELOW 40: C of I held Simpson without a made field goal for the first 14:10 of the game on Saturday, limiting the Red Hawks to 36 points for the game on 22 percent shooting from the floor. The contest marked the first time since Dec. 29, 2018 that the Yotes have held an opponent below 40, with that game ending in a 90-32 win over Walla Walla.

YOTES HOLD BLOCK PARTY: Against the Red Hawks last week, C of I blocked 16 shots over the two games, including a season-high nine on Friday. Kiersten Rasmussen led the swatters with eight rejections, with Lexi Mitchell blocking three and Allie Cannon blocking a pair on Friday.

DEFENSE AGAINST DIVISION I: The 56 and 61 points that the Yotes have held Eastern Washington and Montana to this season are the lowest marks against Division I opponents in program history along with the 61 allowed in 2013 at Boise State.

PROTECTING THE PERIMETER: C of I has held three straight Division I opponents to 30 percent or below shooting on 3-pointers, including limiting Boise State to a 1-of-16 (6.3 percent) mark, holding Eastern Washington to a 8-of-27 (30 percent) clip and most recently slowing down Montana, which shot 6-of-22 (27 percent) from beyond the arc. The Yotes have held four of their last five opponents this season to a below 30 percent clip on 3-pointers.

WHEN LEADING AT THE HALF: The Yotes are a perfect 3-0 this season when leading at the half, including both games against Simpson.

CANNON NETS CAREER-HIGH: Sophomore Allie Cannon tallied 17 points in the win on Friday against Simpson, eclipsing her previous career-high of 16 set earlier this season.

DOUBLE-DOUBLE MITCHELL: Sophomore Lexi Mitchell finished with 11 points and 10 rebounds in the weekend finale against Simpson, giving the guard her third career double-double and her first of the season.

RASMUSSEN A REBOUNDING PRESENCE: Senior forward Kiersten Rasmussen has hauled down five or more rebounds in seven straight games and eight of ten contests for the season. The native of Soda Springs is averaging 7.9 points and 5.9 rebounds per game this season, which are both career-bests. She is also averaging 1.7 blocks per game and has six steals.

RECORD BOOK: Three players continue to climb the record books for the Yotes, including Sophia Jackson and Kaylee Krusemark, who are among the all-time leaders in made 3-pointers in program history. Jackson has hit 78 triples in her collegiate career, putting her at 14th on the career list, while Krusemark has hit 72 to put her in a tie for 17th. Kiersten Rasmussen has also been climbing the record books rapidly with 75 blocks for her career, which has moved her to sixth in C of I history. Rasmussen had an impressive showing against Simpson last week, tallying four blocks in each game to surpass the 74 career blocks of Kiara Skinner from 2015-17.

HOME BROADCAST INFORMATION: Fans will be able to follow Coyote Basketball this season online - with all home games carried live on C of I's Stretch Internet Portal using the new StretchCast system. The broadcasts will feature an enhanced look and feel of a traditional television broadcast, with features, graphics and insight on the Yotes. Sven Alskog will have the play-by-play beginning 15 minutes prior to tip for all women's basketball home games. All links to broadcasts originated while the Yotes are on the road can be found online at YoteAthletics.com underneath the women's basketball schedule page.
 
NO FANS TO START THE SEASON: Following a year in which head coach Janis Beal's team took home the Cascade Conference attendance crown - bringing in an average of 790 fans per game - the Yotes will be playing inside of an empty J.A. Albertson Activities Center this season until further notice due to COVID-19 regulations and protocols. C of I has won the CCC attendance crown in two consecutive seasons and finished ahead of 153 Division I schools, including Portland, Washington State, Utah State, Idaho and Weber State last year. The attendance inside the J.A. Albertson Activities Center last winter was higher than 278 of 312 Division II schools.

FOLLOW YOTES WBB: Fans can follow College of Idaho women's basketball on the official social media channels of the Yotes, including @YotesWBB on Facebook, @YotesWBB on Twitter and @yotes.wbb on Instagram.

UP NEXT: The Yotes are slated to play at NNU on Feb. 3 before hosting Lewis-Clark State at 7 p.m. on Feb. 6. Fans can check back to the women's basketball schedule page on YoteAthletics.com or follow CoyoteAthletics on Facebook and Twitter for scheduling updates.