REDDING, Calif. – College of Idaho outscored Simpson 17-9 in the final quarter to put the game away late in a 66-56 road win on Saturday.
With the victory, the Yotes (2-0) start the season with back-to-back wins for the first time since the 2012-13 campaign, a year in which the program won three straight to start the year before going on to advance to the NAIA National Tournament.
Going head-to-head with a familiar Simpson (1-2) team that C of I faced twice last season, the Yotes went ahead 11-0 less than four minutes into the game, building a large lead right out of the chutes for the second straight day.
The Red Hawks would battle back throughout the contest though, turning what was at one time a 12-point deficit in the first half into a 47-44 lead with 49 seconds left in the third quarter.
C of I responded to that deficit well, scoring the final five points of the quarter on a
Taryn Riley layup and then a
Kenadee French triple off an assist from Riley to give the visitors a 49-47 lead entering the final 10 minutes.
To start the fourth quarter, both teams would trade baskets over the first six minutes, with the score knotted up at 56 with 3:49 remaining.
The Yotes capped the game off with a 10-0 run to build the separation needed to escape with the win, hitting six free throws in a row to end the game and adding baskets by
Lexi Mitchell and
Jada Reed.
A pair of C of I juniors recorded double-doubles in the victory, with French connecting on five 3-pointers on her way to 21 points, 11 rebounds and two blocked shots. Mitchell had 11 points, 12 rebounds, five assists and three steals in a solid all-around performance.
Sienna Riggle recorded a double-digit offensive output for the second consecutive day by contributing 11 points and three rebounds.
The Yotes went 25-for-52 (48 percent) from the field and 5-for-16 (31 percent) from the perimeter while limiting Simpson to a 20-for-60 (33 percent) day from the floor and 5-for-17 (29 percent) from outside.
C of I will return to the floor next Friday in Pocatello for an exhibition at Idaho State. Opening tip is scheduled for 5:05 p.m. inside Reed Gym.
