CALDWELL, Idaho – The College of Idaho used a suffocating defense to hold league-leading Southern Oregon to their lowest scoring output in 10 years, as the Yotes toppled the Raiders, 61-45, inside the J.A. Albertson Activities Center.
Sienna Riggle had 15 points and 17 rebounds and
Allie Cannon added 15 points and nine boards, as the Yotes (13-7, 7-5 CCC) used a 55-32 edge on the glass and made 28-of-42 free throws in the victory.
C of I limited the Raiders (17-3, 10-2) to just 23-percent shooting on the night – as SOU was playing without leading scorer, Kami Walk, along with head coach Carlotta Kloppenberg-Pruitt.
Southern took a 6-3 lead three minutes into the contest on consecutive baskets from Clara Robbins, but the Yotes locked down defensively.
Kaylee Krusemark splashed a pair of triples and Cannon drained a third, part of a 18-5 run over a 13 minute stretch – giving the hosts a 21-11 lead.
The visitors whittled the lead down to 25-23 a minute into the third quarter – but made just one field goal over the next 10 minutes. Riggle converted three inside buckets and
Taryn Riley canned a 3-pointer and a driving lay-up, all part of a 21-4 run that ballooned the Coyotes lead to 46-27 with nine minutes left in the game.
SOU had one last gasp, as 3-pointers from Kalei Iwami and Brianna Phiakhamngon cut the deficit to 49-41, but the visitors could not get closer.
It was the fewest points scored by Raider team since 62-36 road loss at Oregon Tech in 2012.
Krusemark scored 12 points and Riley added nine more, helping the Yotes win for the fifth time in six outings. Riggle logged her team-leading eighth double-double of the year, with the 17 rebounds a new career high.
Phiakhamngon led Southern with 13 points and Iwami scored 10 in the loss.
The Coyotes close out the weekend tomorrow afternoon, hosting Oregon Tech at 3 p.m.
