CALDWELL, Idaho –
Sienna Riggle poured in a game-high 23 points – three shy of her career-high of 26 – to lead College of Idaho to its third-straight win on the first day of the Les Schwab Tire Invitational with a 59-55 win over UC Merced.
College of Idaho raises its record to 3-0 to begin the 2022-23 season and has won its first three games for the second-straight season, whereas UC Merced falls to 0-4. To complement the scoring efforts from Riggle, teammate
Lexi Mitchell had 15 rebounds – nine of which came on the offensive side of the ledger. Teammate
Kenadee French added nine points on three 3-pointers and
Jada Reed spread her effort across the ledger with seven points, five rebounds and a game-high four assists. The Yotes also got eight points and three assists from reserve
Taryn Riley in 26 minutes of action off the bench.
UC Merced was able to land three players in double figures including a double double from Damilola Sula, who had 11 points and a game-high 16 rebounds. Paloma Ramirez and Tiffany Nguyen added 17 and 13 points, respectively.
Down 14-13 with 7:17 left in the opening half after a 3-pointer by UC-Merced, College of Idaho closed out the half with 10 of the final 15 points that included a pair of 3-pointers by French. The Yotes remained in front for nearly the rest of the contest as the Bobcats came back to tie it at 55 with 1:38 when Ramirez hit a jumper.
To go back in front, head coach
Janis Beal and the Yotes went back to Riggle for the go-ahead basket with :51. Mitchell came away with a steal with two seconds to go as Reed sealed the win with a pair of free throws for the final margin.
Next, College of Idaho will wrap up the tournament at 5 p.m. on Saturday when they host Montana Tech.
