CALDWELL, Idaho – The College of Idaho women's basketball team held a 11-9 lead on No. 6Carroll in the final game of the 2023 Best Western Inn and Suites Classic on Saturday. The visiting Saints came alive in the second quarter as they outscored the Yotes by a 25-7 margin on its way to a 64-56 win. With a 34-18 lead at the break, the host Yotes were playing from behind for the remainder of the contest. Despite the deficit, there remained a lot of fight on the Yotes sideline.
College of Idaho (0-6) was paced a 20-point night by
Mia Austin, who hit four three pointers to lead the home Yotes. She was joined in double figures by
Anna Mooney, who added 11.
Carroll (4-2) was led by 2022-23 NAIA First Team All-American Jamie Pickens, who was also named the Frontier Conference Player of the Year and first team all-Frontier Conference. The 6'2 forward proved to be a difficult match-up for C of I as she scored 23 points. She was joined in double figures by Kyndall Keller and Isabelle Erickson, who had 14 and 11 points, respectively.
Down by as much as 21 in the fourth quarter, there was plenty of fight in the Yotes. Over a stretch of nearly the final eight minutes, College of Idaho managed to cut the deficit to six, 62-56, with a 21-6 run with :19 seconds left. Erickson knocked a pair free throws with :06 left to stretch it to a three-possession game and spoil the comeback hopes for C of I.
Next, College of Idaho will tipoff Cascade Collegiate Conference play when they travel to Southern Oregon on Friday, Dec. 1. The action will get underway at 5:30 p.m. (PST)/6:30 p.m. (MT).
