CALDWELL, Idaho – In a game defined by grit and resilience, the College of Idaho Women's Basketball team fought to the final seconds but ultimately fell to the visiting Oregon Tech Owls, 67-58, on Saturday afternoon at the J.A. Albertson Activities Center. The loss drops the Yotes to 2-5 overall and 0-2 in Cascade Collegiate Conference play.
With the Owls leading by as much as 19 points in the third quarter, the Yotes mounted a ferocious comeback in the final frame. Sparked by the sharp shooting of Anna Mooney, who tallied a team-high 16 points off the bench on 5-of-7 shooting, and McKenzie Hirsch, who added 13 points, the Yotes clawed back into contention. A clutch three-pointer by Hirsch and relentless rebounding by Ashton Adamson (13 boards) brought the home crowd to its feet as the Yotes outscored the Owls 19-17 in the fourth quarter.
The game's turning point came in the second quarter when Oregon Tech outscored the Yotes 20-9, fueled by Tatum Schmerbach's 20-point effort and Alexis Elquist's dominance on the boards, grabbing a game-high 14 rebounds. Despite the deficit, the Yotes showed tremendous resolve, forcing 17 turnovers and holding Oregon Tech to just 23.5% shooting in the third quarter to keep the game within reach.
The Yotes look to bounce back on Thursday, December 14th, when they travel to La Grande, Oregon, to face Eastern Oregon University. Tip-off is set for 5 p.m. MT.
