CALDWELL, Idaho – In a game that tested resilience and grit, the College of Idaho Yotes faced a heartbreaking 49-48 loss to Warner Pacific on Saturday afternoon at the J.A. Albertson Activities Center. Despite leading for over 33 minutes and holding a 10-point advantage midway through the second quarter, the Yotes couldn't fend off a late surge by the Knights.
The game saw five lead changes, each moment infused with drama. Early on, the Yotes seized control when Taryn Riley drained a three-pointer with 6:08 remaining in the first quarter, pushing the score to 10-6.It wasn't until Emily Fortin hit a clutch three-pointer with 3:21 left in the fourth quarter that Warner Pacific took their decisive one-point lead.
Field goal percentages told a tale of two halves. The Yotes shot 33.3% in the first quarter and matched Warner Pacific stride-for-stride in the second, but the shooting woes in the fourth quarter (20.0%) haunted them. Meanwhile, Warner Pacific found enough consistency in the third quarter, shooting 38.9% to inch closer. Overall, the Knights finished with a 32.7% field goal percentage, narrowly edging the Yotes' 28.8%.
Rebounding wars were equally intense, with both teams battling for second-chance opportunities. The Yotes edged the Knights in offensive boards 17-14, but Warner Pacific's defensive rebounding gave them just enough possessions to clinch the game.
The final moments of the game encapsulated the drama. With mere seconds left, Ashton Adamson stripped the ball from Warner Pacific's Alex Saunders, giving the Yotes one last chance to reclaim victory. Racing down the court, Adamson found Kylie Waltermeyer, whose layup on the rim but refused to fall. The buzzer sounded, leaving the Yotes stunned and Warner Pacific celebrating a narrow upset victory for the first time in Caldwell in program history.
With this loss, the Yotes fall to 10-7 overall and 8-4 in the conference, while Warner Pacific improves to 7-11 and 4-8. The Yotes look to recapture their form on the road as they travel to Oregon Tech on January 24th for a 6:30 pm MT tip off.
