NAMPA, Idaho — In a tense rivalry game, (RV) The College of Idaho women's basketball team went toe-to-toe with NCAA Division II rival Northwest Nazarene University on Friday night, falling 70-64 in a back-and-forth exhibition showdown at the Johnson Sports Center.
The Yotes came out swinging, building an 11-point lead midway through the second quarter behind a relentless attack in the paint and a stifling defense that forced eight first-half turnovers. true freshman guard Maiya Hardy led the charge with 15 points and 11 rebounds, while Kylie Waltermeyer added 11 points and a game-high 12 boards.
But the Nighthawks, paced by Trinidie Nichols' game-high 23 points and a clutch fourth quarter performance, clawed back with a 10-0 run in the third quarter to seize momentum. Nichols, who hit four of her seven three-point attempts, scored 10 of her points in the final frame, including a pair of free throws with 23 seconds left to seal the win.
Despite the loss, The College of Idaho showcased depth and grit. Brooke Beresford impressed in the opening exhibition, scoring 11 points on 5-of-7 shooting, while freshman Riley Beck added 10 points and six rebounds off the bench. The Yotes dominated the glass, outrebounding NNU 45-28 and racking up 18 second-chance points to the Nighthawks' five.
The game featured 13 lead changes and five ties, with both teams trading punches until the final buzzer. The Yotes held the lead for nearly 27 minutes, but a late surge by NNU proved decisive.
The Yotes dominated the boards, rebounding the Nighthawks 45-28. However, ball safety went the Nighthawks' way with the hosts boasting only 11 turnovers to C of I's 23. The Nighthawks also saw a significant advantage at the charity stripe. Northwest Nazarene scored 12 points from 15 free throws versus The College of Idaho who scored five points from only six free throws.
The Yotes open the regular season on Friday, November 1, traveling to Montana Tech for a 5 p.m. tip-off
