BUTTE, Mont. — The (RV) College of Idaho women's basketball team opened its 2025–26 campaign with heart, urgency, and a dramatic late rally, but ultimately fell 70–60 on the road at (RV) Montana Tech in a tightly contested season opener.
Trailing by double digits early in the fourth quarter, the Yotes surged back with a series of sharp defensive stops and timely baskets. The turning point came with 4:12 remaining, when Kylie Waltermeyer drilled a deep three off a pass from Maiya Hardy, pulling College of Idaho within 62–60 and stunning the home crowd as momentum swung entirely toward the visitors. The Yotes had wiped out nearly the entire deficit in under a minute, creating a tense atmosphere for the hosts.
Montana Tech, however, answered with a composed closing stretch, connecting on key possessions in the final minutes to hold off the Yotes' charge.
College of Idaho was powered by strong individual performances throughout the lineup. Waltermeyer had 11 points, hitting three three-pointers and contributing on the defensive end with both a steal and a block. Taryn Riley added 13 points on an efficient 5-of-8 shooting night, including three shots from deep. Brooke Beresford established a presence in the paint with 8 points and a team-high 9 rebounds, while Anna Mooney added 6 points and 4 assists to help orchestrate the offense. Off the bench, Mia Austin knocked down a pair of threes to finish with 6 points.
Montana Tech responded with standout performances of its own. Brooke Badovinac finished with 15 points, going 5-for-5 from the free-throw line and hitting two important threes. Hadley Humpherys delivered a dominant all-around showing with 14 points, 15 rebounds, and 6 assists, while Hallie Neibauer came off the bench to add 13 points. The Orediggers controlled the glass with a decisive 49–30 rebounding advantage.
The game featured seven ties and seven lead changes, with the Yotes mounting their strongest push in a high-octane third quarter in which they scored 25 points on 55.6% shooting. That run set up the dramatic fourth-quarter battle, culminating in Waltermeyer's deep three that cut the margin to two before Montana Tech's final response.
Although the opening-night comeback fell just short, the Yotes left Butte with signs of a dynamic and determined team capable of creating momentum in a hurry. With the season just beginning, College of Idaho now turns toward their next battle tomorrow at Montana Western with a tip-off scheduled for 2:30 pm MT.
