FULLERTON, Calif. — The College of Idaho women's basketball team turned a tense road battle into a statement win Saturday, storming back from an early deficit to topple Hope International 62-52 at Darling Pavilion.
The Yotes trailed by as many as four points late in the second quarter after a flurry from the Royals, but they never flinched. Instead, they clawed back with relentless defense and timely shooting, flipping the script in the second half and surging to their largest lead of 12 points with just over a minute remaining.
Kylie Waltermeyer was unstoppable, pouring in 19 points on 8-of-12 shooting while grabbing a team-high 15 rebounds to anchor the comeback. Brooke Beresford added 14 points and five boards, and Anna Mooney chipped in nine points, including a clutch three-pointer in the fourth quarter that helped seal the win. Maiya Hardy controlled the paint with six rebounds and two assists, while Taryn Riley dished out three assists and came up with five steals to ignite the Yotes' defensive pressure.
After shooting just 20 percent in the opening quarter, the Yotes found their rhythm, hitting 53.8 percent in the third and 52.9 percent in the fourth. They dominated the glass with a 47-25 rebounding advantage, turning second-chance opportunities into eight points and outscoring Hope International 24-18 in the paint.
The victory capped a perfect weekend on the road for The College of Idaho, which now rides a two-game winning streak into its home opener. The Yotes will look to keep the momentum rolling when they host The Master's on Nov. 21 at 1 p.m. in the Caldwell Classic Tournament.
