CALDWELL, Idaho – The College of Idaho women's basketball team made history Friday night, delivering a commanding 79-56 victory over Evergreen in the first game played under the newly named Elgin Baylor Arena. With the energy of the packed J.A. Albertson Activities Center behind them, the Yotes put on a show, seizing control early and never looking back.
The game started as a tense battle, with both teams trading buckets in the opening frame. The Yotes held a slim 16-14 lead at the end of the first quarter, with Brooke Beresford setting the tone early, scoring nine of her team-high 16 points in the opening minutes.
Then came the second quarter—a tsunami of offense from the home squad. The Yotes unleashed a 26-point explosion, fueled by Anna Mooney, who dished out six assists while knocking down key buckets, and Mia Austin, who torched the Geoducks from beyond the arc. Austin drilled three deep threes in the quarter, propelling the Yotes to a 42-28 halftime lead.
Evergreen attempted to claw back in the third, but the Yotes held firm, with Taryn Riley orchestrating the offense masterfully. Riley finished the night with 9 points and 5 assists, keeping the Geoducks at bay despite a strong effort from Jalyn Sackrider, who battled inside to finish with a game-high 18 points for Evergreen.
And then, the Yotes slammed the door shut. In the fourth quarter, they put the game away in emphatic fashion, outscoring Evergreen 21-11, punctuated by fast-break points and another deep three from Austin, who finished with 13 points on four made triples. By the final buzzer, the scoreboard read 79-56, sealing a dominant performance.
With the win, the Yotes improve to 15-11 overall and 13-8 in conference play. The team will return to Elgin Baylor Arena at the J.A. Albertson Activities Center tomorrow at 3 PM to honor their seniors in a matchup against Northwest Universit\y.
