LA GRANDE, Oregon - For the first time since 2019, the College of Idaho women's basketball team is moving on to the Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) semifinal after a hard-fought 60-53 victory over Eastern Oregon in the tournament quarterfinal on Tuesday night. The victory also marks a sweep of the Mountaineers for the Yotes as the beat them twice in the regular season.
The No. 5-seeded Yotes (17-11) battled through a back-and-forth contest, using a strong second half to secure the upset over the No. 4 seed Eastern Oregon (19-9). The game featured 13 ties and 10 lead changes, but the Yotes' largest lead — an 11-point advantage — came with just 43 seconds remaining in the final quarter.
Eastern Oregon jumped out to an early lead, finishing the first quarter ahead 18-15. The Yotes responded in the second quarter, outscoring their opponent 13-10 to enter halftime tied at 28-28.
The pivotal moment came in the third quarter when College of Idaho found its rhythm on both ends of the floor, outscoring Eastern Oregon 16-13. Heading into the final period with a slim 44-41 lead, the Yotes clamped down defensively and closed the game strong with another 16-point quarter.
Sophomore guard Kylie Waltermeyer led the charge with a career-high 20 points, shooting an impressive 7-of-9 from the field and a perfect 4-of-4 from the free-throw line. She also added six rebounds, four assists, and three steals in a stellar all-around performance.
Taryn Riley provided a steady hand in the backcourt, scoring 12 points and grabbing four rebounds. Brooke Beresford contributed 10 points and seven rebounds, while Anna Mooney battled in the paint for six points and seven rebounds.
As a team, the Yotes shot 39.7% (23-of-58) from the field, 45.5% (5-of-11) from beyond the arc, and 81.8% (9-of-11) from the free-throw line. Their defense held Eastern Oregon to just 32.3% shooting overall and a chilly 20.0% (6-of-30) from three-point range.
With the victory, the Yotes advance to the CCC semifinal where they will face Southern Oregon University in Ashland, Oregon. Tip-off is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. MT on Wednesday, February 28.
