CALDWELL, Idaho – The College of Idaho women's basketball team fought tooth and nail against Lewis-Clark State on Friday afternoon, erasing a double-digit deficit and clawing within a single point late in the fourth quarter, only to fall just short in a heart-stopping 57-54 defeat at J.A. Albertson Activity Center.
Lewis-Clark State (19-4, 13-4 CCC) surged ahead in the third quarter, unleashing a dominant 14-1 run that saw their lead balloon to 11 points with 4:38 remaining in the period. The Warriors appeared to have full control, hitting 69.2% of their shots in the second quarter and finishing the game at a crisp 48.9% from the field. Meanwhile, the Yotes (11-11, 9-8 CCC) struggled to find their rhythm, shooting just 8.3% in a disastrous third quarter that saw them fall behind by as much as 13 points.
But the Yotes were far from finished.
Led by the relentless efforts of Brooke Beresford, who tallied 14 points, eight rebounds, and five assists, and a sharpshooting performance from Mia Austin, who knocked down three three-pointers en route to 11 points, the College of Idaho stormed back in the fourth quarter. A deep three from Austin and a tough finish inside by Beresford cut the deficit to just one, sending the home crowd into a frenzy.
Defensively, the Yotes turned up the pressure, forcing key turnovers and holding the Warriors to just nine fourth-quarter points. But in the closing moments, Lewis-Clark State's Ellie Sander—who notched a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds—calmly sank a crucial free throw to make it a three-point game with just seconds remaining. A final desperation three-point attempt from the Yotes fell short, sealing the Warriors' victory.
Despite the loss, the College of Idaho won the turnover battle, committing just 13 giveaways compared to the Warriors' 17. However, the shooting disparity proved costly, as the Yotes finished at just 32.1% from the field and 22.2% from beyond the arc.
The Yotes will look to bounce back in their next contest as they continue their push in the Cascade Collegiate Conference standings as they host Walla Walla Univ. tomorrow at 7pm.
