CALDWELL, Idaho – In a battle between two nationally ranked NAIA programs, No. 22 College of Idaho women's basketball came out firing against No. 16 Montana Tech, building a double-digit halftime advantage before a second-half offensive drought allowed the Orediggers to rally for a 53-46 victory Saturday afternoon at the J.A. Albertson Activities Center.
The loss moves the Yotes to 1-1 on the season, while Montana Tech improves to 3-0. The matchup marked the conclusion of the two-day Caldwell Classic and featured two programs coming off appearances in last season's NAIA National Championship.
College of Idaho established control early, using an efficient perimeter attack to take a 20-12 lead after the opening quarter. Kylie Waltermeyer sparked the offense with a pair of three-pointers, while Lainee Houillon and Anna Mooney also connected from beyond the arc. The Yotes shot 46.7 percent from the field and knocked down five of seven three-point attempts in the opening period.
The momentum continued into the second quarter as College of Idaho stretched its advantage to as many as 15 points. Back-to-back three-pointers from Waltermeyer and Mooney helped the Yotes build a 26-14 lead early in the period, and another triple from Mooney extended the margin to 31-16 midway through the quarter.
Behind seven first-half three-pointers and a balanced offensive effort, the Yotes entered the locker room with a 37-26 advantage, shooting 45.2 percent from the field and 66.7 percent from beyond the arc through the first 20 minutes.
However, the second half told a different story.
Montana Tech tightened its defensive pressure coming out of the break, holding College of Idaho to just two points in the third quarter. The Yotes struggled to find their offensive rhythm, connecting on just one of 11 field goal attempts as the Orediggers outscored the home team 12-2 to cut the deficit to 39-38 entering the final period.
The Orediggers carried that momentum into the fourth quarter, outscoring College of Idaho 15-7 over the final 10 minutes to complete the comeback. After shooting better than 40 percent in each of the first two quarters, the Yotes were limited to just 16.7 percent shooting in the second half and went scoreless from three-point range after halftime.
Waltermeyer led College of Idaho with 13 points, connecting on three three-pointers while adding five blocked shots, three rebounds and two assists. Mooney followed with 12 points, six rebounds and two assists, shooting 3-of-6 from beyond the arc.
Brooke Beresford contributed eight points and four rebounds, while Houillon finished with seven points, a team-high seven rebounds and two steals. Riley Beck added four points, six rebounds and two steals.
Defensively, the Yotes recorded seven blocked shots and nine steals, while forcing 16 Montana Tech turnovers. College of Idaho finished the contest shooting 33.3 percent from the field and 34.8 percent from three-point range.
For Montana Tech, Chloe Larsen led the way with 12 points, eight rebounds and three assists. Hallie Neibauer provided 10 points off the bench, while Halle Haber added eight points, seven rebounds and two blocks. The Orediggers held a 33-28 rebounding advantage and received 25 points from their bench compared to two for College of Idaho.
The defeat marks the Yotes' second consecutive loss to Montana Tech after falling 70-60 in Butte last November. Despite the result, College of Idaho showed its ability to compete with a nationally ranked opponent, controlling much of the opening half before the Orediggers' second-half comeback.
The Yotes conclude their opening weekend of the 2026-27 campaign with a 1-1 record following Friday's 75-65 victory over Montana Western.
