CALDWELL, Idaho - The College of Idaho women's basketball team closed the regular season in emphatic fashion Saturday afternoon, overpowering Southern Oregon 67-52 inside J.A. Albertson Activities Center.
With the win, the Yotes not only honored seniors Taryn Riley, Mia Austin, and Annie Stinar in memorable style, but also completed a historic season sweep of both Southern Oregon and Oregon Tech for the first time since 2011-12.
From the opening tip, the Yotes dictated the tempo. After building a 17-12 lead in the first quarter, College of Idaho exploded in the second, outscoring the Raiders 20-9 to take a commanding 37-21 advantage into halftime. The margin swelled to as many as 17 points, the largest lead of the afternoon, as the Yotes' defense and ball movement overwhelmed Southern Oregon.
The numbers told the story of control and composure. College of Idaho shot 40 percent from the field compared to Southern Oregon's 29.7 percent. The Yotes knocked down 10 three-pointers at a 33.3 percent clip, doubling the Raiders' five makes from beyond the arc. Perhaps most impressively, the Yotes dished out 19 assists on 24 made field goals while committing just seven turnovers. Southern Oregon managed only four assists and turned the ball over 13 times.
Kylie Waltermeyer led the charge with a game-high 20 points, connecting on four three-pointers and adding six rebounds and two blocks in a dominant two-way performance. Riley Beck added 11 points and a team-high nine rebounds, while Annie Stinar poured in 11 points, including a pair of clutch fourth-quarter triples to extinguish any Raider hopes of a comeback. Anna Mooney orchestrated the offense brilliantly with six assists, helping the Yotes finish with a 24-15 edge in bench scoring.
Southern Oregon was paced by Eliza DiGiulio, who scored 15 points and grabbed seven rebounds. Sage Winslow added 10 points for the Raiders.
The Raiders made a push in the third quarter, outscoring the Yotes 20-16 and trimming the deficit to 12 entering the fourth. But each time Southern Oregon threatened, College of Idaho answered. Annie Stinar three-pointer midway through the final period pushed the lead back to 17, and the Yotes methodically closed out the regular season with poise.
After the final horn, the celebration shifted from the scoreboard to center court. Riley, Austin, and Stinar were honored in an emotional Senior Day ceremony, embraced by teammates and fans after helping guide the program to one of its most meaningful regular seasons in over a decade.
The victory moves College of Idaho to 21-7 overall and 15-5 in Cascade Collegiate Conference play. With the regular season complete, the Yotes now await their seeding fate in the upcoming CCC Tournament as results from around the conference finalize the bracket.
