CALDWELL, Idaho - Claire Ely had 20 of her game-high 24 points in the first half, as the University of Puget Sound claimed the title of the 10th-Annual Best Western Caldwell Inn and Suites Lady Yote Cassic, stopping host College of Idaho, 60-51, inside the J.A. Albertson Activities Center.
In the consolation game, Eastern Oregon used a big performance from Tana Stickney to defeat Whitman College, 62-53.
The Loggers (4-1) hit 61-percent of their field goal attempts and all 11 free throws in the opening 20 minutes, sprinting out to a 25-9 lead that ballooned to 41-16 at the break. A Lindsey Layland jumper to open the second half gave UPS their biggest lead of the night.
The Lady Yotes (3-3) would not quit, forcing six straight Logger turnovers in the final six minutes, cutting the lead to 52-47 on a Nicole Bruce jumper with 2:37 left. However, Ely was able to break the Coyote press, getting an uncontested lay-up that sealed the victory.
Jocelyn Riordan had 11 points in the win for UPS, with Kelsey McKinnis adding nine. The Loggers converted all 13 free throw attempts, including 9-for-9 from the stripe from Ely.
Nicole Gall had 11 points and seven rebounds for The C of I, but converted just 4-of-16 field goal attempts and committed eight turnovers. Marquina Gilliam-Hicks scored nine off the bench, with Brianna Hansen and Bruce each adding eight.
In the early game, a Stickney lay-up with 11:28 remaining in the game capped a 7-0 Eastern run that broke a 36-36 tie, as the Mountaineers (5-3) notched the win.
Stickney had a game-high 25 points and seven rebounds for the Mountaineers, with Alyssa Garro canning three three's for her nine points - including a trey just before halftime that gave EOU a 25-22 lead at the break.
Hilary White led the Missionaries (1-3) with 14 points, with Anna Forge adding ten points and six rebounds, but Whitman converted just 8-of-16 free throws and shot 32-percent from the floor in the loss.
Both The C of I and Eastern open Cascade Conference play on the road next weekend, traveling to Northwest and Evergreen State.