Nicole Bruce had 19 points in Lady Yotes win over OIT
CALDWELL, Idaho - Nicole Gall led the way with 27 points, as The College of Idaho recorded their most prolific scoring night at home in program history, running away from Oregon Tech, 99-63, inside the J.A. Albertson Activities Center.
The Lady Yotes (7-3, 3-0 CCC) hit 59-percent of their field goal attempts in the second half, blowing open a two-point game at the break, outscoring OIT 60-26 in the final 20 minutes.
The C of I broke their old home mark of 97 points – recorded during a 97-77 win over Lewis & Clark in 1996, and in a 97-88 overtime win over Southern Oregon in last season’s Cascade Conference Tournament. They equaled their highest scoring output in league play – joining the 1996-97 squad that defeated Concordia in overtime, 99-94.
Leading just 39-37 at the break, the Coyotes saw the Lady Owls (8-7, 1-2) claim a 44-43 lead on a Kellie Morey-Lewis lay-up with 18 minutes remaining. However, a 13-0 run ignited The C of I, as Katie Strunk had a put-back and a three-pointer, followed by eight-straight points from post Nicole Bruce, to grab control.
Tech would get within 70-58 with seven minutes left on a Kelsey New triple, but three straight three-pointers from Gall started a 29-5 run to close the game.
Gall added nine rebounds, eight assists, and five steals to her totals, while Bruce had a season high 19 points, with Strunk adding 17.
OIT was led by Brittany Cherry, who scored 14 points and added 13 rebounds, with Lisa Busch chipping in with 12. The Owls shot 46-percent for the game, but were plagued by 34 turnovers, which turned into 47 C of I points.
The Lady Yotes return to action tomorrow night, putting a five-game win streak on the line against No. 9 ranked Southern Oregon.