Hastings Knocks Lady Yotes out of NAIA Tournament
SIOUX CITY, Iowa - All-American post Lindsay Ducey scored 21 points and had 18 rebounds, as Hastings College knocked off The College of Idaho, 76-64, in a first-round NAIA Division II National Tournament at the Tyson Events Center.
The Broncos (24-7), the three-time national champions, opened the second half on a 20-4 run, holding the Lady Yotes without a field goal for a seven minute stretch, building a 58-41 lead on a Kay Broekemeier three. The C of I would fight back, forcing six straight Hastings turnovers, with a Christon Vander Esch jumper with seven minutes remaining, pulling the Coyotes within 58-49. The Purple and Gold would close within 68-61 on a Vander Esch three with 2:17, but would not get closer, as Hastings went 6-for-6 from the foul line to close the game.
Unfortunately for the Lady Yotes (29-5), the Broncos proved to be too much, using 22 offensive rebounds to create multiple second-chance opportunities - while forcing 25 C of I turnovers.
Early on, it was a see-saw game, as Hastings grabbed a 16-8 lead on a Rachel Isherwood jumper, but the Yotes would storm right back, scoring eight in a row to tie the game at 16. The Broncos would push the lead back out to 26-19 on an Elyse Schlake runner, but the Coyotes got a Nicole Gall trey and a couple of Meghan Hughes buckets to take the lead for the final time at 31-29.
Vander Esch led the Lady Yotes with 18 points and 11 rebounds in her final collegiate game, with Gall adding 16 points, and Whitney Owen 13. Broekemeier had 16 points in the win for Hastings, who moves on to face Shawnee State in the second-round on Friday.