Big 2nd Half Propels Yotes to Win
CALDWELL, Idaho -- Nicole Gall scored all 15 of her points in a 32-4 second half run, as The College of Idaho woke up from a sluggish first half to race past Corban College, 73-53, inside the J.A. Albertson Activities Center.
With the win, the No. 20 ranked Lady Yotes (11-4, 7-1 CCC) remained alone atop the Cascade Conference standings, a game ahead of Eastern Oregon.
The Warriors (8-12, 3-5) held the hosts to 6-of-33 shooting from the field in the opening half – including just one made field goal over a 14-minute stretch, grabbing a 19-10 lead on a Becky Buhler three-pointer, taking a 28-23 lead into the break.
However, the Lady Yotes turned up the defensive pressure, forcing 14 turnovers in a nine minute sprint that changed the complexion of the contest. Gall hit three-straight three’s to start the surge, erasing a 30-27 Corban lead, with a Katie Strunk lay-up capping the flurry, putting the Coyotes up 55-34 with just over ten minutes to play.
Gall added six rebounds, four assists, and seven steals in the win, with Whitney Owen adding 15 points and nine rebounds. Strunk had 14 points and nine boards for the Coyotes, with Marquina Gilliam-Hicks logging nine points and five rebounds.
Buhler led Corban with 11 points, with Jennesa Miller and Tess Bennett each scoring eight. The Warriors leading scorer, Katie Steigleman was held to just five points on 2-of-8 shooting.
The Lady Yotes return to action tomorrow night, hosting Northwest Christian at 5:30 p.m.