Lori Renner had 12 points in the Beacons win at C of I
CALDWELL, Idaho - A Brette Rubie driving lay-up at the buzzer rimmed out, helping Northwest Christian end a nine-game losing streak, upsetting No. 20 ranked College of Idaho, 66-65, inside the J.A. Albertson Activities Center.
It marked the first-ever win by the Beacons (8-10, 2-7 CCC) over The C of I – as the visitors played without head coach Liz Turner-Bolton, who returned home following last night’s game at Eastern Oregon due to a family emergency.
Acting head coach Glenn Norris watched the Beacons grab a 33-30 lead at the break, pushing the margin to 41-33 early in the second half on a banked-in three-pointer from Kelsey Bolander as the shot clock expired. The Lady Yotes (11-5, 7-2) would respond, taking their first lead of the period on a Nicole Gall trey, part of an 18-5 run to grab a 51-46 edge with nine minutes to go.
NCU fought back, as a Lori Renner desperation three as the shot clock expired fueled a 11-2 run, giving the Beacons a 57-53 lead with six minutes to go. A put-back bucket by Whitney Owen gave The C of I their final lead at 60-59, before a driving lay-up by Katie Collins put the Beacons up for good.
The Coyotes had one final chance, as the Beacons turned the ball over with six seconds remaining, as Rubie went coast-to-coast, but her lay-up hung on the back iron and fell off harmlessly – setting off an emotional celebration for the guests.
Four players scored in double-figures for the Beacons, as Bolander and Renner each had 12 points, with Collins adding 11 and Jenneca Crocker with ten. NCU won the game at the foul line, converting 10-of-14 freebies in the second half.
Gall and Owen each had 17 points in the loss for the Lady Yotes – as the team fell into a first-place tie with Eastern Oregon. The Coyotes could not cash in on 33 free throw attempts, converting just 58-percent from the line.
The C of I returns to action next Friday night, heading to Southern Oregon for a 5:30 p.m. (PT) tip-off.