Nicole Bruce scored a season-high 19 points in Lady Yotes loss
CALDWELL, Idaho - Kayla Johnson scored eight points of her game-high 26 points during a 10-0 Whitworth University run over the final four minutes to spark a come-from-behind 63-59 win over The College of Idaho in the nightcap of the 11th Annual Best Western Caldwell Inn and Suites Lady Yote Classic.
In a battle of nationally-ranked foes, Westminster College topped George Fox University, 50-41, in the early game.
The Lady Yotes, ranked No. 19 in the NAIA Division II poll, got a steal and bucket from Diamond Mitchell and six quick points from Nicole Gall in a 9-2 run, giving The C of I a 59-53 lead with 4:29 remaining. However, the hosts would go 0-for-6 and committed four turnovers the rest of the way.
Johnson took the game over for the Division III Pirates (1-2), with her back-shot with 58 seconds remaining breaking a 59-59 tie. Gall had a pair of chances to answer, missing a jumper, but after a Tyra Rickman offensive rebound, came up short on a trey from the left corner.
Johnson added four rebounds and four assists, going 7-for-7 at the foul line in the win, with Taylor (LaMoreaux) Taylor adding ten points and six rebounds. Nicole Bruce had a season-high 19 points and eight rebounds for the Yotes – 15 points coming in the first half, while Gall notched 13 points, six rebounds, six assists, and six steals.
In the opener, Allie Eastman scored 11 points, as the Griffins (10-1), ranked No. 10 in the NAIA Division I preseason poll, defeated the Bruins (3-2), ranked No. 4 in the WBCA NCAA Division III poll.
Both team struggled offensively throughout the game, each shooting below a 30-percent clip, but it was Westminster who used a 9-0 run late in the game, capped by a Michelle Pace triple, to take a 46-35 lead with four minutes remaining and hung on for the win.
Nicole Yazzie, Jenteal Jackson, and Pace each scored nine for the Griffins – who won despite going 5-for-24 from three-point range and 11-for-21 from the line. Hayley Cusick had 12 points and Keisha Gordon added 11 points and eight rebounds in the loss for GFU – who committed 26 turnovers in the game.
The tourney title game is tomorrow at 3 p.m., with Westminster meeting Whitworth, followed by the consolation game at 5 p.m. between The C of I and George Fox.