Nicole Gall scored 31 in loss to Whitman
WALLA WALLA, Wash. - A three-pointer at the buzzer by Nicole Gall rimmed out, as Whitman College hung on for a 60-59 victory over The College of Idaho in the title game of the Kim Evanger Raney Classic, this afternoon in the Sherwood Center.
Gall nearly rallied the Lady Yotes (6-6) to victory, as The C of I trailed 58-50 with just over two minutes to play. The senior, who scored a game-high 31 points, scored the Coyotes final nine points, including buckets on three-straight possessions, to get the squad within a point. After a Whitman turnover with 30 seconds left, the visitors worked the clock down, but Gall’s jumper from the corner missed the mark.
The game saw a bevy of runs, as The C of I jumped out to a quick 7-0 lead, before the Division III Missionaries (6-2) evened the score with a seven-point spurt of their own. Whitman held a 22-21 lead with five minutes left in the period, but the Yotes closed the half on an 11-2 run to take an eight-point lead to the break.
The Coyotes would lead 37-30 with 15-minutes remaining in the game, but the Whits would hold The C of I without a field goal for a six-minute stretch, as Jenele Peterson scored seven points in 17-0 push, building a 47-37 lead with 9:11 to play – hanging on for the win.
Rachel Rasmussen was the only other Lady Yote in double-figures with ten points and six rebounds, while Jennifer Keyes led the Missionaries with 19 points, including four three-pointers. Rebecca Sexton had 12 points and 11 rebounds in the win for the Whits.
The Lady Yotes return to action this weekend, traveling Friday to Oregon Tech and Saturday to Southern Oregon for 7:30 p.m. (PT) games.