Nicole Gall led C of I to quarterfinal win over Concordia
CALDWELL, Idaho - Nicole Gall led four College of Idaho players in double figures with 12 points, as the Lady Yotes opened up Cascade Conference Tournament play with a 68-50 victory over Concordia University inside the J.A. Albertson Activities Center.
With the win, the top-seeded and No. 20 ranked Lady Yotes (19-7) will play host to seventh-seeded Southern Oregon, a 68-55 upset winner over Warner Pacific, on Friday night. Eastern Oregon, who defeated Oregon Tech, 67-56, tonight, will host Corban, who upset No. 3 seeded Northwest, 88-77, in the second semifinal.
The Cavaliers (13-16) kept the game close for the first ten minutes, pulling within 21-20 on a Sarah Eischen jumper. However, the Lady Yotes would hold CU to just two field goals the rest of the period – forcing ten of the Cavs 29 turnovers during an 18-4 run, as Gall hit a trey at the final horn to send C of I to the locker room with a 39-24 lead.
The Coyotes would see the margin cut to 50-40 on a Megan Padilla lay-up with 12:14 remaining, but a Katelin Shannon trey started a 8-0 C of I run that put the game out of reach.
Gall added seven assists, six rebounds, and six steals in the victory for the Lady Yotes, who improve to 10-1 all-time at home during the postseason. Katie Strunk had ten points and nine rebounds, Nicole Bruce had ten points, seven rebounds, and four blocks, and Brette Rubie scored ten in the win.
Danielle Clauson led CU with 16 points, with Eischen adding ten off the bench.
Tickets for Friday’s semifinal game will go on sale at the J.A. Albertson Activities Center box office beginning one hour prior to tip-off. Tickets are $10 for seat-backs, $7 for bleacher seating.
CCC Women’s Tournament Quarterfinals – No. 1 College of Idaho 68, No. 8 Concordia 50; No. 7 Southern Oregon 68, No. 2 Warner Pacific 55, No. 6 Corban 88, No. 3 Northwest 77, No. 4 Eastern Oregon 67, No. 5 Oregon Tech 56
CCC Semifinals (Friday, 7:30 p.m.) – No. 7 Southern Oregon at No. 1 College of Idaho; No. 6 Corban at No. 4 Eastern Oregon