CALDWELL, Idaho - A stifling defensive effort helped The College of Idaho pull into a first-place tie in the Cascade Conference standings, as the Lady Yotes defeated Northwest Christian, 58-41, inside the J.A. Albertson Activities Center.
The win for the Lady Yotes (11-6, 6-2 CCC) moved the squad into a logjam atop the league standings, tied with Eastern Oregon for the top spot. Three other teams - Corban, Oregon Tech, and Warner Pacific, all sit a half-game back, and even in the loss column.
The visiting Beacons (8-11, 0-7) took a 14-8 lead on a pair of Aly Bruns free throws with just under 11 minutes left in the half. The hosts would clamp down defensively, holding NCU to just one made field goal over a nine minute stretch - forcing 10 turnovers in a decisive 20-2 run. Felicity Jones scored seven during the spurt, with a Meghan Hughes basket pushing the lead to 28-16.
NCU scored the opening basket in the second half, but went eight minutes before their next made field goal. Back-to-back fast break lay-ups by Hughes and a triple from Jones capped a 16-0 run, as the Lady Yotes took a 44-22 lead with 12 minutes to go and cruised to the win.
Jones led a balanced scoring effort with 11 points and nine rebounds, adding four steals. Laura Geis and Dayna Drager added 10 points each for the Yotes, who limited NCU to 24-percent shooting from the floor and forced 26 turnovers.
The Beacons did not have a scorer in double-figures, as Kelsey Atkins and Jess Anderson each recorded eight points, with Lindsey Shearer leading NCU with six rebounds.
The C of I returns to action next Friday for a first-place showdown at No. 9 Eastern Oregon.