EUGENE, Ore. – The Northwest Christian University women’s basketball team had no answer for junior Forward Laura Geis as the Beacons fell to The College of Idaho on Friday evening, 68-53. Geis was 10-for-20 from the field, scoring a game-high 20 points for the visitors to the Morse Event Center. Yotes head coach Reagan Rossi picked up her 200th career victory.
NCU bounced out to a 7-2 lead behind an early three-pointer from Jess Anderson and buckets from Katie Collins and Lindsey Shearer. C of I went on 9-2 run to take the lead at the 12:42 mark on a three pointer by Katelin Shannon and throughout the half the lead changed four times with the Yotes emerging with a 29-28 lead at the intermission. Geis led all scorers with ten first half points while Anderson finished the period with eight for NCU.
The Beacons tied the game early in the second half on another Anderson three-pointer, and were down by just one, 37-36 with just under 14 minutes to play. College of Idaho, however, showed why they are currently receiving votes in the NAIA national coaches poll, using an 18-4 run to go up by 13 points.
The Yotes (16-7, 11-3 CCC) cruised from that point, leading by as many as 21 before taking the 15-point victory. Geis also contributed game-highs of nine rebounds and four blocks. Felicity Jones scored 16 points and had six assists while Tina Fakahafua scored ten points, eight assists, and five rebounds. C of I out-rebounded the Beacons 38-31 and shot 51.8% in the game.
The Beacons (9-16, 1-12 CCC) were led by Shearer, finishing with 15 points, eight rebounds and three steals. Anderson ended the night going 4-for-8 from three-point range, scoring 14 points. She also led NCU with four assists. Martha Taylor added seven points and seven rebounds in the loss. The Beacons shot 32.8% from the field but were 86% at the free-throw line in limited action.
The College of Idaho, who moved into a second-place tie in the Cascade Collegiate Conference, heads to face CCC-leading Corban tomorrow night. The Beacons will host #8 Eastern Oregon, the other team tied for second. Both games are scheduled for 5:30 pm tip-offs.