LA GRANDE, Ore. – The Eastern Oregon University women’s basketball team grew its conference winning streak to 27 straight contests with a 85-83 victory over College of Idaho on Friday evening at Quinn Coliseum. Nikki Osborne hit a layup with 2.5 seconds remaining in the game to give EOU the win.
Brittney Newcomb scored a game high 33 points for EOU. Kassy Larson followed with 20 for EOU as she collected 16 rebounds, 12 on the offensive end. Dayna Drager scored 19 points on 7-of-11 shooting to lead College of Idaho.
The Mountaineers got off to a fast start against the Yotes as EOU raced out to a 9-4 lead in the first three and a half minutes of the contest. However, Eastern Oregon’s did not last long as College of Idaho came back and tied the game at 9-9.
After the Yotes tied the game, EOU took a two point lead, 11-9, but College of Idaho answered with a 15-4 run to take a 24-16 lead over EOU. The Yotes would extend the lead to 11 points, 31-20, with seven minute to go before halftime.
The Mountaineers started to mount a small comeback trimming the College of Idaho lead down to three points, 39-36, as Nikki Osborne made a jumper right before the half.
To start the second half the Yotes grew thr lead to five points, 43-38, before the Mountaineers came battling back. With the Yotes ahead by five, Eastern Oregon scored the next six points to take a one point lead, 44-43. The lead did not last long for EOU as the Yotes came right back to take a 46-44 lead.
The Mountaineers and Yotes remained locked in a close game the rest of the second half, which say both teams hold leads during the half. With the Yotes ahead 66-64, the Mountaineers tied the game at 66-66, after a jumper by Kassy Larson.
The Yotes scored the next six points as Aleah Lowber and Elsiha Hensey hit back to back three pointers, to take a 72-66 lead. Eastern Oregon continued to battle but saw the Yotes lead grew to six points, 76-70.
Eastern Oregon continued to battle back and after a jumper by Nyesha Joseph the Mountaineers found themselves down two points, 76-74. The lead did not stay at two points very long as College of Idaho went and hit a three pointer on its next possession to take a five point lead, 79-74.
With one minute and 50 seconds remaining in the game, Erica Martinez hit a layup to put the Yotes on top by four points, 83-79. Twenty-five seconds later, Larson hit a layup for EOU to cut the lead down to two points, 83-81.
EOU found itself down two points, 83-81, Larson looked as if she would tie the game up with one minute left. Her turnaround jumper rimmed out and the Yotes grabbed the rebound. The College of Idaho’s possession was short lived as Sienna Edmunson was called for a travel.
After the Yotes turnover, Newcomb came down and shot a three pointer, which she was fouled on. Newcomb went to the free throw line and hit two of three free throws to the game at 83-83. She missed her last free throw, which Larson grabbed for her twelfth offensive rebound of the game.
With 3.5 seconds remaining in the game, the Mountaineers had the ball underneath its own basket. After a time out and on the inbounds play, Nikki Osborne slipped behind the Yotes defense and received the pass and put it up and in to give EOU an 85-83 lead. The Yotes fired up a half court shot but it rimmed out as the horn sounded and EOU came away with an 85-83 victory.
EOU returns to action next Friday when they host Northwest Christian at 5:30 p.m. The Yotes return to action next Friday when they host Corban at 5:30 p.m. MT.