Concordia Rallies to Stun Lady Yotes, 79-77
CALDWELL, Idaho – Janae Klarich converted both ends of a 1-and-1 with two seconds left, as Concordia University rallied from a 13-point halftime deficit to stun College of Idaho, 79-77, inside the J.A. Albertson Activities Center.
After the Lady Yotes (10-10, 7-5 CCC) tied the score on a Elisha Hensey jumper with 20 seconds remaining, the Cavs isolated Klarich, who penetrated the lane and drew a blocking foul. The junior drained the two freebies to give CU (5-18, 2-9) the lead – but C of I had one last gasp. Jessica Aguilar tossed a baseball pass to Chakala Carthen at the opposite free throw line, with the forward spinning into the lane, but her runner spun around the cylinder twice before falling out as time expired.
C of I used a 12-2 first half run to erase a 12-6 Cavalier lead, riding the back of Carthen, who scored 20 points and added 16 rebounds on the night. A Carthen lay-up just before the break gave the Yotes their largest lead of the evening, 39-26.
CU found their rhythm in the second half, making 62-percent of their field goal tries. Caitlyn McCutcheon had back-to-back baskets to start a 17-6 run that got the visitors within a basket early in the period. The Cavs would regain the lead at 57-56 on a Gabi Beyer three, but the Yotes would respond – as an Erica Martinez lay-up gave the hosts a 68-64 edge with four minutes left. McCutcheon struck again, recording two baskets in an 11-2 run to set up the wild finish.
McCutcheon led the Cavs with 22 points and eight rebounds, with Kelly Huey scoring 10 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists. Lexi Campbell, Beyer, and Klarich all added 10 in the win, as CU ended a five-game losing streak to the Yotes.
Martinez scored 19 in the loss for the Lady Yotes, who were limited to 4-of-16 shooting from outside the arc – the first time in seven games that the club had not made at least nine three-pointers. Aleah Lowber scored 13 and Hensey had 11 in the set back.
C of I returns to action tomorrow night, hosting Warner Pacific at 5:30 p.m.