Yotes Clinch Postseason Trip With 84-60 Win

2/14/2020 8:10:00 PM

CALDWELL, Idaho – For the 21st consecutive season The College of Idaho women's basketball team secured a trip to the postseason with an 84-60 win over Evergreen on Friday in the J.A. Albertson Activities Center.
 
The Yotes (11-15, 9-8 CCC) turned a five-point edge at the half into a lead of 20 in less than six minutes thanks to a 21-6 run to start the third quarter.
 
Freshman Lexi Mitchell ignited the run with a layup off of a Mackenzie Royce-Radford assist with 9:26 in the third and would go on to score all 12 of her points in the second half, adding 11 rebounds for the game for her first career double-double.
 
C of I took a 61-41 advantage into the final 10 minutes and extended that lead out to as large as 26 after a Kiersten Rasmussen tip-in with 2:06 remaining.
 
A key in the win for the Yotes was a quality defensive effort against Cascade Conference leading scorer Trinity Betoney, who was held to just five points on a 2-of-10 shooting night from the floor.
 
It was also a dominant night on the glass for C of I, which outrebounded the Geoducks (6-15, 6-12 CCC) by a tally of 55-35.
 
Kaylee Krusemark earned her fifth start of the season and made the most of it, tallying 12 points on 4-of-7 shooting from the field and 2-of-4 from beyond the perimeter.
 
Multiple Coyotes had important contributions on Friday, including 10 points and seven rebounds from Rasmussen and 11 points, eight assists and three rebounds from Royce-Radford. Emily Harwood had nine points and five rebounds.
 
C of I was opportunistic on the defensive side of the floor, forcing 18 turnovers by Evergreen, with Mitchell leading the way with three steals. Tayla Sayer and Rasmussen each had two steals.
 
With the win, C of I will now play in the CCC Championships, which start with the quarterfinals on Feb. 25. 
 
The Yotes return to action on Saturday for senior night, with Royce-Radford, Harwood, Hannah Maupin, Mackenzie Collins and student-assistant Stevie Hill all set to be honored following the game. Tip is set for 5:30 p.m.