FORT WAYNE, Ind. — The College of Idaho women's basketball team saw a remarkable season come to a close Saturday afternoon, battling host and No. 2 seed Saint Francis (Ind.) until the final minutes before falling 60-54 in the NAIA Second Round.
The loss ended one of the most memorable campaigns in program history. The Yotes surpassed 20 regular season wins for the first time since the 2008-09 season and earned an impressive No. 7 seed in the NAIA National Tournament, a testament to the consistency and growth the program displayed throughout the year.
Saturday's matchup with the Cougars unfolded as a gritty postseason battle from start to finish. Saint Francis built early momentum and carried a 34-26 lead into halftime after a strong second quarter, but the Yotes refused to let their season slip away quietly.
College of Idaho delivered its best stretch after the break. The Yotes erupted for 21 points in the third quarter while holding Saint Francis to just nine, completely flipping the momentum of the game. Brooke Beresford, Anna Mooney, and Kylie Waltermeyer helped fuel the surge as the Yotes stormed back to take a 47-43 lead heading into the final period.
The fourth quarter turned into a tense, possession-by-possession battle. College of Idaho pushed its advantage to five points midway through the quarter, but Saint Francis answered with a late run. A three pointer by Cali Gregory tied the game at 50-50 with 5:34 remaining, the final tie of the afternoon and the moment that set up the dramatic finish.
From there, the Cougars converted key baskets and free throws down the stretch while the Yotes struggled to find another scoring run, allowing Saint Francis to narrowly pull away in the closing minutes.
Despite the outcome, College of Idaho controlled several key statistical areas. The Yotes outrebounded the Cougars 33-26 and dominated second chance opportunities with a 9-0 advantage in second chance points while also scoring 30 points in the paint.
Waltermeyer led the Yotes with 11 points, while Beresford added 15 points and eight rebounds in a strong all-around performance. Riley Beck provided a spark on both ends with eight points and nine rebounds, and Mooney chipped in 14 points while helping orchestrate the third-quarter comeback.
Saint Francis was powered by a late offensive burst from Gregory, who scored 13 of her game-high 19 points in the fourth quarter to help secure the victory.
While the final score brought the season to an end, it could not diminish what this Yotes squad accomplished. College of Idaho returned to the NAIA Second Round for the second consecutive season, captured more than 20 regular season wins for the first time in over 15 years, and earned one of the highest national tournament seeds in program history.
For a team that spent the entire year proving it belonged on the national stage, the 2025-26 Yotes delivered a season that will be remembered in Caldwell for years to come.