Nicole Gall scored 23 points in Lady Yotes semifinal victory
CALDWELL, Idaho - A 31-4 run spanning both halves proved to be the difference for The College of Idaho, as the Lady Yotes advanced to their third-straight Cascade Conference Tournament championship game, defeating Southern Oregon, 75-57, inside the J.A. Albertson Activities Center.
With the win, the Lady Yotes (20-7) will host Eastern Oregon, a 78-64 winner over Corban, in Monday’s title game – the first time The C of I has hosted the finale. Both teams have already claimed the two CCC berths to the NAIA Division II National Tournament next month in Sioux City, Iowa.
Clinging to a 26-25 lead, the Coyotes got a three-point play from Katie Strunk, a Whitney Owen free throw, and a pair of freebies from Nicole Gall, to push the lead to seven at the break. The hosts would force eight turnovers in the first eight minutes of the second half, holding the Raiders (20-11) to 1-of-12 shooting during the stretch. Gall would score 16 points during the run, including a trio of triples, as the Yotes led 57-29 with 11:44 remaining.
SOU would go on a foul spree the final five minutes, trying to get back in the game – getting within 15 on a Carly Wood three in the final two minutes, but could not get closer.
Gall led The C of I with 23 points, including 4-of-6 shooting from outside the arc, with Brette Rubie adding ten points and eight boards. Twin sisters Katee Brewer and Kayla Isham had big nights for the Coyotes, with Brewer scoring ten points and four steals, with Isham adding seven points and three rebounds.
Jacki Speer capped an amazing career with 23 points and 20 rebounds for the Raiders, falling just one point short of tying the school record for scoring in a career. Emily Brookins added 12 points in the loss for SOU – the second-straight season they have lost to The C of I in the CCC semis.
The Coyotes will meet Eastern Oregon at 7:30 p.m. in the CCC title game – with tickets going on sale one hour prior to tip-off. Ticket prices are $10 for seat-backs, $7 for bleacher seats.