CALDWELL, Idaho – Keeping alive their chances of hosting a playoff game for the first time in program history, the Evergreen Geoducks picked up a big road win at College of Idaho, defeating the host Coyotes, 73-69, in a Cascade Conference women’s basketball game on Friday night at J.A. Albertson Center in Caldwell, Idaho.
In the first half, the Yotes took the initial lead but the Geoducks showed early that they were ready to play taking the lead at 4-3 and holding it until C of I tied it up at 22 all. A 9-0 run gave Evergreen the 31-22 lead with 3:19 to go in the first half. The lead continued to grow, hitting 14 points at the break following a buzzer-beating jumper by Jessica Denmon (Oak Harbor, Wash./Oak Harbor HS/Skagit Valley CC) that put the halftime score at 29-25.
In the second half, College of Idaho came out and showed why they are among those receiving votes in the NAIA DII Top 25, cutting the gap to three points with 13:56 left to go. Evergreen dug deep again and pushed the lead back into double-digits on a Brittany Gray (Bainbridge Island, Wash./Bainbridge HS/Skagit Valley CC) jumper with 5:50 left to play.
A steal and a three-pointer by Erica Martinez pulled C of I back within three-points with 46 seconds left. With 10 seconds left, Denmon went to the line for the Geoducks, sinking a pair of free throws. After the Yotes hit a pair of free throws with seven seconds left, Denmon hit a free throw to put the game out of reach as Evergreen earned their first win in Caldwell since 2005, 73-69.
Evergreen was led by 19 points from Denmon, including seven-of-eight on free throws. Sadee Jones (Belfair, Wash./North Mason HS) added 15 points and 16 rebounds in the win while LaNiecia Weatherspoon (Seattle, Wash./Garfield HS/Yakima Valley CC) came off the bench to add 12 points. Senior Sammi Clark (Monroe, Wash./Monroe HS/Edmonds CC) put up 11 points to round out the Geoducks in double-digit scoring.
College of Idaho was led by 18 points from Martinez. Dayna Drager and Chakala Carthen each added 14 points with Carthen adding 10 rebounds for the double-double. Elisha Hensey chalked up 13 points in the loss to round out the Yotes in double-digit scoring.
The Geoducks wrap up the regular season on Saturday night as they lead to La Grande to battle Eastern Oregon. Tip with the Mountaineers is set for 5:30 p.m. at Quinn Coliseum.