EUGENE, Ore. – After losing ten straight games to The College of Idaho, it was NCU's turn to strike back on Friday, defeating the Yotes 82-62 for their first conference win of the season. It was the first win ever for NCU's four-year seniors as the last victory over CI came in 2011.
 
NCU (5-5, 1-2 CCC) led wire-to-wire and out-scored the Yotes in all four quarters including a 16-10 edge in the fourth to pull away. Head Coach Heath Alexander said, "I am really pleased with the adjustments we made offensively over the two-week break we just had, which allowed us to move the ball and create opportunities off of penetration. We shared the ball well. 18 assists is great for us and to have as many kids as we did score in double figures shows that we stayed in system and distributed."
 
The Beacons had a new hope emerge with the addition of two players to the active roster who became eligible as NCU's first semester came to a close. Transfers Niki Duncan and Jeni Hoffert each made their debuts on Friday with Duncan scoring 13 points off the bench with a team-high six rebounds.
 
"Niki provides someone else out there that you have to worry about on the defensive end and is able to attack and create for others," said Alexander. "She can score it but also really moves the ball and forces the defense to move giving us open looks."
 
The Yotes (2-7, 1-2 CCC) shot 40% from the field and also shot three-pointers like a BB, 8 times finding the bottom of the net on 16 attempts. Petra Lumpert led the way for C of I with a solo effort of 25 points, shooting 9-for-12 from the field with six rebounds, four assists and three steals. Kiara Skinner added 14 points hitting a trio of three-pointers.
 
The Beacons shot 48% for the game and benefitted from a three-point episode seven times, four of which came from senior Sami Pitts. Pitts finished with a team-high 14. Andrea Gloss added 12 points and 3 blocks while Hanna Mack (pictured) scored 11 points with four assists and two blocks. Demarea Caples and Jenna Christenson each added nine points. A force awakened from the Beacon bench as the reserves out-scored the College of Idaho bench, 32-10.
 
NCU will be right back at it on Saturday night when they take on Eastern Oregon University (7-5, 3-0 CCC). The Mounties remained undefeated in conference action with a 63-47 victory over Corban on Friday night. The College of Idaho will head to Salem to take on Corban. Both games begin at 5:30 p.m.