The College of Idaho notched a crucial 74-66 victory over Northwest Christian inside the J.A. Albertson Activities Center on Friday night, making the Beacons wait at least one more night before clinching a Cascade Collegiate Conference playoff berth
 
The win for the Lady Yotes (7-17, 6-9 CCC) completed a season sweep of NCU, while ending a five-game losing streak. The Beacons (11-3, 7-9) began the day just a half game out of fourth-place in the CCC.
 
Brittany Wirth scored the first ten points of the night for C of I, including a pair of 3-pointers, as the Lady Yotes jumped out to a 15-2 lead just five minutes into the game.  The Beacons would get within seven points on a pair of occasions, but a 9-2 Coyote run, capped by a long Kellie Ross trey, gave the hosts their largest lead of the first half at 37-21. The Yotes took a 40-28 lead into the intermission.
 
NCU opened the second half on a six-point run, closing the gap to 40-34 on a Sami Pitts jumper, but a Wirth put back and a Hensey triple keyed a 9-0 run as the C of I regained command.  The Beacons pressed late in the game cut the margin to 69-64 inside the final two minutes, but C of I made 5-of-6 free throws to seal the victory.
 
Wirth was 8-of-16 from the field and added seven rebounds in the win.  Elisha Hensey scored 15 points, added 12 rebounds, six assists, and a career-high eight steals.  Jamiece Yizar had 10 points and nine rebounds, with Kellie Ross, Aleah Lowber, and Haylee Burnham all scoring nine for the Yotes.
 
Hannah Frederick and Chandler Gabrio (pictured) scored 14 points to lead NCU, who made just 6-of-27 shots from the field and were out-boarded by C of I, 46-36. Gabrio also led the team with eight rebounds and three steals as the Beacons forced 22 College of Idaho turnovers.
 
NCU returns to action on Saturday, traveling to Le Grande to take on Eastern Oregon University.