CALDWELL, Idaho – With a sub-zero wind chill factor outside, The Northwest Christian University women's basketball team was just warm enough inside, holding on for a 65-64 victory over The College of Idaho on Friday night in Cascade Collegiate Conference action.
 
The Beacons (5-5, 2-1 CCC) led by as many as 11 points late in the first half but a 10-2 run by the Yotes made a game of it. A Conner Borigo layup in the final seconds help pad NCU's slim advantage.
 
College of Idaho continued to whittle away their deficit in the third quarter and eventually took a 44-42 lead at the 2:59 mark off a three-pointer from Jaycin Tini. The Beacons trailed for over two minutes before Jeni Hoffert buried a triple and NCU took a 50-46 edge into the final ten minutes.
 
Niki Duncan opened the fourth quarter by hitting a three-pointer, putting the Beacons up by seven. They still held a 63-54 lead as Borigo scored NCU's final field goal of the night with 3:57 to play. The home team owned the final four minutes with a furious comeback, out-scoring the Beacons 10-2. Petra Lumpert scored an old-fashioned three-point play with 1:15, but it would be C of I's final points as the streak fell short.
 
The Yotes (1-8, 1-2 CCC) had all five starters in double-figures, led by a 14-point night from Kiara Skinner. Lumpert and Madison Pilster scored 12 each with Tini and Alyssa Case adding ten apiece. The College of Idaho shot 38.6% for the game, hit seven three-pointers and collected 12 steals.
 
Monique Thompson led the team in scoring for the sixth time this season, scoring 16 points along with three assists and two steals, both team highs. Borigo added 13 points off the bench as the NCU reserves out-scored their Yote counterparts, 26-6. Duncan hit three from downtown and scored 11 points and Katerina Brejchova (pictured) led all players with 11 rebounds.
 
Head Coach Heath Alexander said, "We lacked a little focus at times tonight, but defended really well when it counted. Niki hit a huge shot for us down the stretch and whenever we needed a rebound, Kat found a way to get it.
 
The win was just NCU's second ever in Caldwell and first since 2010. The Yotes hold a 16-4 advantage in the all-time series including a 9-2 lead at home. "Road wins here have been tough for us, but we got one," said Alexander. "It makes that long bus ride through the snow worth it."
 
NCU returns to action on Saturday when they take on Eastern Oregon University at 5:30 p.m.