EUGENE, Ore.  –Morgan McKinney hit a runner in the lane with four seconds remaining and the Beacons survived a last season Coyote shot that rattled off the front and back irons as NCU pulled out the 66-65 victory over The College of Idaho on Friday night.
 
NCU jumped out to quick 9-2 lead on the strength of three early McKinney baskets and extended the margin to 23-15 on a Dani Baker triple. The Yotes (9-9, 7-5) responded with a 9-0 run spanning the opening quarters – as Royce canned a 3, Kiersten Rasmussen knocked down a short jumper and Mackenzie Collins converted two lay-ups to give C of I their first lead of the night.
 
An 8-0 run early in the third quarter built the Beacons a 44-37 lead, but C of I battled back, as a Kaylee Krusemark 3-pointer started a 7-0 Coyote surge that evened the score at 51-51.
 
A back-and-forth fourth quarter saw multiple lead changes, with a Sarah Reinecker corner 3-pointer giving NCU a 63-60 with 2:29 left. C of I answered, as Jocelyn Cook-Cox splashed an 18-foot jumper and Madison Holly splashed a triple from the head of the key to give the Yotes a 65-63 edge.
 
McKinney cut the margin to a point with a free throw and after a defensive stop, NCU had a chance to take the lead, but C of I forced the Beacons into a shot clock violation with 18 seconds left. The visitors fouled Holly with eight ticks left on the clock, but the senior missed both free throws – setting up the game-winning sequence for NCU.
 
The Beacons (8-13, 5-7 CCC) were led by a near-double-double from McKinney, finishing with 18 points and nine rebounds along with four assists. Baker added 11 points on 3-for-4 shooting from distance and Sarah Reinecker scored ten. Kaylynn Bush matched McKinney with a team-leading four assists along with two steals.
 
The Yotes (9-9, 7-5) were led by Cook-Cox with 17 and Holly with 15 as the latter connected on a trio of three-pointers. Mackenzie Collins came off the bench to score 12 points, adding a game-high three steals.
 
NCU will look to take a little momentum into their contest on Saturday with No. 13 Eastern Oregon University at 5:30 pm.