Box Score PORTLAND, Ore. – Playing without steady point guard Valerie Wakefield due to a sore shoulder, the Multnomah University Lions gave up 18 points on 23 costly turnovers and dropped a 56-38 decision to the visiting College of Idaho Lady 'Yotes in Cascade Collegiate Conference women's basketball action Friday evening here at Lytle Gym.
 
The Lions made a game of it for three quarters against one of the hottest teams in the CCC, the 'Yotes having won seven of their previous nine games after a 1-12 start to the season.  The first quarter alone saw three ties and five lead changes as Bethany George, on two jumpers and a three-pointer, gave Multnomah the advantage three times in the first six minutes.  C of I scored five straight points on a layup by Keahi-lele Roy and three free throws, two by Madison Holly and one by Sophia Jackson, to take a 13-10 lead with 1:25 left in the period, but Erin Estabrook's layup made it a one-point game at the end of the quarter. 
 
Multnomah took its last lead of the game at 14-13 on a Faith Kraatz basket two minutes into the second quarter, but the 'Yotes reeled off seven unanswered points on a free throw and two treys by Roy to go ahead for good 20-14 with 5:21 left before the half.  A three by Anissa Behymer-Smith and a layup by Kraatz trimmed the deficit to one, but a triple by Alyssa Case with 11 seconds to go gave the 'Yotes a tenuous 23-19 lead at the break.
 
C of I stretched its margin to 10 at 33-23 on a jumper by Jackson at 4:16 in the third quarter, but the Lions were still within striking distance as they trailed only 40-32 heading into the final period.  Case hit another three at the 7:03 mark to put the 'Yotes back up by double figures at 46-34, however, and the Lions got no closer than 10 the rest of the way.  Multnomah went scoreless over the final 2:54 while the College of Idaho made five free throws to salt the game away.
 
--- By the Numbers:  Tiara Chinn scored 12 points, all on three-pointers, as the only Lion in double figures.  Kraatz, while scoring eight points, had game highs in four categories with 13 rebounds, five assists, five steals, and four blocked shots.  Multnomah shot .288 (15-52 from the field and .286 (6-21) on threes while going to the line only four times all game, making two. 
 
Case led the College of Idaho with 15 points, followed by Roy with 13 and Jocelyn Cook-Cox with 12.  Jackson grabbed 11 rebounds, leading the 'Yotes to a 42-35 advantage on the boards.  Roy and Jackson had three assists apiece, and Roy and Case made four steals each.  The 'Yotes finished with a .358 shooting percentage (19-53, only 4-14 on threes) but had a huge edge at the line, making 14 of 24 attempts.
 
Multnomah is now 1-26 overall and 1-16 in the conference, while the College of Idaho is 9-14 on the season and 9-8 in the league.
 
--- Quoting MU coach Tim Bieri:  "We had a solid first half tonight and were able to make some big shots. The second half, and specifically the fourth quarter, we simply ran out of gas. We had a few injuries this past week so we were short-handed (missing Val was tough) and I think the extra minutes just got the best of us."
 
--- Next:  Multnomah hosts sixth-ranked Eastern Oregon University Saturday at 5:30 p.m. in its final home game of the season, a CCC contest … Seniors Valerie Wakefield, Tara Osburn, and Anissa Behymer-Smith will be honored in pre-game ceremonies, along with a special tribute to Ana Wakefield, the Multnomah player who missed this season while recovering from serious injuries suffered in an automobile accident back in October … Gate and concession proceeds from Saturday's women's and men's games will go to the Wakefield family to assist with Ana's expenses … The College of Idaho visits Warner Pacific College Saturday, also at 5:30 p.m. in a conference game … Both women's games will be followed by men's games at 7:30 p.m.