KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – Oregon Tech withstood their lowest scoring output of the season by holding Evergreen State to 27% shooting on the night, as the Lady Owls claimed a 59-50 victory over the Geoducks in the quarterfinals of the Cascade Conference Championships, presented by U.S. Bank, at Danny Miles Court.
With the win, the No. 2-seeded Lady Owls (26-3) earn the right to host third-seed Lewis-Clark State on Friday at 5:30 p.m. – with the winner claiming a spot in the tourney title game.
OIT broke a 37-37 tie in the third quarter with a 15-3 run, claiming the victory despite making 30% of their field goals on the night.
“We won a different way tonight,” said OIT head coach Joy Lease. “Sometimes it’s not about the better team – its which team comes out and plays the best. We made a run in the third quarter, and it was enough.”
The Owls held TESC (9-16) without a made field goal for the first seven minutes of the game, as Gabbie Gascon hit a short jumper and a 3-pointer in the opening 12-3 run. The margin grew to 20-10 in the second quarter, but Sydney Vanness led a Geoduck rally, converting a 3-point play, an 18-foot jumper and a 3-pointer – pulling the visitors within 25-23 at the half.
Following four third quarter lead changes and five ties – Tech broke the 37-37 deadlock with two free throws from both Olivia Sprague and Kendall Fealey, with Sprague and Gascon scoring in transition to close the quarter, giving the Owls a 45-38 lead at the break. Gascon added a triple and Jozie Ramos knocked down two free throws, giving the No. 25-ranked team in the NAIA a 52-40 lead.
The Geoducks had one final run, as a Honey Padasdao 3-pointer capped a 9-2 run, pulling TESC within 54-49 with four minutes remaining. Tech clamped down defensively – forcing three late turnovers – with a Ramos runner inside the final 90 seconds putting the game out of reach.
Gascon led OIT with 16 points, with Ramos posting a double-double with 15 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks and Sprague adding nine points, eight rebounds and four steals. The Owls finished with a 52-42 rebound edge – including 19 offensive rebounds turning into 23 second-chance points.
Vanness led all players with 24 points and 10 rebounds – but the rest of her teammates combined to make 7-of-34 field goal attempts.
