via Oregon Tech Athletic Communications
Oregon Tech 69, Eastern Oregon 50
LA GRANDE, Ore. – Gabbie Gascon scored a career-high 28 points, helping Oregon Tech earn their first victory inside Quinn Coliseum since 2016, a resounding 69-50 victory over Eastern Oregon in the Cascade Conference opener for both teams.
The Lady Owls (5-2, 1-0 CCC) ran their win streak to five, earning their most lopsided win in program history on the Mountaineers home floor.
“What a tremendous effort by our team,” said OIT head coach Joy Lease. “At halftime, we challenged the team to be physical at both ends of the floor – and we did.”
Tech never trailed in the win, jumping out to a 12-2 lead – holding the Mountaineers (4-2, 0-1) without a made field goal over the first eight minutes of the game.
EOU used a 5-0 run before halftime to get within 33-28, cutting the margin early in the third quarter to 37-35 on a Haylee Johnson 3-pointer.
Gascon took over, hitting a triple and four free throws, adding a runner in the lane to push the margin to 48-37. The junior put the game away in the fourth quarter, capping an 8-0 run with a 3-pointer, as the lead grew to 65-46.
OIT held Eastern to 28-percent shooting on the night, while riding a 56-42 rebound advantage.
Gascon finished 4-of-8 from 3-point range and converted 10-of-14 free throws in the victory. Kennedy Tull ended the night with 11 points – her fourth-straight double-digit scoring game – with both Alexis Elquist and Jozie Ramos had eight points and eight rebounds.
Kelsie Siegner led EOU with 14 points and 12 rebounds.
Oregon Tech 67, College of Idaho 58
CALDWELL, Idaho – Tatum Schmerbach scored a season-high 20 points, helping Oregon Tech complete their first sweep of the difficult Eastern Oregon-College of Idaho road trip since 2016, as the Lady Owls topped C of I, 67-58, inside the J.A. Albertson Activities Center.
OIT (6-2, 2-0 CCC) ran their win streak to six in a row – holding their fourth-straight opponent below 34-percent shooting.
It marks the third time Tech has swept the trip – as the 2002-23 and 2015-16 teams also accomplished the feat.
After seven lead changes in the first quarter, the Owls used a 12-2 run spanning the opening frames to build a 26-17 lead. Gabbie Gascon started the run with a lay-up, with Kendall Fealey, Schmerbach and Alexis Elquist contributing baskets in the flurry. Schmerbach capped the half with a long 3-pointer with two seconds left in the period, giving Tech a 40-26 lead.
Schmerbach continued her big night early in the third quarter, knocking down two jumpers in an 8-1 run, giving the visitors their largest lead of the game at 48-29 – before the Yotes (2-5, 0-2) made a run.
Consecutive 3’s from Kylie Waltermyer and McKenzie Hirsch keyed a 10-0 C of I, cutting the margin to 48-39. The Yotes were within 56-48, before Gascon hit a long triple as the shot clock expired with three minutes left and Tech closed the contest by making eight of their final 10 free throws.
Schmerbach added a team-best five assists, Gascon finished with 14 points and nine rebounds and Elquist logged a double-double with 10 points and 14 rebounds. OIT finished the night making 17-of-22 free throws.
Anna Mooney led C of I with 16 points and Hirsch scored 13 in the loss, as the Yotes made 19-of-57 field goal chances and committed 19 turnovers.
The Owls return home on Saturday night, hosting No. 4-ranked Southern Oregon at 5:30 p.m. It is Military Appreciation Night, presented by Winema Electric, with all current and retired military members and their families admitted free with an ID.
