Oregon Tech 70, Corban 60
Jozie Ramos scored 19 points, adding nine rebounds and a career-high five blocks, leading Oregon Tech to their third-straight win, a 70-60 victory over Corban University at Danny Miles Court.
The Lady Owls (18-4, 14-2 CCC) struggled offensively, making just 37% of their field goals, but cashed in at the foul line, converting 25-of-30 free throw chances – withstanding 34 3-point attempts by the visitors.
Corban (10-13, 8-9) took an 18-9 first quarter lead on the strength of a 14-2 run – getting 3-pointers from Tori Younker and Gemma Lavergne in the rally.
Tech answered with 17-straight points over the next six minutes – starting with a Brooke Anderson reverse lay-up and a steal and basket from Kendall Fealey to cut the deficit to 18-13 at the quarter break. Alexis Elquist splashed a 10-foot jumper and Kennedy Tull drained the Lady Owls only 3-pointer of the night as the lead grew to 26-18.
The Warriors pulled within 28-27 at the break and were within 40-39 late in the third quarter, when OIT broke the game open with a 17-4 run. Maddyson Tull started the rally with a 3-point play, Anderson had a steal and basket and Tatum Schmerbach capped the run with her own 3-point play.
Corban got within 63-56 with two minutes left, but were unable to get closer.
Ramos was 13-of-15 from the free throw line in the victory, with her five blocks the most by an OIT player in two seasons. Anderson tied a career-high with 14 points, Schmerbach had 12 points and six rebounds, with Elquist scoring 10 points and adding a career-high 16 rebounds – helping the Lady Owls finish with a commanding 52-33 edge on the glass.
Alyssa Wyllie led the Warriors with 14 points and Lizzy Bennett scored 10, with the visitors finishing 13-for-27 from 2-point range and 9-for-34 from beyond the 3-point stripe.
Oregon Tech 79, Bushnell 69
Tatum Schmerbach scored a season-high 24 points – including 3-straight baskets in a late 10-2 Oregon Tech run, as the No. 23-ranked Lady Owls outlasted Bushnell University, 79-69, at Danny Miles Court.
OIT (19-4, 15-2 CCC) extended their win streak to 4-in-a-row, as four players scored in double-figures, paced by Schmerbach, who added 10 rebounds and five assists.
The Beacons (9-15, 8-10) rallied from a 9-point third quarter lead to take a 65-63 advantage with six minutes on a Kyra Quinn 3-pointer – but the visitors converted just one field goal the rest of the night.
Schmerbach took over – tying the game with a post move, followed by a baseline runner that gave Tech the lead, adding a driving lay-up to push the margin to 69-65. The sophomore followed with a nifty pass, finding Jozie Ramos for a easy two, with Brooke Anderson capping the 10-2 run with a lay-up down the left baseline.
The win wasn’t easy – as two Alexis Elquist jumpers and 3’s from Anderson and Schmerbach staked the Owls to a 19-10 lead. The Eugene school countered with a 14-3 run – capped by a Libby Mathis offensive rebound and lay-up to take a 29-26 lead. Bushnell led 43-42 early in the third quarter when Elquist drained a long triple and capped an 11-2 run with a inside basket, as OIT regained a 53-45 margin – before the Beacons made it interesting late.
Anderson scored a career-high 15 points, adding eight rebounds and five assists in the win, Elquist logged her second-straight double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds, with Ramos scoring 10.
Mathis led the Beacons with 20 points, 14 rebounds and five blocks, with Mandy Sisul scoring all 11 of her points in the first half.
Tech hits the road next weekend, starting Friday with a Top-25 matchup at No. 24-ranked Lewis-Clark State.