via Oregon Tech Athletic Communications
KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – Jozie Ramos closed out a dominant month of February with a career-high 32 points, helping No. 23 ranked Oregon Tech outlast Corban, 69-52, in the quarterfinals of the Cascade Conference Championships, presented by U.S. Bank, at Danny Miles Court.
The Lady Owls (23-6) advance to Saturday’s semifinals, hosting No. 25-ranked Lewis-Clark State at 7 p.m. The winner will meet the Southern Oregon-College of Idaho winner next Tuesday for the tournament crown. Tickets for the game will go on sale Thursday at Noon – with season ticket holders having until Noon on Saturday to secure their regular-season seats.
Ramos was the story, recording the first 30-point game by an OIT women’s player since 2017, becoming just the seventh player in program history to score 32-or-more points in a game. The sophomore closed the month averaging 19.8 points per game – with tonight’s win securing Tech their third-straight trip to the league semifinals.
OIT finished the night making 51% of their field goals, while converting 17-of-21 free throw attempts, ending the night with a 40-28 rebound margin.
Ramos dominated early – scoring 10 of the Owls first 12 points – as the hosts bolted to a 16-8 lead. The Baker product added a 9-point scoring run in the second quarter, capped by a 3-pointer, helping the Lady Owls take a 26-14 lead.
The Warriors (11-18) would not go away – as 3’s from Jenna Albrecht, Tori Younker and Gemma Lavergne early in the third quarter pulled the visitors even for the first time at 40-40. Tech answered with inside baskets from Maddyson Tull and Alexis Elquist to regain the margin and led 47-42 after three quarters.
Brooke Anderson keyed a 19-6 fourth quarter run for the Owls, splashing a 3-pointer against the Corban zone – as the freshman scored seven points and Tatum Schmerbach added six in the flurry – as Tech won a postseason game vs. the Warriors for the first time since 2014.
Ramos made 12-of-15 field goals and 7-of-9 free throws, adding seven rebounds and three steals. Schmerbach flirted with a triple-double, scoring 12 points with 10 rebounds, seven assists and five blocks, with Kaitlyn Wright scoring six points, adding seven rebounds and three steals off the bench.
Albrecht led the Warriors with 12 points and Alyssa Wyllie added 11.
OIT improved to 15-1 all-time in home CCC quarterfinal games.
