ROCKLIN, Calif. – After leading 22-11 at the end of the first period, NAIA D 1 No. 4 ranked Masters University (2-0) never fell behind.  MU expanded the lead in the second and third and easily held off a comeback attempt from No. 21 Oregon Tech (0-2) in the fourth, dropping them 82-60 on Saturday Morning in the Warrior Arena in the third game of the Bill Holtz Warrior Classic.

"I was really proud of how hard we played today, but we made it more difficult than necessary with 21 turnovers," Head Coach Scott Meredith said. "That is an area that needs to improve sooner than later. Nevertheless, we battled the #4 NAIA D1 in the nation without Abby and Melissa and held our own. We won't face a tougher team this season and this level of competition will prepare us for conference play. Despite going 0-2 this weekend, we are very optimistic about our future."
 
After a closely contested start, the Mustangs pulled ahead with a 9-0 run in the first, shooting 50% overall and 57% from long range while the Owls struggled at a 36% overall average.
 
Tech's Amanda Constant scored 11 of her total 13 points in the fourth quarter and the team whipped out a 10-2 run, giving them a 4-point lead in the period. However, a 24-17 advantage in the second and a 21-13 edge in the third gave Masters a strong buffer. 
 
Freshman Maddyson Tull scored 13 points, tying Constant to lead the Lady Owls. Tull also grabbed seven rebounds. Makaila Napoleon tallied another eight points in only eight minutes of play and freshman Eastyn Reeves notched six points and seven assists.
 
Stephanie Soares scored a double-double, leading the Mustangs with 22 points and 11 rebounds and also made five blocks. Anika Neuman followed up with 17 points, and Brooke Bailey added another nine.
 
Tech defense struggled as Masters University forced 21 turnovers to add 24 points.
 
The Owls held a 23-21 edge from bench points.
 
The Mustangs took a 33-26 rebounding advantage and led 28-12 in the paint. Masters held a 51% overall shooting average while Oregon Tech had trouble scoring and ended the night at 43%.
 
The Lady Owls will return to Klamath Falls next weekend to take on Pacific Union at 8:00pm at Danny Miles Court before hitting the road again to challenge Linfield in McMinnville next Sunday.
 
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