KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – No. 22 ranked Northwest Christian University (13-3, 7-1 CCC) downed Oregon Tech (11-7, 5-3 CCC) on Friday night at Danny Miles Court as a last-second layup from Morgan McKinney broke a 73-73 tie and sent the Beacons to the lead for the last time after a tight battle, giving them a 75-73 victory.
 
"It was a very competitive game tonight," said OIT head coach Scott Meredith. "Our team really battled but came up a little short. We rebounded well but we had twice as many turnovers as they did and that was really the difference. Giving up 75 points on our own floor doesn't sit well with me. We will be ready again to compete tomorrow night."
 
Northwest – who currently leads the Cascade Conference at a 7-1 record – opened the game with a 14-5 run that included four three-point baskets from freshman Aspen Slifka to give the team a five-point lead.
 
A last-second layup from freshman Makaila Napoleon dropped the lead to three going into the second stanza. Sophomore Courtney Clemmer picked up where Napoleon left off, scoring seven points in a 10-1 Tech run that gave them a four-point lead to the locker room.
 
The Beacons returned reinvigorated, shooting off 10 points and holding the Owls scoreless as they returned from a nine-point deficit in the third. However, their lead didn't hold for long and by the end of the quarter, Oregon Tech was ahead once again.
 
But the game was too close to call, and another 10-point run for Northwest Christian gave them the advantage in the final period. The Lady Owls rushed to catch up, tying the score with a minute on the clock as junior Abby Kreiser landed one from behind the arc. The Beacons jumped up three, but a Kristin Farrell three-pointer tied things up again with only 30 seconds on the clock.
 
McKinney then scored her final shot off an assist from Kaylen Kamelamela to break the tie and win the game.
 
Slifka led Northwest with a career-high 30 points, shooting 4-of-8 from long range and 12-of-18 overall on the night. She was followed by McKinney – who scored 15 and made two steals – and Kamelamela, who tallied 11 points and five assists. Kayce Mock led the team's rebounding effort, making seven and also adding two steals and three blocks.
 
Clemmer led Tech with 20 points, shooting at 90% on the night before fouling out in the final stanza. Farrell followed up with 14 points, making 4-of-6 from long range, and junior Amanda Constant scored seven and made nine rebounds. Kreiser scored five but tallied eight assists.
 
Oregon Tech led 41-32 rebounding and also took a 22-19 assisting edge. The team also earned a 21-12 advantage from the bench as every player contributed at least two points.
 
The Beacons played hard on the offensive, forcing 16 turnovers and taking a 19-6 advantage off turnovers.
 
The Lady Owls will play their second game of the weekend tomorrow night at Danny Miles Court against Corban University, with tip-off at 5:30 pm. Then, on Sunday afternoon, Lady Owl alumni will return for a free-to-the-public alumni game at 12:00 pm.
 
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