COMING UP: Host Lithia Classic – Southern Oregon vs. George Fox, Friday, 3:30 p.m.; Oregon Tech vs. Menlo, Friday, 5:30 p.m.; Southern Oregon vs. Menlo, Saturday, 3:30 p.m.; Oregon Tech vs. George Fox, Saturday, 5:30 p.m.
TICKET INFORMATION: Basketball Season Tickets are currently on sale for the 2022-23 season – with general admission season tickets being offered at a special $75 price to commemorate the 75th anniversary of OIT. Single-game tickets ($15 for reserved seats, $10 for general admission seating, $5 general admission tickets for senior citizen, veterans and kids 6-to-17) can be purchased beginning one hour prior to tip-off or online through the
OIT Ticket Portal.
104.3 & 960-SPORTS TO CARRY LADY OWLS GAMES: All 22 Cascade Conference women's basketball games, this weekend's Lithia Classic, along with all potential postseason contests, will be broadcast live in the Klamath Basin on 104.3 & 960 Sports (KLAD-AM). Hall of Fame Voice of the Owls, Bobby Thompson, returns for his 33rd year behind the microphone, with each broadcast beginning 30 minutes prior to tip-off with the Paul Poetsch Show. Fans outside the KLAD listening area can tune in
online, with the broadcast simulcast with video on the
Owl Sports Network.
LITHIA CLASSIC RETURNS: For the sixth-straight year, the Lady Owls have partnered with Lithia Motors to host a 4-team event in Klamath Falls, as Menlo College, George Fox University and Southern Oregon University join Oregon Tech for the weekend tournament. OIT hosted the Lithia Classic from 2017-19 and were to host the event in 2020 before the season was shifted to the spring, with the tournament returning last fall.
HISTORY OF THE CLASSIC: 2022 marks the 14th straight year Tech has hosted a preseason women's basketball tournament – as in 2009 and 2010, the squad hosted the OIT Classic; from 2011-16, the Owls hosted the Midland Empire Classic; before Lithia picked up the title sponsorship in 2017. Both OIT and Southern Oregon have played in each of the previous events – SOU going 21-1 in tournament play, with OIT recording a 19-3 record. Teams making multiple appearances include William Jessup (eight trips, 0-16 in tournament games), Cal Maritime (6 trips, 0-12 in tournament games) and Simpson (5 trips, 1-9 in tournament games).
OPPONENT PREVIEW – MENLO: The Oaks (1-0) had to the Basin with a game under their belt, rolling to an 84-55 victory last weekend over UC Merced. A year removed from a 16-13 season and a trip to the NAIA National Tournament, Menlo returns four starters – forward Kiara Brown (13.8 ppg, 8.5 rpg), forward Jasmine Huggins (8.5 ppg, 4.9 rpg), guard Vivian Woo (7.4 ppg, 4.2 rpg) and guard Shay Boley (3.4 ppg, 3.9 apg) – from a team that forced 21 turnovers a game and had averaged nearly six more rebounds than their opponents. It is the first meeting between the teams since 2017, with the Oaks holding a 4-2 series edge.
OPPONENT PREVIEW – GEORGE FOX: Tournament play concludes Saturday against the Bruins (0-0), as GFU is coming off their first losing season since 1993, finishing the season 12-14. Fox made 13 trips to the Division III National Tournament from 2006-20, including winning the 2009 title. The current squad returns three starters from last year – guard Alyssa Wells (8.4 ppg, 3.4 rpg) and forwards Jenna Lacey (5.4 ppg, 3.2 rpg) and Emily Stephens (5.2 ppg, 5.4 rpg) – along with leading scorer Ella Roberts (8.5 ppg, 3.5 rpg). OIT and GFU were conference foes during the 1980s and 1990s, before the Bruins moved from the NAIA to the Division III. It is the 18th all-time meeting, with Fox holding a 10-7 series lead.
TOURNAMENT TEAM – SOUTHERN OREGON: The fourth team in the tournament is the rival Raiders (1-0), as Southern opened the season with an impressive 53-49 victory over No. 4-ranked Carroll College. The defending CCC Tournament champions are coming off a 29-6 season, advancing to the second-round of the NAIA National Tournament – but will have to replace three starters from a squad that forced 21 turnovers per game. SOU is led by All-CCC forward Kami Walk (15.7 ppg, 8.4 rpg) and guard Brianna Phiakhamngon (10.3 ppg, 3.5 apg).
SEASON OPENERS: Over the last 20 seasons, OIT has a 13-7 record in season openers, riding a 2-game win streak. The Nov. 4 start date is the latest the team has opened a season since 2011 – when Tech traveled to Walla Walla for a pair of games against Walla Walla University. Three times over the past six years, the Lady Owls have started a season in the month of October.
HOME OPENERS: The Lady Owls have dominated their first opponent of the season at home in recent years – taking a 17-game home opener win streak into Friday's match-up with Menlo. Since 2002, OIT is a combined 18-2 in home openers – the last loss coming against Lewis-Clark State to start the 2004-05 season.
SUCCESS AT DANNY MILES COURT: Danny Miles Court has been a difficult place for opponents since Tech brought women's basketball back as a varsity sport in 2002. Over the last 20 seasons, the Lady Owls have won 75-percent of their home dates – posting a stellar 224-73 overall mark. The 2012-13 squad finished the year with a 15-1 mark, while a season later, the Owls had a 16-2 record – at one point winning 19-consecutive home games. During that 20-year stretch, OIT had a winning record every season on their home floor.
LADY OWLS PICKED FIFTH: OIT was picked to finish fifth, as the 12 CCC coaches conducted their Preseason Coaches Poll on Oct. 18. The Lady Owls received 86 voter points – trailing Lewis-Clark State (137), Eastern Oregon (134), Southern Oregon (123) and Bushnell (109), finishing ahead of College of Idaho (76) and Warner Pacific (61). In the first NAIA Top-25 poll, only LCSC was ranked (No. 22) – with Eastern Oregon receiving votes.
A NEW LEADER: The Lady Owls have a new coaching staff heading into the 2022-23 season, as longtime men's assistant coach Paul Poetsch will be at the helm. Poetsch has added a pair of key assistants to help him on the bench – highly decorated Oregon girls basketball coach
Joy Lease and former Division II all-star Nicole DeLonge.
TECH RETURNS THREE ALL-CCC PLAYERS: OIT will have experience across the line-up, including three players who have earned All-Cascade Conference honors in their careers. Post
Maddyson Tull had a breakout season in 2021-22, averaging nearly 13 points and six rebounds per game, leading the league with a 59-percent field goal percentage. Forward
Melissa Lee returns for her fifth season, having earned All-CCC accolades during the shortened spring season in 2021 – averaging nine points and six rebounds per game over the past two years. Guard
Olivia Sprague will move from a shooting guard to the point-guard spot, coming off an All-CCC campaign where she averaged 10 points and four rebounds – scoring in double-figures in 11 of the Lady Owls final 14 contests.
NEW FACES WILL BE KEY: A bevy of new players will be key to the Lady Owls success, as eight new players will join the team in 2022-23. One of the newcomers is back after a four-year absence, as 3-time NAIA javelin All-American
Alex Conley will play basketball for the first time since she was a reserve on the 2018-19 squad. Forward
Alexis Elquist spent two seasons at the University of Nevada, while the remaining players are all true freshmen. Of the group, four players earned All-State honors during their senior year – point-guard
Gabbie Gascon earned CIF Division IV All-State honors in California, guard
Elli Kent earned 1A All-State honors in Oregon,
Kaitlyn Wright earned 3A All-State honors in Oregon, with Elquist earning 3A All-State honors in Nevada.
THIS WEEK IN THE CASCADE CONFERENCE: Four teams made their season debuts last week – with Southern Oregon upsetting No. 4 ranked Carroll and Multnomah posting a 59-point victory over Pacific Union. Lewis-Clark State opened the year with a loss to No. 2 Westmont, with Corban losing at Willamette. Along with OIT and SOU playing in the Lithia Classic, Bushnell heads to California for three games – including dates at Westmont and William Jessup, LC State hosts Rocky Mountain for a pair of games, with Corban traveling to Whitworth. Three other teams – Warner Pacific, College of Idaho and Northwest will play exhibition games.
RECORD BOOK: Two players will open the 2022-23 season ranked in the Top-25 of the OIT career record book.
Melissa Lee sits at No. 6 in blocked shots (78), No. 9 in field goal percentage (.495) and No. 23 in steals (86), with
Maddyson Tull sitting at No. 3 in field goal percentage (.542).
NEXT WEEK: The Lady Owls will play their lone exhibition game of the season next Saturday, traveling to McMinnville for a match-up against Division III Linfield.
