ROCKLIN, Calif. – A 7-0 run inside the final four minutes broke open a tight game, as No. 15-ranked Vanguard University outlasted upset-minded Oregon Tech, 77-68, in Game 1 of the William Jessup Thanksgiving Classic.
 
OIT (4-1) rallied from an 10-point third quarter deficit to cut the margin to 59-58 on an Alexis Elquist jumper early in the final frame. The Lady Owls were within 65-62 with just under four minutes left – but the Lions forced five-consecutive defensive stops and Melissa Akullu converted on the block and VU made 5-of-6 free throws to put the game away.
 
"I am proud of our kids," said Lady Owls head coach Paul Poetsch. "We battled to the end and were a possession or two away from having a different outcome. Offensive rebounds and turnovers continue to hurt us, but that being said, our girls fought hard against one of the top programs in the NAIA."
 
VU (4-0) jumped out to a quick 11-4 lead, but OIT answered with 7-straight points – including a triple and jumper from Melissa Lee, to tie the score. The Lions would find their rhythm from long range, hitting 4-of-5 3-pointers late in the second quarter to build a 47-39 halftime edge.
 
The margin would grow to 55-45 halfway through the third quarter, only to be answered by the Lady Owls. Jenna Wallace converted a pair of buckets to cut the gap to 57-54 at the end of the period – setting up the finish.
 
Olivia Sprague continued her big start to the season, leading the Lady Owls with 22 points and four steals, with Lee scoring 11 points with nine rebounds. Wallace scored a season-high eight points, part of an OIT attack that converted 56-percent of their field goal attempts and scored 30 points more than VU's season defensive average.
 
Lauren Baumgartner led the Lions with 27 points, with Halle Si'I scoring 16 and Estefania Giner recording 13 points and nine rebounds.
 
Tech closes out the non-conference portion of their schedule tomorrow afternoon, meeting host William Jessup at 2 p.m.