KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – Olivia Sprague broke a 59-59 tie with a driving lay-up inside the final 90 seconds, part of a game-ending 13-2 Oregon Tech run, as the Lady Owls opened the 2022-23 season with a 64-59 victory over Menlo College in Game 2 of the Lithia Classic at Danny Miles Court.
 
The Lady Owls (1-0) won their 18th-straight home opener – handing head coach Paul Poetsch his first collegiate win. Tech used a 56-33 edge on the glass and forced 21 turnovers in the victory, overcoming 36 turnovers that led to 34 Menlo points.
 
"I am so happy for the team, they deserved this win," said Poetsch. "We struggled against their pressure and turned the ball over too much. But, we made plays over the last five minutes against a real good basketball team. I was really pleased with our effort."
 
The Oaks (1-1) took a 56-49 lead on a Jordyn Rosette 3-pointer with just over six minutes to play – but the visitors did not make another field goal, going 0-for-6 with three turnovers the rest of the way.
 
Tech connected on 5-of-8 free throws to cut the margin to 57-54 with four minutes left and following a defensive stop, Gabbie Gascon canned a 3-pointer from the head of the key to tie the game. Melissa Lee converted a inside basket to give the Lady Owls the lead and after two Vivian Woo free throws pulled the Oaks even, Sprague got loose on the baseline to score – with OIT getting three defensive stops to close out the win.
 
Menlo opened the game on a 10-2 run – forcing four OIT turnovers in the first three minutes. The hosts answered behind Kayley Elliott, scoring 12 points in a 17-0 run, as the Owls built a 19-10 lead late in the quarter. The visitors took the lead into the locker room, using a 9-0 run midway through the second quarter to grab a 31-29 lead.
 
Elliott scored a career-high 16 points and added six rebounds, with Lee scoring 12 points with six rebounds, three blocks and three steals. Maddyson Tull had 10 points and a team-high nine boards, Sprague had 10 points, seven rebounds and five steals, with Gascon scoring nine points with six rebounds in her collegiate debut.
 
Tech finished the night 22-of-52 from the field, while making 16-of-24 free throws – getting to the line 20 times after halftime.
 
Kiara Brown had 13 points and nine rebounds to lead the Oaks, with Woo and Rosette each scoring 12.
 
Southern Oregon won Game 1 of the tournament, getting 14 points from Kami Walk in a 72-47 victory over George Fox.
 
Day 2 match-ups feature SOU against Menlo at 3:30 p.m., followed by OIT against GFU.