Oregon Institute of Technology Athletics

COMING UP: at No. 23 Southern Oregon, Tuesday, 5:30 p.m.; vs. Multnomah, Friday, 5:30 p.m.; vs. Warner Pacific, Saturday, 3 p.m.
 
LISTEN LIVE ON 104.3 & 960 SPORTS: All 22 Cascade Conference women's basketball games, 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 season and is joined by new OIT Sports Information Director, Mike Safford. Each broadcast begins 30 minutes prior to tip-off with the Paul Poetsch Show. Fans outside the KLAD listening area can tune in online.
 
WATCH ONLINE: Fans unable to attend the three games will be able to watch the games live online through the Owls Sports Network – with Friday and Saturday's games featuring a simulcast of the 104.3/960 Sports broadcast. Live Stats will also be available for all fans through the OIT SIDEARM Stats Portal. 
 
TICKET INFORMATION: Single-game tickets ($15 for reserved seats, $10 for general admission seating, $5 general admission tickets for senior citizens, veterans and kids 6-to-17) for all home doubleheaders can be purchased beginning one hour prior to tip-off or online through the OIT Ticket Portal.

TOPS AT THE LINE: The Lady Owls continued their outstanding season at the free throw stripe, connecting on 13-of-13 free throw attempts in Saturday's loss to Eastern Oregon – the third time this season the club has finished a game above 90-percent from the line. It marked the fourth time since Tech set the single-game free throw percentage mark of 21-for-21 against Northwest Christian in 2017 that the squad finished a game perfect at the line (going 12-for-12 vs. Eastern Oregon in 2018, 14-for-14 vs. Simpson in 2018 and 9-for-9 vs. Marian in 2019). OIT leads the Cascade Conference and ranks No. 8 in the NAIA in free throw percentage (.766), a number that grows to nearly 79-percent in conference counters.
 
65 AND UNDER: The 65-point threshold has been key to the Lady Owls success in 2022-23 – as Tech is a perfect 10-0 when opponents score 65 points or fewer. The squad is 7-1 this year when scoring 75-or-more points, with the team 3-6 when an opponent scores 66-or-more points.
 
LIMITING TURNOVERS: OIT has improved immensely over the past three games in limiting mistakes – recording two of their three lowest turnover totals. The Lady Owls committed a season-low 10 turnovers at Walla Walla and backed it up with just 11 turnovers against Eastern – averaging 12.6 turnovers over the 3-game stretch. The marked improvement has lowered the season turnover average from 18.4 turnovers a game to 17.5, jumping two spots in the CCC statistical rankings.
 
SENIOR CONTINUES BIG CCC SEASON: Post Maddyson Tull has been key to the Lady Owls 9-4 start in the CCC – recording her ninth and tenth-straight double-digit scoring games against College of Idaho and Eastern Oregon. The senior scored 14 points and eight boards in the win over C of I, adding 16 points and six rebounds against EOU. Tull leads the CCC in field goal percentage (.538) and ranks No. 2 in CCC counters in scoring average (15.5) and No. 7 in rebound average (7.7). Heading into the week, Tull needs 83 points to become the 12th member of the OIT 1,000-point club.
 
SPRAGUE TIES MODERN-ERA RECORD: Two games, two double-digit scoring performances from Olivia Sprague, as the sophomore tied the OIT modern-era record for consecutive double-digit scoring games. Sprague had 18 points against C of I, adding 11 points vs. EOU – pushing her streak to 20 – equaling the mark Nikki McElligott attained in both 2003-04 and 2004-05. Prior to the elimination of the program in 1991 – three players had a longer streak – Alison Bernhardt had 25-straight double-digit scoring games in 1983-84; Carmen Arroquero had 36-straight 10-or-more point games between 1983-85; while Shelly Isaacs scored in double-figures in all 41 games she played in an OIT uniform from 1985-87. Sprague continues to lead the CCC in five stat categories – scoring average (18.9), assists per game (4.1), steals per game (2.5), 3-point percentage (.485) and free throw percentage (.838).
 
LEE JOINS ELITE CLUB: With three blocked shots and four rebounds in Friday's victory, Melissa Lee became the second OIT player in program history to post 600 points, 500 rebounds, 100 assists, 100 steals and 100 blocked shots in a career. The senior joined Nohea Waiwaiole as the only Lady Owls to reach the milestone – with Lee becoming the fourth player to surpass 100 blocks and the 12th player to crack the 500-rebound plateau. For her career, Lee has scored 626 points, grabbed 506 rebounds, recorded 103 assists, adding 121 steals and 100 blocks.
 
TOUGH STRETCH: The Lady Owls are in the middle of their toughest string of games on the schedule – five contests in the span of nine days – as sandwiched between consecutive home weekend doubleheaders is a Tuesday night game at Southern Oregon, It is the 21st midweek CCC game OIT has played since 2002 – playing at least one midweek game every year outside of 2009-14 (including three Tuesday games in 2002-03), with the Owls posting a 9-11 record. Following this weekend, Tech will play four of their final six games away from the Basin.
 
OVER THE HILL: Tech takes their shortest trip of the season Tuesday, making the 65-mile drive to Ashland for a meeting with rival Southern Oregon. It is the 71st all-time meeting between the teams since 1981 – with the Lady Owls 13-20 on the Raiders home floor (split between McNeal Pavilion, Ashland High School and Lithia Motors Pavilion).  The Lady Owls had an 11-game win streak over SOU from 1982-85, while the Raiders have won the past six meetings overall and 6-of-the-last-7 on their home floor.
 
OPPONENT PREVIEW – SOUTHERN OREGON: The Raiders (14-5, 10-3 CCC) head into the week ranked No. 23 in the NAIA Top-25 poll – rebounding from their first 2-game losing streak of the year with an overtime win Saturday against College of Idaho. Defense is the ticket for SOU, as the team leads the CCC in defensive scoring (53.1) and force 19 turnovers per game – limiting OIT to 47 points and 29 turnovers in December's meeting. Brianna Phiakamngon (13.2 ppg, 2.6 apg) and Kalei Iwami (9.8 ppg, 2.3 rpg) lead the Raiders guard line, with forwards Kami Walk (13.1 ppg, 7.2 rpg) and Clara Robbins (4.4 ppg, 6.8 rpg) tough on the block. OIT holds a 37-33 all-time lead in the series.
 
PORTLAND SCHOOLS HEAD SOUTH: For the second time in less than a month, Tech will meet Multnomah and Warner Pacific – this time in Klamath Falls. OIT turned up the defense in Portland over the final two days of 2022 – holding the two teams to a combined 77 points in a pair of victories. The Lady Owls swept the weekend set with the two schools in the Basin 4-straight years 2017-20, with the squad 6-0 all-time vs. MU at home and 22-7 against WP.
 
OPPONENT PREVIEW – MULTNOMAH: The Lions (5-15, 3-11) have posted wins in two of their last three games, but head to the Basin searching for their first ever win at OIT and looking to end an 8-game road losing streak. MU averages 62 points per game and force a league-best 20 turnovers a night, but have allowed 71 points a game and opponents hold a plus-10 rebound margin. Leading scorer Shaila Mays (12.5 ppg, 4.0 rpg) did not play in the 58-35 OIT win in December, with Elise Graham (11.6 ppg, 4.1 rpg) and Dalila Rincan (11.3 ppg, 4.8 rpg) each averaging in double-figures.
 
OPPONENT PREVIEW – WARNER PACIFIC: The Knights (1-18, 1-13) opened the season on a 14-game losing streak, but snapped the skid with a road win at Northwest. WP will press, forcing 19 turnovers a game, but have struggled offensively, ranking last in the circuit  in scoring average (52.2) and field goal percentage (.342). Guard McKeeley Tonkin (10.6 ppg, 2.3 rpg) is the lone double-figure scorer on the squad, with forward Emily Brown (9.1 ppg, 6.9 rpg) and guard Amalya Sales (7.2 ppg, 3.2 rpg) key at both ends of the floor. It is the 64th meeting since 1981, with OIT holding a 41-22 series edge.
 
AROUND THE CONFERENCE: Lewis-Clark State moved to 13-0 in CCC play with weekend wins – clinching a CCC Tournament berth, the fastest to secure a postseason bid in league history. With their win at Southern Oregon, Eastern Oregon sits a game back of LC, but has a 2-game lead on SOU in the standings, with Bushnell and OIT tied for fourth with 9-4 marks.  Bushnell and Corban join OIT and SOU in playing midweek travel partner games, with the Willamette Valley schools remaining at home this weekend to host Evergreen State and Northwest. LC and Walla Walla head to College of Idaho and EOU, while Multnomah and Warner Pacific head to Southern and Tech.
 
RECORD BOOK: Five Lady Owls currently rank among the Top-50 in the career record book, paced by Melissa Lee, who is No. 4 all-time in blocked shots (100), No. 12 in rebounds (506), No. 14 in steals (121), No. 15 in free throws made (181), No. 17 in free throw attempts (245), No. 29 in games played (94), No. 38 in points scored (626), No. 41 in field goals made (218), No. 43 in field goal attempts (479), No. 44 in assists (103), No. 50 in 3-point attempts (44), ranking just outside the Top-50 in 3-pointers made (9). Maddyson Tull is No. 11 in field goals made (379), No. 15 in points scored (917), No. 18 in free throw attempts (244), No. 20 in blocked shots (34), No. 22 in field goal attempts (703), No. 23 in rebounds (431), No. 28 in free throws made (152), ranking No. 31 in games played (86). Olivia Sprague is No. 18 in 3-pointers made (80), No. 22 in steals (92), No. 24 in 3-point attempts (190), No. 27 in assists (157), No. 33 in blocked shots (19), No. 37 in points scored (635) and free throws made (111), No. 39 in both in field goals made (213) and field goal attempts (525), ranking No. 45 in free throw attempts (144); Kennedy Tull is No. 45 in 3-pointers made (15) and just outside the Top-50 in 3-point attempts (39), free throws made (85) and attempted (105); with Alex Conley No. 37 in blocked shots (16).
 
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 232-75 overall mark, including an 8-2 home record this season – clinching their 21st-straight winning season at home. 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.
 
TOPS AT THE GATE: The Lady Owls have averaged 816 fans per game over their 10 home dates this season (including four games with the OIT student body on break) – the No. 1 mark in both the CCC and the NAIA, well ahead of No. 2 Goshen (587) and No. 3 Concordia-Nebraska (559). Tech ranks No. 3 among all Oregon 4-year schools in attendance average – trailing only Oregon and Oregon State – but ahead of Portland, Portland State and all Division II, Division III and NAIA schools.
 
SCORING 90, ALLOWING UNDER 50 EQUAL WINS: OIT has scored 90-or-more points in a game 35 times, posting a 32-3 record in the high-scoring contests. The Lady Owls will go into the weekend riding an 84-game win streak when allowing fewer than 50 points in a game, recording a 158-8 record in such games (last loss occurred in 2012, a 42-40 setback at Eastern Oregon).
 
NEXT WEEK: Tech will open up the month of February with road games in Washington against Evergreen State (Feb. 3) and Northwest (Feb. 4).