ASHLAND, Ore. – Double-doubles from Olivia Sprague and Alexis Elquist helped Oregon Tech improve to 3-0 for the third-straight year, as the Lady Owls rallied from an early deficit to top Hope International, 79-68, at the Raider Classic inside Lithia Motors Pavilion.
 
Sprague scored 17 of her game-high 28 points in the fourth quarter, adding a career-high 12 rebounds, while Elquist recorded career-highs with 14 points and 13 rebounds in the third-straight double-digit win by the Lady Owls (3-0).
 
Tech broke the game open early in the third quarter, as Elquist had a pair of inside baskets and Gabbie Gascon canned a triple in a 14-0 run that gave the Owls a 49-35 edge. The Royals (1-2) cut the margin to 58-51 on a Shiane Talley 3-pointer with six minutes left, but Sprague drained a pair of triples, part of a 10-3 run, that put the game out of reach.
 
HIU dominated the first quarter, as Talley, Shalissa Garrett and Aliyah Gonzalez hit 3-pointers in a 12-0 run, as the Royals built a 19-8 lead. OIT used a stellar second quarter defensive effort – limiting the California team to one made field goal over the last five-plus minutes – with the Tech offense closing the half on an 8-0 run, as a Kayley Elliott lay-in gave the Owls a 35-32 lead at the break.
 
Kennedy Tull scored 13 points and Gascon added 12 in the win for the Owls, who held a 53-39 rebound edge and posted a commanding 38-18 edge in points in the paint.
 
Talley had 19 points, eight rebounds and seven assists, with Garrett scoring 14 in the loss for HIU. Tech limited the Royals to 35-percent shooting from the field.
 
The Lady Owls return to action next weekend with road games at Menlo College and Cal Maritime.