COMING UP: vs. No. 17-ranked Eastern Oregon, Friday, 5:30 p.m.; vs. College of Idaho, Saturday, 3 p.m.

COMPLETE WEEKLY MEDIA NOTEBOOK
 
GAME DAY INFORMATION: All 22 Cascade Conference games and all postseason contests will be carried live in the Klamath Basin on 104.3/960 Sports, with Mike Safford on the call. The broadcast begins with the Joy Lease Show 30 minutes prior to tip-off – with the broadcast simulcast with video on the Owls Sports Network. Live Stats will be available through OIT's SIDEARM Stats Portal, with in-game updates on "X" by following @OITWBB.  Friday is Military Appreciation Night, as all active and retired military personnel, along with their families, will be admitted for free, with the first 500 fans (and 100 OIT students) receiving commemorative camouflage t-shirts. Single-game tickets to all home games are available online through the OIT Ticket Portal.
 
MULTIMEDIA: All photos from the 2023-24 season will be posted online via the OIT Women's Basketball Flickr Page, while highlight clips and interviews will be posted online via the new OIT Women's Basketball YouTube Channel.
 
OPPONENT PREVIEW – EASTERN OREGON: The Cascade Conference schedule opens against defending regular-season and tournament champion Eastern Oregon, as the Mountaineers (4-0) are coming off a trip to the second-round of the NAIA Championships. EOU has a 3-0 mark this season against Frontier Conference teams (Montana Western, Montana Tech, MSU-Northern), but dropped a recent exhibition game in Hawaii against Division II Stanislaus State. Defense is the key for the Mounties, surrendering just 54 points a game, with the team leading the CCC in rebound margin (+14.5). Four veteran players lead the way for Eastern – as All-America forward Beverly Slater (16.3 ppg, 12. 3 rpg) paces the attack, with guards Bayley Brennan (15.3 ppg, 2.5 apg) and Brie Holecek (10.5 ppg, 4.5 rpg), along with forward Haley Robinett (5.3 ppg, 11.8 rpg) key to the success.
 
HISTORY VS. THE MOUNTAINEERS: OIT looks to snap an 8-game losing streak to Eastern – including a loss to the Mounties in the semifinals of the 2023 CCC Tournament. It is the 73rd meeting between the rivals (dating back to 1980), with EOU holding a 52-20 series edge, including a 18-13 all-time mark in Klamath Falls.
 
OPPONENT PREVIEW – COLLEGE OF IDAHO: The lone weekend of home games in December ends Saturday against College of Idaho, as the Yotes (0-6) look to end a season-opening losing skid. First-year head coach Kyle Erickson has traversed a tough preseason schedule that included three teams in the NAIA preseason poll, with C of I averaging 55 points per game and converting 36-percent of their field goal chances on the offensive end, while allowing nearly six rebounds more to their opponent per game. Mia Austin (13.8 ppg, 2.7 rpg) had a breakout season a year ago and is the Yotes top offensive option, with a trio of freshmen – Brooke Beresford (7.7 ppg, 5.2 rpg), Kylie Waltermeyer (7.0 ppg, 1.5 rpg) and Anna Murray (6.3 ppg, 2.5 rpg) – each playing meaningful minutes for the Idaho squad.
 
HISTORY VS. THE COYOTES: Tech swept the season series with C of I last year and take a 3-game win streak into the match-up. The Yotes hold the all-time series lead at 25-22, but OIT has a 15-10 series edge in the Basin, with the Owls winning seven of the last nine meetings.
 
RATINGS: The second regular-season NAIA Top-25 ranking will be released on Wednesday – with the Lady Owls expected to receive voter points for the first time in 2023-24. In the latest computer-generated Massey Rating for the NAIA – LC State is ranked No. 14, Eastern at No. 21, Southern at No. 25 and OIT at No. 27.
 
CONFERENCE SEASON UNDERWAY: The Cascade Conference schedule opened last week, as Warner Pacific upended Multnomah – but the bulk of the 22-game, double round-robin schedule begins in earnest this weekend. The Top-8 teams earn automatic bids into the CCC Championships, with the regular-season winner and tournament champions each earning spots in the NAIA National Championships. Game times are set for 5:30 p.m. on Friday's and 3 p.m. on Saturday's (outside of games against Walla Walla and LC State – which are altered due to WWU's religious affiliation).
 
AROUND THE LEAGUE: Only two teams (OIT and Eastern) remain unbeaten heading into the league schedule – as both Lewis-Clark State and Southern Oregon dropped tight decisions to nationally-ranked Carroll (but both teams did defeat nationally-ranked Providence). Both Walla Walla and Bushnell continued strong starts, earning road wins against Division III foes. This week, along with EOU and C of I traveling to SOU and OIT, Corban and Bushnell make the short drive to Multnomah and Warner Pacific (Friday-Saturday games), with Evergreen State and Northwest off to LC State and Walla Walla (Thursday-Friday games).
 
CCC OPENERS: Since OIT joined the Cascade Conference in 2002, the Lady Owls are a combined 12-9 in their league openers – with last season's 91-83 road loss at Eastern Oregon the first time Tech began a league schedule against the Mountaineers. The Owls have opened the league slate against three teams (College of Idaho, Warner Pacific, Corban) four times, playing Bushnell in the opener on three occasions. Tech has not opened a season against the three newest league members – Walla Walla, Multnomah or Lewis-Clark State.
 
BEST STARTS: The 5-0 start by the Lady Owls is fifth time OIT has opened a season with five-consecutive wins. The 2021 team started 5-0, the 2008 club began 6-0, with the 2014 team starting 8-0 and the 2013 setting a school record by winning their first 14 games.
 
75-POINT STREAK: OIT ran their string of games with 75-or-more points to open the season to 5-in-a-row – improving their conference leading scoring average to 78.8 points a night. It marks just the second time in program history that the Lady Owls have scored 75-or-more points in 5-plus games – as the 2013-14 squad rattled off 8-straight games with at least 75 points from Nov. 23 to Dec. 17.
 
MORE OFFENSIVE NUMBERS: The Lady Owls lead the Cascade Conference in field goal percentage, knocking down nearly 47-percent (.466) of their field goals through the first five games. Tech has logged three games with a 50-percent or better field goal percentage – equaling the total from the entire 2022-23 season – including back-to-back efforts in California, the first consecutive 50-percent or better shooting nights since February of 2022. OIT also leads the circuit in assists per game (19.0) and scoring margin (+21.4).
 
FORCING TURNOVERS / GRABBING BOARDS: Success for the Owls on the defensive end has been crucial in the 5-0 start – as OIT is forcing nearly 20 turnovers per game and ranks among the league leaders in rebounding. Tech forced 22 turnovers in the win at Menlo, pushing the number to 24 at Cal Maritime (including a season-best 19 steals). The club ranks second in the CCC with a nearly 12-rebound margin per game and heads into conference play riding a 4-game streak with a double-digit rebound margin.
 
SPRAGUE NAMED PLAYER OF THE WEEK: A huge weekend in California netted Olivia Sprague Cascade Conference Player of the Week honors for the third time in her OIT career. The junior ran her consecutive 20-point scoring game streak to three win a 25-point performance at Menlo, adding seven rebounds and seven assists, before ending the trip with 16 points, five rebounds, three assists and a season-high six steals at Cal Maritime. Sprague converted 16-of-27 field goal attempts, including 6-of-12 from 3-point range – upping her season 3-point percentage to .429 percent. The guard leads the CCC in scoring average (20.6) – moving within 125 points of the 1,000-point mark for her career.
 
TULL CONTINUES BREAKOUT SEASON: The Lady Owls got a big night from Kennedy Tull in the road win at Menlo, scoring 17 points in the victory. The junior has posted double-digit scoring games in 4-of-5 contests, ranking second on the squad in scoring average (13.6) and in field goal percentage (.535).
 
GASCON JOINS ELITE COMPANY: Point-guard Gabbie Gascon recorded a career-high seven steals in the win at Cal Maritime, becoming the 11th player in OIT history to post 7-or-more steals in a game. The sophomore continued her outstanding season – recording five points, five rebounds and five assists at Menlo, adding six more assists at CMA – pushing her career assist total to 100.
 
FRESHMEN POST BIG NUMBERS: Tech continues to get key contributions from their freshmen class, each recording key numbers during the California road swing. Post Jozie Ramos was instrumental in the win against Menlo, converting 7-of-8 field goal attempts, scoring 17 points with six rebounds, adding five points, five boards and two assists against Cal Maritime. For the year, Ramos leads the club, converting 70-percent of her field goal chances. Tatum Schmerbach logged a career-best 15 points in the win at CMA, knocking down 7-of-9 field goal chances, Kendall Fealey had six points, four rebounds and two steals in the win in Vallejo, with Kate Miles making her OIT debut in the contest, scoring her first two collegiate points.
 
RECORD BOOK: Five Lady Owls currently rank among the Top-50 in the OIT record book, led by Olivia Sprague, who is No. 12 in 3-pointers made (115), No. 14 in 3-point attempts (286), No. 15 in assists (215), No. 17 in steals (117), No. 18 in points scored (875), No. 20 in field goals made (304), No. 21 in field goal attempts (745), No. 29 in free throws made (152), No. 32 in free throw attempts (191), No. 33 in blocked shots (21) and No. 43 in rebounds (273). Kennedy Tull ranks No. 34 in free throws made (121), No. 38 in 3-pointers made (24), No 41 in 3-point attempts (70), No. 44 in free throw attempts (157) and just outside the Top-50 in points scored (375); Gabbie Gascon is No. 37 in 3-point attempts (82), No. 43 in 3-pointers made (19), No. 46 in assists (100) and just outside the Top-50 in steals (48); Kayley Elliott is No. 45 in blocked shots (15), No. 50 in 3-pointers made (14) and just outside the Top-50 in 3-point attempts (48); with Alexis Elquist No. 49 in blocked shots (13), No. 50 in 3-point attempts (50) and just outside the Top-50 in 3-pointers made (12).
 
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 22 seasons, the Lady Owls have won 75-percent of their home dates – posting a stellar 237-76 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. Last season, Tech recorded a 12-3 mark at home. During the past 21 seasons, OIT had a winning record every season on their home floor.
 
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 are riding an 88-game win streak when allowing fewer than 50 points in a game (including last Saturday's 78-46 win at Cal Maritime), recording a 162-8 record in such games (last loss occurred in 2012, a 42-40 setback at Eastern Oregon).
 
NEXT WEEK: The Lady Owls close out the non-conference portion of their schedule next Friday at Division III Willamette (Dec. 8), with the squad playing their lone exhibition game the following afternoon at Division II Western Oregon (Dec. 9).