OLYMPIA, Wash. – Gabbie Gascon scored a career-high 12 points, converting three second half steals into baskets, helping Oregon Tech withstand a rough shooting night, as the Lady Owls outlasted Evergreen State, 61-50, at the Constantino Recreation Center.
 
OIT (16-7, 12-5 CCC) ran their win streak to 3-in-a-row and moved into a tie for fourth-place in the Cascade Conference standings with Bushnell, after the Beacons suffered a road loss at Lewis-Clark State.
 
"Our team showed some grit tonight," said OIT assistant coach, Joy Lease. "We did not play our best basketball, but found a way. Our defense in the second half was outstanding."
 
The Geoducks (7-12, 4-12) controlled the majority of the first half – holding Tech without a made field goal for the first nine minutes of the contest. Jalyn Sackrider converted a short jumper with just over three minutes left in the second quarter, giving the hosts a 23-14 edge. The Owls turned the tide late in the period, as a Maddyson Tull runner, two Melissa Lee free throws and an Olivia Sprague 3-pointer, pulled the visitors within 23-21 at the break.
 
Gascon fueled the second half defensive charge with consecutive steals and lay-ups to start the third quarter, giving OIT their first lead of the night. Tech's lead was 40-38 early in the fourth quarter, before a 14-1 run put the contest away. Sprague canned a 15-footer, Tull scored in the paint and Gascon added her third steal and bucket in the flurry.
 
Sprague led the Lady Owls with 14 points – her 24th-straight double-digit scoring game. Tull had 13 points and seven rebounds, with Lee posting a double-double with 11 points and 12 boards. OIT withstood a 31-percent shooting night and 21 turnovers in the win.
 
Monique Bungay led ESC with 15 points – as the Geoducks played with eight players in uniform and converted just 26-percent of their field goal tries.
 
Tech closes out the Washington road swing tomorrow, meeting Northwest University at 3 p.m.