COMING UP: at Walla Walla, Friday, 12 p.m.; at No. 7 Lewis-Clark State, Saturday, 4 p.m.

COMPLETE WEEKLY MEDIA NOTEBOOK
 
GAME DAY INFORMATION: Both weekend games, along with all remaining Lady Owls contests, will be broadcast live in the Klamath Basin on 104.3/960 Sports with Mike Safford on the call – broadcasts will begin 30 minutes prior to tip-off with the Joy Lease Coaches Show. Video of both games will be provided by the opponent – Friday's game via Walla Walla's Presto Sports Portal and Saturday's game via the LC State SIDEARM Video Viewer. Live Stats are available online through OIT's SIDEARM Stats Portal, with in-game updates provided on "X" by following @OITWBB. 
 
MULTIMEDIA: Photos from the 2023-24 season, including last Friday's game vs. Warner Pacific, have been posted online via the OIT Women's Basketball Flickr Page, while highlight clips and interviews posted online via the new OIT Women's Basketball YouTube Channel.
 
OPPONENT PREVIEW – WALLA WALLA: The road swing starts in the Walla Walla Valley, as Walla Walla is in the mix for their first-ever postseason berth. The Wolves (5-8, 2-6) have quality wins over Bushnell, Whitworth and Lewis & Clark, but head into the game on a 4-game losing streak. WWU causes havoc defensively, forcing 17 turnovers a night, but are connecting on just 35-percent of their field goal chances and 24-percent of their 3-point tries. Forward Chariah Daniels (15.1 ppg, 9.9 rpg) and Jaliyah Casem (14.9 ppg, 2.5 rpg) are returning starters for Tony Nakashima's squad, with the tandem of Natalee Trevino (7.2 ppg, 5.0 rpg) and Maren Jones (7.0 ppg, 2.8 rpg) providing key depth.
 
HISTORY VS. THE WOLVES: The Lady Owls put a 19-0 all-time record on the line against Walla Walla, including an 8-0 record at Windemuth Court. Each of the previous 19 wins were by double-digit margins – but the past three wins are by 15 points or less.
 
OPPONENT PREVIEW – LEWIS-CLARK STATE: Saturday's match-up at No. 7-ranked Lewis-Clark State pits the Lady Owls against a Warriors (11-2, 7-1) team that advanced to the third-round of the 2023 NAIA Championships and has made nine trips to the NAIA Tournament in 10 seasons (reached the 2017 national title game). First-year head coach Caelyn Orlandi's club brings a 3-game win streak into the weekend, ranking second in the CCC to OIT in scoring average (73.8) and field goal percentage (.448), while leading the league in turnover margin (+4.1). Two-time CCC Player of the Year, Callie Stevens (14.8 ppg, 4.7 apg) is the catalyst for the Warriors, with guard Ellie Sander (13.9 ppg, 3.8 rpg) and forwards Maddie Holm (9.5 ppg, 9.2 rpg) and Sitara Byrd (6.7 ppg, 6.0 rpg) key to the success on both ends of the floor.
 
HISTORY VS. THE WARRIORS: The two teams have met eight previous times (LC joined the CCC during the 2020-21 after a long stay in the Frontier Conference), with the Warriors holding a 6-2 series edge, including a perfect 2-0 mark in Lewiston. OIT last defeated LC in 2021-22 – a game forfeited by the Warriors due to CoVID-19.
 
BEST STARTS: The 13-0 start by the Lady Owls is the second time OIT has opened a season with 13-consecutive wins. During the 2013-14 season, OIT established a school record by winning their first 14 games, eventually winning the Cascade Conference Tournament title and advancing to the NAIA Division II National Tournament.
 
WIN STREAKS: The Lady Owls take 13-game win streak into the weekend – tied for the third-longest win streak in program history. The 2018-19 squad won 13-straight, the 2013-14 team opened the year with 14-straight wins, with the 2004-05 squad setting the current school record with 16-straight victories. Tech holds a 6-game win streak on the road, chasing a 10-game win streak mark established between the 2013-14 and 2014-15 seasons. The 7-0 start in CCC play is a school record, surpassing a 5-0 start by the 2019-20, 2006-07 and 2003-04 teams. OIT's 13-game win streak is one of 28 streaks of 13-or-more games in women's college basketball (four at the NAIA level, seven in Division I, seven in Division II and 10 in Division III).
 
RATINGS: For the first time since November of 2021, the Lady Owls received votes in the current (Dec. 17) NAIA Top-25 Coaches' Poll, earning four points from the 21 national raters. OIT, one of four unbeaten teams remaining in the association, last entered the Top-25 during the 2019-20 NAIA Division II preseason poll (at No. 21). In the current Massey Rating computer index, Tech sits at No. 16 – with LC State at No. 14 and Southern Oregon at No. 26. Both LCSC (No. 7) and SOU (No. 20) were ranked in the latest NAIA Top-25 poll. The next poll will be released on Jan. 17.
 
GETTING DEFENSIVE: The Owls lead the CCC in defensive field goal percentage (.323) – thanks to a stellar string of defensive games, holding each of their past five opponents under 30-percent shooting (a combined 78-of-289 clip, .270 percent). The number is lower beyond the arc, as during the 5-game stretch, opponents are 17-of-104 (.163) from 3-point range. OIT has forced 20 turnovers per game during the same stretch, while holding the opposition to 50.2 points a night.
 
REBOUNDS AND MORE REBOUNDS: The win over Multnomah featured 144 field goal attempts and 62 free throw attempts between the two teams – with the Lady Owls dominating the boards. OIT finished the night with 37 offensive rebounds and 70 total rebounds – both single-game school records. It was the 11th time the Lady Owls have recorded 60-or-more rebounds in a game – with the 70 boards surpassing the previous record of 65, established last year vs. Pacific Union. Tech leads the CCC in rebound margin, averaging 12.7 rebounds per game more than their foes.
 
MAGICAL NIGHT FOR SPRAGUE: Saturday night was one for the record books for Olivia Sprague, as the third-year guard became the 13th OIT player to reach the 1,000-point mark for a career. Following a 19-point performance against Warner Pacific, Sprague scored 13 in the win over Multnomah, knocking down a 15-foot jumper midway through the fourth quarter to reach the milestone. Along with the record-setting accolade, Sprague added a career-high 18 rebounds in the victory (logging her fourth career double-double), the most rebounds in a CCC game by an OIT player since 2004 and equaling the No. 10 mark for a single-game. She has scored in double-figures in all 13 games this season, holding a 16-game double-digit scoring streak dating back to last season and scored 10-or-more in 43 of her last 44 games.
 
GASCON CONTINUES TO IMPRESS: The breakout season for Gabbie Gascon continues, as the sophomore dominated both ends of the floor against the Portland schools. Against Warner Pacific, Gascon scored 12 points, adding seven rebounds and three steals, following it up on Saturday with a team-high 21 points, four rebounds and four steals. The point-guard is averaging 18 points per game over the last three contests, has connected on 10-of-21 3-point attempts, while continuing to lead the conference in free throw percentage (.930).
 
KEY NUMBERS FROM STARTERS: Tech got a big night from Alexis Elquist on Friday, followed by a big night from Kennedy Tull on Saturday – helping the Owls to two wins. Elquist recorded the second double-double of her career, scoring 11 points and tying a career-high with 13 rebounds, while Tull logged her eighth double-digit scoring game of the year, posting 14 points (including 2-of-2 shooting from 3-point range) in the victory.
 
OFF THE BENCH: Key contributions from players off the bench were instrumental in the two weekend victories. Against Warner Pacific, sophomore Kaitlyn Wright scored a season-high 10 points in 21 minutes of action, with Kendall Fealey recording three steals (a number she matched the following night against Multnomah). On Saturday, Elli Kent scored nine points and added a career-high six rebounds, Jozie Ramos scored all 10 of her points in the second half, adding nine boards, with Kayley Elliott adding nine points and four rebounds.
 
AROUND THE CONFERENCE: The top three teams in the league continued to impress, as OIT, Lewis-Clark State and Southern Oregon all recorded perfect 2-0 weekend records – heading into a pair of first-place showdowns in Lewiston. Along with Tech and SOU traveling to Walla Walla and LC, College of Idaho and Eastern Oregon head to the Willamette Valley for key games at Corban and Bushnell, while the Portland schools (Multnomah and Warner Pacific) travel up I-5 to meet Northwest and Evergreen State.
 
LEAGUE LEADERS: The Lady Owls rank among the Top-2 in 11 different Cascade Conference statistical categories with seven weeks left in the regular season. OIT leads the 12-team league in scoring average (76.6), scoring margin (+20.4), field goal percentage (.454), 3-point percentage (.314), assists per game (18.6), defensive field goal percentage (.323) and rebound margin (+12.7), ranking No. 2 in scoring defense (56.2), free throw percentage (.749), defensive 3-point percentage (.263) and blocks per game (4.1). Individually, Olivia Sprague ranks among the CCC's Top-10 in seven different categories – leading the league in assists per game (4.2), ranking No. 2 in free throw percentage (.917), No. 3 in scoring average (17.5), No. 4 in 3-point percentage (.380) and steals per game (2.5), No. 6 in rebounds per game (7.9) and No. 7 in blocked shots per game (0.9). Gabbie Gascon tops the league in free throw percentage (.930), ranking No. 3 in assists per game (3.8), No. 5 in 3-point percentage (.378), No. 8 in field goal percentage (.462) and No. 10 in steals per game (2.1); Alexis Elquist is No. 9 in both rebounds per game (7.1) and blocked shots per game (0.8); Kennedy Tull is No. 7 in 3-point percentage (.361) and No. 9 in field goal percentage (.459); Jozie Ramos is No. 6 in blocked shots per game (1.2); with Tatum Schmerbach No. 8 in assists per game (3.2).
 
ATTENDANCE NUMBERS: Through five home games, the Lady Owls are averaging 912 fans per contest – No. 2 in the NAIA ranks. Tech trails only Carroll College (1,177), with the Owls holding a sizeable lead on No. 3 Concordia-Nebraska (731). OIT would rank No. 1 in attendance in the NCAA Division III, No. 11 in the Division II and rank 188th of 362 Division I programs – including No. 3 among all Oregon schools (trailing only Oregon and Oregon State).
 
RECORD BOOK: Six Lady Owls currently rank among the Top-50 in the OIT record book, led by Olivia Sprague, who is No. 11 in assists (250), No. 12 in 3-pointers made (127) and steals (139), No. 13 in 3-point attempts (322), points scored (1,000), field goals made (353) and field goal attempts (855), No. 23 in free throws made (167), No. 24 in blocked shots (31), No. 29 in free throw attempts (207), ranking No. 35 in rebounds (343). Kennedy Tull ranks No. 31 in free throws made (140), No. 34 in free throw attempts (185), No. 36 in 3-pointers made (31) and 3-point attempts (90), ranking just outside the Top-50 in points scored (425); Gabbie Gascon is No. 33 in 3-point attempts (114), No. 35 in 3-pointers made (33), No. 37 in assists (129), No. 43 in steals (64), No. 44 in free throws made (98) and just outside the Top-50 in free throw attempts (112); Alexis Elquist is No. 34 in blocked shots (21), No. 50 in 3-point attempts (54) and just outside the Top-50 in 3-pointers made (13); Kayley Elliott is No. 40 in blocked shots (16), No. 48 in 3-pointers made (15) and just outside the Top-50 in 3-point attempts (52); with Jozie Ramos No. 47 in blocked shots (15).
 
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 76-percent of their home dates – posting a stellar 241-76 overall record, including a 5-0 mark this season. 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. 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 36 times, posting a 33-3 record in the high-scoring contests. The Lady Owls are riding a 91-game win streak when allowing fewer than 50 points in a game (including last Friday's win over Warner Pacific), recording a 165-8 record in such games (last loss occurred in 2012, a 42-40 setback at Eastern Oregon).
 
NEXT WEEK: The Lady Owls return home next weekend, closing out the first half of the conference season – hosting Bushnell (Jan. 19) and Corban (Jan. 20). The Friday night match-up with Bushnell is the 14th-annual Pink Out, presented by Sky Lakes Breast Health Services – with the first 1,000 fans receiving a commemorative pink t-shirt.