ORANGE CITY, Iowa – Gabbie Gascon scored 20 points and posted a career-high eight steals, but Northwestern College used a 46-30 rebound edge and 11 made 3-pointers to top Oregon Tech, 81-65, in a Top-20 match-up inside Bultman Center.
 
The No. 20-ranked Lady Owls (0-1) never led on the night, as NWC used a 20-6 first quarter run, helped by consecutive Molly Schany baskets and a Lexi Van Kekerix 3-pointer, to take a 25-11 lead.
 
OIT battled back, as Gascon added two jumpers, as did Maddyson Tull and Tatum Schmerbach, as the visitors clawed within 31-28 late in the second quarter. However, the No. 19-ranked Red Raiders (1-0) answered with two Hali Anderson 3-pointers – extending the lead to 41-30 at the half.
 
The Owls were within 62-53 in the fourth quarter, but a Schany 3-point play and a Van Kekerix triple started an 11-2 run that ended the OIT upset bid.
 
Van Kekerix led NWC with 22 points and Schany had 20 points and 10 rebounds. The Red Raiders made 52-percent of their field goal chances on the night.
 
Tull, returning to the line-up after sitting out last season, had 14 points and five rebounds, making 7-of-11 field goals. Schmerbach added eight points and six rebounds, as Tech forced 20 turnovers – but made just 2-of-12 3-point attempts.
 
The Lady Owls close out the road trip tomorrow, traveling to No. 1-ranked Dordt University.