COMING UP: vs. No. 24 Southern Oregon, Tuesday, 5:30 p.m.; vs. Evergreen State, Friday, 5:30 p.m.; vs. Northwest, Saturday, 3 p.m.

COMPLETE WEEKLY MEDIA NOTEBOOK
 
GAME DAY INFORMATION: All remaining Lady Owls contests, will be carried 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 – with the three games this week simulcast on the Owls Sports Network. Live Stats for all three games will be available through the OIT SIDEARM Stats Portal, with in-game updates for both games will be provided on "X" by following @OITWBB. Friday's game marks the annual Black-Out For Hunger game – as fans are asked to wear black and bring non-perishable food items to donate to the Klamath-Lake County Food Bank – with fans making a donation receiving a free Black-Out t-shirt while supplies last.
 
MULTIMEDIA: Photos from the 2023-24 season have been posted online via the OIT Women's Basketball Flickr Page, while highlight clips posted online via the new OIT Women's Basketball YouTube Channel.
 
OPPONENT PREVIEW – SOUTHERN OREGON: The week opens Tuesday with a return rivalry game, as No. 24-ranked Southern Oregon makes the trip over the hill to face the Lady Owls. The Raiders (17-4, 13-2 CCC) head to town on a 7-game win streak – with their lone CCC losses to OIT and LC State – thanks to a defense that allows just 53 points per game and forces a league-best 18 turnovers a night. All-America forward Kami Walk (15.6 ppg, 7.0 rpg) anchors the SOU attack, with transfer guards Meghan McIntyre (15.2 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 47 steals) and Sierra Scheppele (8.1 ppg, 1.0 rpg, 47 3FGM) both having quality seasons. Southern holds a 43-39 all-time series lead, including wins in 13 of the last 17 games – with OIT looking for their first series sweep since the 2015-16 season after December's 68-59 win in Ashland.
 
OPPONENT PREVIEW – EVERGREEN STATE: An improved Evergreen State team opens the weekend in the Basin, as the Geoducks (6-12, 6-10) are 4-4 over their last eight games – heading out on the road after 5-straight home games. TESC has struggled offensively at times, converting 36-percent of their field goals and 26-percent of their 3's – while averaging 16 turnovers per game. The club is paced by guards Sydney Vanness (13.1 ppg, 6.6 rpg) and Jenna Glenzel (11.5 ppg, 3.3 rpg), with 6-foot-4 post Jalyn Sackrider (9.8 ppg, 6.5 rpg) key on the block. The Owls take a 10-game win streak over the Geoducks into Friday's game, with OIT holding a 36-7 all-time series lead – including an 18-3 mark at Danny Miles Court. Tech won the first meeting this season in December, 77-45.
 
OPPONENT PREVIEW – NORTHWEST: The string of three games in five days ends Saturday vs. Northwest, as the Eagles (5-17, 5-11) try to win in the Basin for the third time in four years. NU heads into their road trip dropping 3-of-4, with an offensive unit that is connecting on just 38-percent of field goal chances and 26-percent of their 3-point tries. Three players average in double-figures for the Washington school – Maya Duchesne (11.6 ppg, 3.0 rpg), Kyrin Backlund (11.4 ppg, 1.9 ap) and Kylie Lunday (11.2 ppg, 7.9 rpg), with Alli VanKooten (9.8 ppg, 5.8 rpg) averaging in double-figures in CCC counters. OIT holds a 34-9 series lead, including a 17-5 mark in Klamath Falls – with the Owls winning the first meeting of the year, 65-39, back in December.
 
BEST START EVER?: The Lady Owls have secured both their best 20 and 21-game starts in program history – starting the season 18-2 after the win at Multnomah and 19-2 after the win at Warner Pacific. Prior to this season, OIT opened a year 18-3 twice – in 2011-12 and 2013-14, with six other teams starting a season with a 16-5 record.
 
TECH RANKED NO. 22: OIT heads into the weekend ranked No. 22 in the latest NAIA Top-25 poll, released last Wednesday. The Lady Owls are one of three Top-25 teams in the CCC – joined by No. 7 Lewis-Clark State and No. 24 Southern Oregon.
 
PLAYOFFS CLINCHED: With their victory on Friday at Multnomah, OIT clinched a Cascade Conference Tournament berth for the 12th-straight season. The Lady Owls will be competing in the postseason for the 27th time, including six NAIA National Tournament appearances (2005, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019) and two CCC Tournament titles (2014, 2015). Tech holds a 20-17 all-time mark in the CCC Tournament, which will begin on Feb. 27.
 
SHOOTING FRENZY: The Lady Owls clicked offensively in the Rose City, making 53-percent of their field goals in both weekend victories – combining to make 13-of-26 3-point attempts. It was the seventh and eighth time this season OIT has recorded a .500 or better field goal percentage – equaling the second-most 50-percent shooting nights in a season (tying the 2021-22 team; the 2015-16 team had 11 50-percent shooting games). Tech heads into the week making .455 percent of their field goal chances – on pace to break the single-season record.
 
REBOUNDING KEY: Tech dominated the glass in the two road wins – recording 25-more rebounds than Multnomah and a 14-rebound advantage at Warner Pacific. The Owls have posted a 10-or-more rebound advantage in 14-of-21 games this season and lead the league in rebound margin (+12.0). OIT is 19-0 when outrebounding their opponent in 2023-24.
 
BREAKOUT WEEKEND FOR SCHMERBACH: When the Lady Owls needed a big boost, Tatum Schmerbach stepped up in a big way – scoring 27 points with 15 rebounds in the road win at Multnomah. It was the first 25-point, 15-rebound game by a Lady Owl in nearly 20 years (Nikki McElligott scored 29 points with 18 rebounds vs. Warner Southern in 2004-05). For the week, Schmerbach converted 15-of-25 field goal attempts.
 
SPRAGUE DOUBLES UP: Olivia Sprague recorded her third double-double of the season at Multnomah, scoring 18 points and adding 13 rebounds in the road win. The junior followed it up with a 17-point game at Warner Pacific, finishing the weekend converting 12-of-19 field goal chances and making 6-of-7 3-point attempts. Sprague pushed her career scoring total to 1,149 points – No. 8 in program history.
 
TULL RETURNS TO FORM: Guard Kennedy Tull put an injury two weeks ago behind her to close out the road trip – recording two quality games in Portland. The junior recorded just 11 total minutes of playing time the previous weekend, but responded with a 15-point effort at Multnomah and scoring seven at Warner – with Tull recording six rebounds in both victories. The third-year player moved into OIT's Top-50 in points scored in Saturday's contest.
 
KEY CONTRIBUTIONS: The Lady Owls got key production throughout their roster in Portland – including post Alexis Elquist, who tied a season-high with 14 points (along with seven rebounds and six assists) at Multnomah, while logging 10 rebounds at Warner Pacific. Back-up guard Kendall Fealey had her best weekend of the year – scoring five points with three assists at MU, adding a career-high 11 points with five rebound and four assists at WP. Reserve guard Chelsea Ching posted a career-high seven points in the win on Saturday at Warner Pac.
 
AROUND THE CONFERENCE: Tech heads into the week with a 13-2 league record, tied with Southern Oregon in second-place in the CCC standings behind Lewis-Clark State (15-1) – with both teams meeting LC the final weekend of the season. In addition, two games separate the No. 7-through-No. 11 place teams – with only two receiving playoff spots. Along with Evergreen State and Northwest heading to OIT and SOU, Walla Walla and LC travel to Corban and Bushnell, with C of I and Eastern hosting Warner Pacific and Multnomah.
 
LEAGUE LEADERS: As a team, OIT leads the CCC in scoring average (76.9), rebound margin (+12.0), defensive field goal percentage (.344) and defensive 3-point percentage (.275), ranking No. 2 in field goal percentage (.455), free throw percentage (.749), scoring margin (+17.1) and assists per game (17.8). Individually, Gabbie Gascon leads the league in 3-point percentage (.421) and free throw percentage (.947), ranking No. 3 in assists per game (3.9), No. 8 in field goal percentage (.490) and No. 9 in steals per game (2.0); Olivia Sprague is No. 3 in scoring average (18.0), No. 4 in 3-point percentage (.395) and free throw percentage (.862), No. 5 in assists per game (3.5), No. 7 in rebounds per game (7.0) and steals per game (2.1), ranking No. 9 in blocks per game (0.9); with Tatum Schmerbach No. 7 in rebounds per game (7.0) and Jozie Ramos No. 9 in blocks per game (0.9).
 
RECORD BOOK: Six Lady Owls currently rank among the Top-50 in the OIT record book, led by Olivia Sprague, who is No. 6 in 3-pointers made (145), No. 8 in points scored (1,149), No. 9 in field goal attempts (972) and steals (151), No. 10 in assists (269) and field goals made (407), No. 11 in 3-point attempts (365), No. 14 in free throws made (190), No. 17 in blocked shots (37), No. 23 in free throw attempts (236), ranking No. 31 in rebounds (387). Kennedy Tull ranks No. 30 in free throws made (146), No. 31 in free throws attempts (195), No. 34 in 3-point attempts (107), No. 35 in 3-pointers made (34) and No. 50 in points scored (468); Gabbie Gascon is No. 26 in assists (159), No. 28 in steals (80) and in 3-pointers made (50), No. 30 in 3-point attempts (145), No. 34 in free throws made (130) and No. 47 in free throw attempts (145); Alexis Elquist is No. 34 in blocked shots (22), No. 45 in rebounds (264) and No. 49 in 3-pointers made (15) and attempted (56); Kayley Elliott is No. 39 in blocked shots (17), No. 45 in 3-pointers made (17) and No. 50 in 3-point attempts (55); with Jozie Ramos No. 35 in blocked shots (19).
 
ATTENDANCE NUMBERS: Through seven home games, the Lady Owls are averaging 953 fans per contest – No. 2 in the NAIA ranks. Tech trails only Carroll College (1,358), with the Owls holding a sizeable lead on No. 3 Concordia-Nebraska (814). OIT would rank No. 1 in attendance in the NCAA Division III, No. 11 in the Division II and rank 186th of 362 Division I programs – ranking No. 8 among all 4-year college basketball programs in the Northwest (trailing only Oregon, Washington, Oregon State, Washington State, Gonzaga, Idaho and Boise State).
 
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 243-76 overall record, including a 7-0 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 37 times (including last Friday's game at Multnomah), posting a 34-3 record in the high-scoring contests. The Lady Owls are riding a 93-game win streak (including Saturday's win over Warner Pacific) when allowing fewer than 50 points in a game, recording a 167-8 record in such games (last loss occurred in 2012, a 42-40 setback at Eastern Oregon).
 
NEXT WEEK: The Lady Owls close out their road schedule next weekend with games at Corban (Feb. 16) and Bushnell (Feb. 17) – before returning home Feb. 23-24 to host LC State and Walla Walla.