KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – Sitara Byrd scored a season-high 24 points on 8-of-8 shooting, helping Lewis-Clark State top Oregon Tech, 75-60, in the semifinals of the Cascade Conference Championships, presented by U.S. Bank, inside Danny Miles Court.
The No. 11-ranked Warriors (25-4) used an 18-2 run over a nine-minute stretch spanning the third and fourth quarters to break open a tight game, as LC advances to the tournament title game Monday night at Southern Oregon.
LC opened the game on a 6-0 run, but the No. 22-ranked Lady Owls (26-4) pulled even at 10-10 on an inside basket from
Jozie Ramos. The two teams would trade runs – the Warriors taking a 30-22 lead on a long Callie Stevens 3-pointer, but jumpers from
Olivia Sprague and
Gabbie Gascon, along with 6-straight free throws, helped Tech get within 35-34. Byrd provided the final points of the half, a corner triple to give the visitors a 38-34 halftime edge.
The Warriors led grew to 43-34 on a Byrd 3-pointer early in the third quarter, but OIT countered with a 6-0 run, capped by a Gascon floater, getting the hosts within 43-40 with six minutes left in the period.
From there, the Idaho squad took over – forcing eight turnovers and limiting the Owls to 1-of-10 shooting during the game changing run. Byrd converted a lay-up and a 3-pointer to extend the lead to 52-42, Ellie Sander scored in transition after a Stevens steal, with Stevens upping the lead to 61-42 with 25-foot triple.
OIT made a final run, as Ramos converted a 3-point play to cut the deficit to 62-49, but Sander answered with a 3-pointer to thwart the rally.
The Lady Owls struggled offensively, making 35-percent of their field goals and 2-of-16 3-point attempts. Sprague scored 17 points, but had seven turnovers, with Ramos scoring 13 and Gascon posting 12 points and a career-high nine rebounds.
Byrd was 5-for-5 from 3-point range and added a game-high 10 rebounds for LC, with Stevens scoring 20 and Sander 14. The Warriors turned 22 OIT turnovers into 31 points.
The Owls will have to wait six days to see if they receive a bid into the 64-team NAIA National Championship – with the selection show set for March 7 at 5 p.m.
