KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – The 2024-25 women's basketball season for Oregon Tech could be looked at a "what might have been" moment. Sure, the Lady Owls finished 23-8 and advanced to the NAIA National Tournament – but season-ending injuries to their top-two scorers put a damper on the season and forced the squad to a midseason pivot.
 
A year later, an All-American returns, along with a pair of All-Conference selections – with the Lady Owls gunning for high expectations after being selected second in the Cascade Conference preseason poll and tying a school record by being ranked No. 14 in the NAIA Preseason Coaches' Poll.
 
"We have high expectations and are shooting for a Cascade Conference championship," said third-year head coach Joy Lease. "We believe that is in our reach and it is something that we talk about each and every day."
 
To reach that goal, Tech must replace three graduates, including two starters – guard Kennedy Tull and forward Alexis Elquist – along with reserve forward Maddyson Tull. In addition, two role players – Lily Everson and Kate Miles – have left the program to focus on track and field.
 
However, 10 players from last season's team are poised to reach an NAIA Tournament for a third-straight season and post a fourth-straight 20-win campaign.
 
"I really feel good about the last month of practice, we've really been getting after it and playing fast, which is ultimately our goal," Lease said. "Our new players have stepped right into roles and are students of the game. They want to get to the level of play as our returners and will get there quickly."
 
Tech will traverse the season without 2-time All-CCC guard Gabbie Gascon, who was in the CCC Player of the Year conversation prior to a season-ending injury in January. Gascon, who was averaging 12 points, five rebounds, four assists and three steals per game, has been key in preseason training working with the guards, as she prepares herself for the 2026-27 season.
 
"Gabbie actively works on a day-to-day basis with our guards on ball-handling and shooting – she has thrown herself into that role to compliment her rehab," Lease explained. "Our players love her energy and it will keep her engaged and prepare her for returning to the floor next season. We'd love to have her on the floor, but this is the next-best thing."
 
While Gascon works her way back, the Owls have a healthy Olivia Sprague to turn to. The two-time All-American was injured on the first possession of last season's first game – but has battled back to finally have a senior season. The fifth-year player has averaged 18 points, seven rebounds, four assists and three steals per game over her last two seasons played and heads into the new year No. 3 in OIT history in steals (179) and No. 4 in points scored (1,344).
 
"You think coming off a major injury that there would be hesitancy in Olivia's game – there is none of that – in fact, she makes me nervous as I am trying to hold her back," Lease said of her All-American. "She has an expectation of where she wants her game to be and nothing is going to keep her from that."
 
Joining Sprague in the backcourt is sophomore Brooke Anderson, who was thrust into a starting role last year after the injuries to Gascon and Sprague. Anderson averaged eight points and three rebounds per game as a starter and will be looked upon at both ends of the floor.
 
"Brooke really came into her own last season, going from 8-to-10 minutes a game to 40," Lease said. 'That experience has made her a better player and leader. It made a huge difference."
 
The Lady Owls have experienced players behind the duo, as seniors Chelsea Ching and Erika Glenn will provide key minutes. Ching is in her fourth season in the program, averaging two points per game in 2024-25 – including a career-high 12 points vs. Milligan in the NAIA Tournament. Glenn is a transfer from a pair of Division II programs (Western Oregon and Hawaii Pacific), averaging eight points a game during the 2023-24 campaign.
 
Tech has key depth at the wing position – anchored by All-CCC pick Tatum Schmerbach. The 2-year starter had a banner sophomore season, averaging 13 points, seven rebounds and a team-best four assists per game – while splitting time between a wing position and point-guard.
 
"She is a natural leader and one of the most competitive players on the team," Lease said of the junior. "Tatum wants to win and will do whatever she needs to do to help us win. Her basketball IQ is through the roof."
 
Joining Schmerbach on the wing is her high school teammate, Kendall Fealey, who will have an expanded role this year. The junior averaged four points per game and ranked third on the club with 40 steals.
 
Complimenting Fealey are two freshmen – Ayla Marston and Maddie Eischen – who are expected to contend for playing time. Marston, from a powerhouse Copper Hills High in Utah and Eischen, from Forest Grove, each give the Lady Owls length at the wing.
 
"Kendall is going to play a much bigger role and is our best on-ball defender," Lease said. "Ayla is 5-foot-10 with a 6-foot wingspan, who is fast and a good shooter and fits right into our system. Maddie is 6-foot-1, with a 6-foot-3 wingspan, who is extremely athletic and can play any position from the '2' to the '5'. Those three at the wing make us extremely long on the defensive side – something we haven't had the past few years."
 
In addition, returners Annie Campos and Ebony McMillan, will be in the mix for minutes off the bench. Campos, a sophomore from Henley High, along with McMillan, a fourth-year junior from Australia, have experience in the system and will be counted on in a supporting role.
 
The paint will be locked down by All-CCC post, Jozie Ramos, coming off a breakout sophomore season. The junior scored in double-figures in 16 of the Lady Owls final 18 games, including a monster 32-point performance in a playoff win over Corban, ending the year averaging 14 points and six rebounds per game. The post made 54% of her field goal chances and got to the foul line 147 times.
 
"Jozie has gotten much stronger, has more confidence and is working on counter moves in the post that she's never had to use in the past," Lease said. "She is an x-factor, as many teams do not have a player who can match up with her."
 
The duo of sophomore Avery Andrews and freshman Addyson Clark will back up in the post. Andrews looks to have an expanded role after averaging two points and two rebounds a game as a freshman, while Clark was an All-State selection at Sutherlin High.
 
The Lady Owls open the season next Thursday in Ashland at the Raider Classic – beginning a gauntlet of eight preseason games, with the final five opponents ranked in the preseason NAIA Top-25 poll (No. 6 Freed-Hardeman, No. 16 Carroll, No. 21 Rocky Mountain, No. 24 Lindsey Wilson, No. 25 Cumberlands). Tech will play just one home game, a Nov. 15 match-up vs. Park Gilbert at the Lithia Classic, before traveling to the Mid-South for games in Kentucky and Tennessee, followed by a Thanksgiving trek to Montana – prior to the 20-game CCC slate.
 
"The goal was to put together the toughest preseason schedule we could to prepare us for games down the road," Lease stated. "The trip to Kentucky and Tennessee will be a grind and it is followed by the trip to Montana and we will play five-straight Top-25 opponents. This will help us in the long run as we'll learn right away how tough we are."