ASHLAND, Ore. – Tatum Schmerbach scored a career-high 34 points – the most points by an Oregon Tech women's basketball player since the program was reinstated in 2002, as the Lady Owls outlasted The Master's in overtime, 84-80, to close out play at the Raider Classic.
 
The junior finished 15-for-32 from the field – the most shot attempts in program history – the fourth-highest total in school history and most since Shelly Isaac scored 37 in 1986 – adding nine rebounds, seven assists and four steals.
 
The Lady Owls (2-0) led 32-31 early in the third quarter, but the Mustangs answered with a 16-5 run, getting two 3's and a bucket from Chloe Auble, taking their largest lead at 47-37 midway through the period.  Schmerbach answered with 8-straight points and baskets from Avery Andrews and Brooke Anderson gave OIT a 55-54 lead to start the final period.
 
Neither team had a lead more than four points in the fourth quarter, with Auble canning a late triple to give TMU (2-1) a 74-72 lead. Schmerbach responded with a layup inside the final 40 seconds to force overtime.
 
In the extra session, Jozie Ramos broke a 78-78 tie with a lay-up with 1:42 left and the Lady Owls held the Mustangs to 1-of-4 shooting the rest of the way, with Tech making 4-of-6 free throws to close out the win.
 
Anderson had 15 points, five rebounds and five assists, with Ramos adding 15 points in the win for the Lady Owls. Anderson added eight points off the bench, as OIT converted 35-of-70 field goals on the night, forcing 20 turnovers.
 
Auble led TMU with 29 points and Alli VanKooten added 13 points and 16 rebounds in the loss.
 
Tech returns to the court next Saturday, hosting Park Gilbert at 3 p.m. on Day 2 of the Lithia Classic.