SALEM, Ore. – Tatum Schmerbach led five Oregon Tech players in double figures with 23 points – narrowly missing a second-straight triple-double, as the Lady Owls cruised to a 78-58 exhibition win over Willamette University at Cone Fieldhouse.
 
Schmerbach added nine assists and eight rebounds in the win, as OIT used a 13-2 first quarter run to take a 15-4 lead – dominating the Division III Bearcats (2-6) from the start.
 
Back-to-back 3-pointers from Olivia Sprague highlighted a 16-3 second quarter run, extending the Lady Owls (6-4) lead to 38-14, with the visitors taking a 40-19 lead to the break.
 
Tech did not allow a made field goal over the first five minutes of the third quarter, pushing the margin to 46-19 on a Schmerbach lay-up, with consecutive buckets from Schmerbach giving the Lady Owls their largest lead at 59-29.
 
Sprague scored all 13 of her points in the first half, Ayla Marston scored a career-best 12, with Jozie Ramos and Avery Andrews each posting 10 points and five rebounds. 
 
OIT improved to 4-7 all-time in exhibition games and 2-0 against Division III teams.
 
Kaitlin Imai led WU with 15 points – as the Lady Owls held the Bearcats to 28% shooting in the opening half.
 
The Lady Owls return to action next weekend, hosting Bushnell and Corban at Danny Miles Court.