KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – On a night Olivia Sprague became the leading scorer in the Modern Era of Oregon Tech women's basketball, Tatum Schmerbach upstaged the senior, posting the third triple-double in program history, as the Lady Owls cruised to a 95-70 victory over Northwest University at Danny Miles Court.
 
Schmerbach scored 26 points, adding 10 rebounds and recording a career-high 13 assists – joining Nohea Waiwaiole in 2018 and Abby Kreiser in 2021 as the only OIT (6-4, 2-0 CCC) players to have 10-or-more points, rebounds and assists in a game.
 
The junior had eight first half assists, helping the Lady Owls build a 47-31 lead, adding 12 points in the third quarter to overcome an Eagles (3-6, 0-2) run, reaching the mark with an offensive rebound with three minutes left in the game.
 
NU took an early 7-6 lead on an Ellie DeWaard triple, but OIT closed the quarter on a 20-4 run – forcing eight Eagles turnovers in the process. Sprague started the rally with a 3-pointer, Brooke Anderson canned a three and Avery Andrews scored twice in the paint.
 
The exclamation point on the run was a lay-up by Sprague at the buzzer, giving the fifth-year senior the 1,446th point of her OIT career – surpassing the mark of 1,445 points set by Ashleigh Vandenbrink from 2013-17 – the most points since the program returned in 2002 (Carmen Arroquero holds the all-time record of 2,063 points from 1982-86).
 
The Eagles battled their way back in the game, as Kaleah Medeiros scored five quick points in an 11-4 run to open the third quarter, as the visitors cut the deficit to single-digits at 51-42. Schmerbach answered with a 3-pointer and a 3-point play to keep the opponent at a distance.
 
Leading 73-61 in the fourth quarter, Sprague scored 8-straight points, part of a 14-3 run, that broke the game wide open.
 
Sprague recorded a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds, with both Anderson and Andrews each finishing with 13 points. OIT made 53% of their field goal attempts and outscored NU 58-28 in the paint.
 
Medeiros led four Eagles in double-figures with 13 points – all in the second half, with DeWaard adding 12.
 
Tech returns to action next Sunday, traveling to Salem for an exhibition game at Division III Willamette.