COMING UP: at No. 3 Southern Oregon, Tuesday, 5:30 p.m.; vs. Multnomah, Friday, 5:30 p.m.; vs. Warner Pacific, Saturday, 3 p.m.

COMPLETE WEEKLY MEDIA NOTEBOOK
 
GAME DAY INFORMATION: All 22 Cascade Conference games will be broadcast live on radio in the Klamath Basin on 104.3-FM and 960-AM, beginning with the Joy Lease Coaches' Show 30-minutes prior to tip-off – simulcast online with audio through MyBasin.com. Video of Tuesday's game will be available through Raider Vision (PPV), with both weekend games live on the Owls Sports Network. Live Stats for all three match-ups will be available through the OIT SIDEARM Stats Portal.
 
OPPONENT PREVIEW – SOUTHERN OREGON: The Top-2 teams in the CCC meet Tuesday in Ashland, as Tech squares off with No. 3-ranked Southern Oregon. The Raiders (25-0, 19-0 CCC) are off to their best start in school history, taking a 39-game regular-season win streak into the match-up. SOU leads the league is scoring offense (77.8) and scoring defense (53.5), making a league-best 48.8% of field goals and 39.7% of 3's. Portland State transfer Morgan Baird (14.6 ppg, 4.1 rpg) leads Southern's attack, with sisters Meghan McIntyre (11.2 ppg, 4.0 apg) and Bridgette McIntyre (9.7 ppg, 3.0 rpg) anchoring the guard line. Emma Schmerbach (12.0 ppg, 5.7 rpg), older sister of OIT's Tatum Schmerbach, is the Raiders top defender. SOU holds a 45-39 all-time series lead, including a come-from-behind 65-58 win in Klamath in December.
 
OPPONENT PREVIEW – MULTNOMAH: The weekend opens with OIT's final-ever meeting vs. Multnomah, as the Portland school will disband athletics at the conclusion of the academic year. The Lions (7-19, 5-15) have played just six players each of their last four games, with the club dropping 13 of their last 15 contests. Nomah averages 66 points a game, making nearly eight 3-pointers a game, while their opponents are connecting on 47% of their field goal chances. Jersey Huerta (19.3 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 4.0 apg) leads the league in scoring, with McKayla Torkonoo (11.3 ppg, 4.4 rpg), Gracie Browning (10.6 ppg, 8.0 rpg) and Ellie Robertson (10.1 ppg, 3.6 rpg) each playing nearly all of the minutes. OIT holds a 19-0 all-time series lead, including a 97-58 victory in Portland last month.
 
OPPONENT PREVIEW – WARNER PACIFIC: The regular-season ends Saturday against Warner Pacific, as the Knights (7-19, 4-16) have struggled down the stretch – heading into the weekend on an 8-game losing streak. WPU averages 57 points a game and converts 35.9% of their field goal chances, while opponents average 71 points a night and force 18 turnovers. A guard-laden line-up keys the Knights attack – with Emily Fortin (11.2 ppg, 4.2 rpg), Amalya Sales (9.6 ppg, 2.0 rpg), McKeely Tonkin (8.6 ppg, 4.0 rpg) and Skylar Groesbeck (8.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg) all averaging over eight points a night. OIT dominated the first meeting, 94-58 – their fifth-straight win of over 24 points in the series – and hold a 45-22 all-time series edge.
 
LADY OWLS CLINCH HOME PLAYOFF GAME: With their win over Northwest on Feb. 1, OIT clinched a spot in the 8-team Cascade Conference Championships – their 13th-straight appearance and 28th all-time postseason berth. The Lady Owls are 21-18 all-time in the CCC Championships, winning titles in 2014 and 2015, while advancing to seven NAIA Tournaments (2005, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2024). Tech has guaranteed themselves a home quarterfinal match-up set for Feb. 25 at 7 p.m.
 
PLAYOFF PICTURE: Heading into the final week of the regular-season, Southern Oregon has clinched their second-straight CCC title, with the Lady Owls and Lewis-Clark State battling for the No. 2 seed in the upcoming league championships. OIT has a game and a half lead on LC – along with the tiebreaker (record vs. teams .500 or better in CCC play) if the clubs end up tied in the final standings. Eastern Oregon and College of Idaho are separated by one game in the standings (with C of I holding the potential tiebreak), with Corban, Evergreen State and Bushnell separated by one game for the No. 6-8 playoff spots.
 
20-WIN SEASONS: With the win Saturday night at Walla Walla, Tech recorded their 20th win of the season – their third-straight 20-win campaign. It marks the 16th time since 2002 that the Lady Owls have posted 20-or-more wins in a season.
 
POLL POSITION: The Lady Owls climbed one spot to No. 22 in the latest NAIA Top-25 Poll, released on Feb. 12. Five teams OIT has faced are in the ranking – No. 1 Dordt, No. 3 Southern Oregon, No. 13 Arizona Christian, with both LC State and Northwestern receiving votes. Tech is No. 18 in the latest NAIA RPI rating – the second highest mark in the West, with the team ranked No. 2 in the previous NAIA West ARC rating which determines at-large bids and seeding to the NAIA Championships.
 
OVERTIME WINS: Saturday's 72-70 overtime victory by the Lady Owls was the first game to go beyond 40 minutes since the 2021-22 season – with the victory ending an 8-game losing streak in overtime games (dating back to a double-overtime win over Bethesda in 2017). Tech's last CCC overtime win prior to Saturday's victory was 11 years ago, a road OT win at Evergreen State.
 
POSTS SHOULDER THE LOAD: The inside play by the OIT posts was crucial during the long road trip – as the three players in the forward rotation combined to make 37-of-62 field goals (59.6 percent) in the two contests. The trio combined to score 35 of the 54 points at LC State, adding 55 of the 72 points at Walla Walla.
 
RAMOS CONTINUES RUN: The Lady Owls turned to Jozie Ramos down the stretch against Walla Walla, as the squad rallied from an 8-point deficit in the final four minutes to force overtime in the 72-70 win. The sophomore scored 15 of OIT's final 21 points, ending the night with 22 points and 11 rebounds – ending the evening 10-of-10 from the foul line, becoming the eighth player to make at least 10 free throws in a game without a miss. Ramos led the team with 17 points in Friday's loss at LC State – recorded double-digit point totals in 7-straight games and 12 of her last 13. Over the last seven games, Ramos is leading the club, averaging 17 points per game.
 
ELQUIST HAS CAREER NIGHT: Tech got a huge boost on Saturday night from Alexis Elquist, who scored a career-high 22 points in the overtime win. The senior recorded her fifth double-double of the year in the victory, adding 10 rebounds, two blocks and three steals. Elquist had 10 points and eight rebounds at LC State, with the forward averaging 14 points and 11 rebounds over the Owls last four games.
 
SENIOR NIGHT: Saturday marks the final home regular-season game for the 2024-25 women's basketball senior class. Alexis Elquist, Kennedy Tull and Maddyson Tull will be honored at halftime of the men's basketball game vs. Warner Pacific.
 
600 WINS: The Lady Owls sit one win away from recording their 600th all-time win, dating back to the program's origin in 1975. OIT holds a 599-467 all-time record in 39 seasons of women's basketball.
 
AROUND THE CONFERENCE: The final weekend of the regular-season has Northwest and Evergreen State headed to Eastern Oregon and College of Idaho, Lewis-Clark State and Walla Walla off to Corban and Bushnell, with Warner Pacific and Multnomah traveling to OIT and Southern Oregon.
 
LEAGUE LEADERS: As a team, OIT leads the CCC in rebound margin (+12.5), ranking No. 3 in scoring offense (74.6), field goal percentage (.436), scoring margin (+14.8), blocks per game (3.6), assists per game (17.3) and steals per game (9.1), No. 4 in scoring defense (59.9), No. 8 in 3-point percentage (.303) and No. 9 in free throw percentage (.671). Individually, Tatum Schmerbach is No. 2 in assists per game (4.2) and No. 9 in rebounds per game (9.0); Jozie Ramos is No. 4 in field goal percentage (.534) and No. 5 in blocks per game (1.2); Kennedy Tull is No. 4 in free throw percentage (.783); with Alexis Elquist No. 6 in rebounds per game (8.3) and No. 10 in field goal percentage (.482).
 
NATIONAL LEADER IN ATTENDANCE: The Lady Owls have had a banner season at the attendance gate, averaging 1,013 fans per game – tops in the NAIA and No. 3 among all Oregon basketball playing schools. OIT sits well ahead of the rest of the NAIA Top-5 – Carroll (789), Providence (694), LC State (637) and Southern Oregon (540).
 
SUCCESS AT DANNY MILES COURT: Danny Miles Court has been a difficult place for opponents since Tech brought women's basketball back as a varsity sport in 2002. Over the past 23 seasons, the Lady Owls have won 76-percent of their home dates – posting a stellar 257-80 overall record – including a 9-2 mark this year. The 2012-13 squad finished the year with a 15-1 mark, while a season later, the Owls had a 16-2 record – at one point winning 19-consecutive home games. Every season since women's basketball returned to Tech in 2002-03, the Owls have had a winning record every season on their home floor.
 
RECORD BOOK: Eight Lady Owls are currently ranked among the Top-50 in the OIT record book, led by Olivia Sprague, who is No. 2 in field goal attempts (1,133), No. 3 in steals (179), No. 4 in points scored (1,344), field goals made (478) and 3-pointers made (165), No. 5 in 3-point attempts (427), No. 8 in free throws made (223) and assists (306), No. 15 in free throw attempts (274), No. 19 in blocked shots (40), No. 20 in rebounds (459) and ranking No. 33 in games played (90). Maddyson Tull is No. 3 in field goals made (524), No. 6 in free throw attempts (333), No. 7 in points scored (1,264), No. 8 in rebounds (617), No. 10 in field goal attempts (996), No. 11 in games played (122), No. 12 in free throws made (208), No. 16 in blocks (44), ranking No. 44 in steals (65) and No. 45 in assists (115); Kennedy Tull ranks No.  7 in free throw attempts (290), No. 10 in free throws made (222), No. 24 in points scored (769), 3-pointers made (67), 3-point attempts (214) and games played (109), No. 33 in assists (141), No. 36 in field goals made (239), ranking No. 39 in field goal attempts (572); Gabbie Gascon is No. 7 in free throws made (233), No. 10 in steals (146), No. 11 in assists (274), No. 13 in free throw attempts (280), No. 17 in 3-pointers made (83), No. 19 in 3-point attempts (260), No. 21 in points scored (806), No. 34 in field goal attempts (601), No. 35 in field goals made (245), ranking No. 40 in rebounds (315); Alexis Elquist is No. 12 in rebounds (532), No. 14 in blocked shots (51), No. 40 in field goals made (233), No. 41 in 3-point attempts (78), No. 42 in 3-pointers made (22), ranking No. 45 in field goal attempts (539), while sitting just outside the Top-50 in points scored (544); Jozie Ramos is No. 11 in blocked shots (64), No. 31 in free throw attempts (209), No. 32 in free throws made (151), No. 46 in points scored (572) and field goals made (209), No. 47 in rebounds (280), ranking just outside the Top-50 in field goal attempts (398); Tatum Schmerbach is No. 20 in assists (189), No. 32 in rebounds (391), No. 34 in blocked shots (25), No. 36 in 3-point attempts (103), No. 38 in 3-pointers made (28) and field goal attempts (574), No. 40 in field goals made (233) and No. 48 in points scored (561); with Kendall Fealey No. 29 in steals (80).
 
SCORING 90, ALLOWING UNDER 50 EQUAL WINS: OIT has scored 90-or-more points in a game 41 times, posting a 38-3 record in the high-scoring contests – including four 90-point games this season. The Lady Owls are riding a 99-game win streak when allowing fewer than 50 points in a game, recording a 173-8 record in such games (last loss occurred in 2012, a 42-40 setback at Eastern Oregon).
 
UP NEXT: The Lady Owls will host a CCC Tournament quarterfinal game next Wednesday night (Feb. 26) – tip-off is set for 7 p.m.