KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – Tatum Schmerbach scored a season-high 24 points – including 3-straight baskets in a late 10-2 Oregon Tech run, as the No. 23-ranked Lady Owls outlasted Bushnell University, 79-69, at Danny Miles Court.
 
OIT (19-4, 15-2 CCC) extended their win streak to 4-in-a-row, as four players scored in double-figures, paced by Schmerbach, who added 10 rebounds and five assists.
 
The Beacons (9-15, 8-10) rallied from a 9-point third quarter lead to take a 65-63 advantage with six minutes on a Kyra Quinn 3-pointer – but the visitors converted just one field goal the rest of the night.
 
Schmerbach took over – tying the game with a post move, followed by a baseline runner that gave Tech the lead, adding a driving lay-up to push the margin to 69-65. The sophomore followed with a nifty pass, finding Jozie Ramos for a easy two, with Brooke Anderson capping the 10-2 run with a lay-up down the left baseline.
 
The win wasn't easy – as two Alexis Elquist jumpers and 3's from Anderson and Schmerbach staked the Owls to a 19-10 lead. The Eugene school countered with a 14-3 run – capped by a Libby Mathis offensive rebound and lay-up to take a 29-26 lead. Bushnell led 43-42 early in the third quarter when Elquist drained a long triple and capped an 11-2 run with a inside basket, as OIT regained a 53-45 margin – before the Beacons made it interesting late.
 
Anderson scored a career-high 15 points, adding eight rebounds and five assists in the win, Elquist logged her second-straight double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds, with Ramos scoring 10.
 
Mathis led the Beacons with 20 points, 14 rebounds and five blocks, with Mandy Sisul scoring all 11 of her points in the first half.
 
Tech hits the road next weekend, starting Friday with a Top-25 matchup at No. 24-ranked Lewis-Clark State.