KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. –
Olivia Sprague scored 8-straight points in a key third quarter run, helping Oregon Tech complete a season sweep of Lewis-Clark State, as the Lady Owls topped the No. 12-ranked Warriors, 80-71, at Danny Miles Court.
Tech (14-7, 10-3 CCC) improved to 3-0 all-time in K-12 Field Trip games, pulling into a tie in the loss column for first-place in the Cascade Conference standings.
Tatum Schmerbach scored a game-high 20 points, with Sprague scoring 16 of her 19 points after halftime, as the Lady Owls won their fifth-straight game and snapped a rare 3-game home losing streak.
Leading 45-39 early in the third quarter, Sprague started the personal run with a pair of free throws and followed with a long 3-pointer. After a defensive stop, Sprague converted a 3-point play on the block, extending the margin to 53-39.
OIT pushed the margin to 67-51 early in the third quarter on a Schmerbach jumper, but LC (16-5, 10-3) battled back behind All-CCC players Sitara Byrd and Darian Herring, as a Byrd free throw cut the margin to 75-71 with a minute to play. The Owls answered with two defensive stops and Sprague closed the game out going 5-for-6 at the line to seal the third Top-25 win of the season for the squad.
The two teams traded second quarter runs – as a Schmerbach jumper gave OIT a 23-16 early in the frame, but Tatum Brager canned a triple and Byrd scored underneath to knot the score at 25-25. The Owls closed the first half on a 10-2 run, capped by a 3-point play from
Avery Andrews to take a 41-33 lead to the break.
Schmerbach added eight rebounds and seven assists, with Sprague pulling down six boards and handing out seven assists in the win.
Kendall Fealey scored a career-high 13 points, Andrews added 11 and
Chelsea Ching scored eight, including two key 3-point field goals.
Four LC players were in double-figures, led by Herring and Byrd, each scoring 12. While OIT made 54% of their field goals after halftime, the Owls defense limited the Warriors to 39% shooting in the second half.
Tech closes out the quick homestand tomorrow, hosting Walla Walla at 6:30 p.m.
