CALDWELL, Idaho – Tatum Schmerbach missed a last-second desperation game-tying 3-pointer, as Oregon Tech saw their Cascade Conference title hopes upended by College of Idaho in a 60-57 loss inside the J.A. Albertson Activities Center.
 
The Lady Owls (18-9, 14-5 CCC) will close out the regular-season tomorrow at Eastern Oregon – looking for a win to improve seeding in next weekend's CCC Championships.
 
C of I (20-7, 14-5) held off a furious OIT rally inside the final three minutes to compete a season sweep.
 
The Yotes built a 38-31 third quarter lead, before the Owls turned to Tatum Schmerbach, who scored on 3-straight possessions, part of an 11-2 run that gave the visitors a 42-40 lead at the period close.
 
The hosts answered, getting a transition 3-pointer from Kylie Waltermeyer to cap an 8-0 run to start the fourth quarter, with Waltermeyer extending the lead to 57-48 with three minutes left.
 
Tech did not quit, as Jozie Ramos started a 9-2 run with a 3-point play, Schmerbach scored twice in the paint and Kendall Fealey grabbed a key offensive rebound and converted inside.
 
Leading 59-57, Taryn Riley split two free throws for the Yotes, giving OIT a chance – as Schmerbach missed a 3-pointer, Fealey got the rebound and found Schmerbach for a rushed second try, which rimmed out.
 
Schmerbach scored 20 points with nine rebounds – her 13th game with 20-or-more points, with Ramos and Fealey scoring 12.
 
Waltermeyer led all players with 23 points and Riley scored a season-high 15. C of I held Tech to 38% shooting on the night.