Big Second Half Lifts OIT over Wildcats
KLAMATH FALLS, Oregon (December 8, 2007)---The Oregon Tech women’s basketball team won both of their games at the Oregon Tech Classic, as they defeated Willamette University here at Danny Miles Court 73-44 in game two tonight. The win pushes Tech’s overall record to 6-2 on the season while Willamette University falls to 2-7 on the year.
Both teams struggled to start offensively, as the score was only 11-7 in favor of Tech with 9:40 left in the first half. Tech senior Jenni Miiller (Boise, ID) would hit back-to-back shots to spark an Owl 13-2 run to go up 24-9 with 6:01 left on the clock, but a Willamette 8-0 run of their own would cut the lead to seven at 24-17. Both teams traded buckets the rest of the way to see the half time score 30-23 Oregon Tech.
With the score 32-28, three minutes into the second half, Tech’s Jenna Ball (SR. Scappoose, OR) scored nine straight points, hitting three 3-point field goals in a row to start a 21-9 run that left the score 51-32 with 11:06 on the clock and a lead the Bearcats could not recover from.
Tech had four players in double digit points, with a game high 17 from Crystal Idrogo (SO, Sacramento, CA) followed by a double-double, 13 point 10 rebound performance, by Jenna Ball and 12 points from junior Amanda Johnston (Myrtle Point, OR) and 10 from Cora McVey (SR. Dexter, OR).
Tech shot 45.9% from the field on 28-61 from the floor while Willamette was held to 28.3% from the floor on 15-53 shooting. Tech out rebounded the Bearcats 46 to 24 with 12 coming from the offensive end that led to several second chance baskets for Tech, compared to just two from WU.
Willamette had two players score in double figures, led by 13 points from Laura Payne followed by 11 points from Alex Zennan.
Oregon Tech will travel North on Sunday to play two non-league contests versus NCAA III opponents Linfield College in McMinnville, OR on Monday 12/10, 7:00 p.m. and University Puget Sound in Tacoma, WA on Tuesday 12/11, 6:00 p.m. The Lady Owls will resume Cascade Conference play on 12/18 and 12/19, as Tech will host Northwest University and The Evergreen State College. The women’s games will tip-off at 5:30 p.m.