Karissa Dixon scored 10 points and grabbed four rebounds in 69-55 win over William Jessup. (photo by Kelly Caleb)
Owls Pull Away for 69-55 Win at William Jessup
ROCKLIN, Calif. – Oregon Tech had three players in double figures, shot 61% from the floor and pulled away from William Jessup University down the stretch to win 69-55 in women’s basketball action tonight in game 1 of the Bill Holtz Classic.
Aundrea Albright hit on 10-of-13 for 20 points and added eight rebounds to lead the Owl offensive attack. Colleen Hunt finished with 13 points, including eight-straight in the second half, and three assists, while Karissa Dixon added 10 points and four boards. Kassi Conditt netted seven points, grabbed four rebounds and handed out two assists with Maria Ramirez recording eight points before leaving the game with an injury just nine minutes into the first half.
The teams went back-and-forth for much of the first half, including 11 lead changes and four ties. With the scored tied 26-26 with just over five minutes remaining in the first period, OIT would score the final six points of the half, including four from senior guard Morgan Hofman, to take a 32-26 lead into intermission.
A pair of Karissa Dixon free throws with under 15 minutes remaining gave the Owls a nine point advantage, but WJU fought back to within a basket on an 8-0 run.
Tech’s Colleen Hunt then put the team on her back, scoring eight-straight points, including a pair of treys and a driving layup, while Aundrea Albright capped a 10-2 run on a short jumper that gave Oregon Tech their first 10 point lead of the game. Tech moved up 12 on a Rebekah Matteri basket, but WJU wouldn’t go away, pulling to within six, 59-53, late in the half. Oregon Tech, however, never let WJU get any closer, closing the game on a 10-2 run to win 69-55.
Oregon Tech (3-0) will play NAIA D1 Fresno Pacific University tomorrow 1:00 p.m. in the championship game of the Bill Holtz William Jessup Classic.