Oregon Tech Knocks Off No. 12 Corban in CCC Opener

12/2/2011 10:06:19 PM

KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – Oregon Tech overcame a 10 point deficit with 13 minutes to play and knocked off No. 12 Corban University in the 2011-12 Cascade Conference season opening game tonight at Danny Miles Court by a 73-70 final.

Oregon Tech moves to 8-1 overall and 1-0 in the CCC standings. Corban is even at 4-4 on the season and 0-1 in conference play.

Oregon Tech fell behind 9-0 to start the game before a pair of Carrie Thibault free throws gave the Owls their first points. An Aundrea Albright jumper capped a 10-5 Tech run that pulled the Owls to within four points, but six-straight by the visitors put the Warriors up 20-10. Tech answered with six-straight of their own and a pair of Karissa Dixon free throws gave the Owls their first lead of the contest, 26-25. The teams would go back-and-forth over the next three minutes and head to the locker room tied at 33-33 at the intermission.

Another quick start by the Warriors gave CU an eight point cushion to begin the second period, but the Owls continued to battle, pulling to within two at 47-45 with 15:29 to play. Corban answered once again, as another eight in a row put the Owls back down 10 with just over 13 minutes on the clock.

Back-to-back triples from Dixon and Thibault spurred a 12-0 Owl run, with Rebekah Matteri scoring to give the lead back to the Owls 57-55 at the midway point. The Owls moved up by three points on three occasions, the last at 69-66 on a pair of Morgan Hofman freebies, but Tess Bennett got loose on the outside and canned a 3-pointer that tied the game, 69-69, with 1:11 remaining.

A Kassi Conditt jumper gave the Owls back the lead with just 33 seconds to play. Corban’s Bennett was fouled on an inbounds play on their next possession, sinking the first but missing the second as Tech’s Dixon gained possession and was fouled with 15 seconds. Dixon missed the bonus try, but Albright gathered the carom and was fouled with eight seconds. Albright then calmly sank both free throws to give the Owls a three point advantage.

CU’s Tsugawa then took the inbounds pass and from the left side of the three point line launched a shot that bounced off as the buzzer sounded giving Tech the 73-70 win.

Karissa Dixon recorded her second-straight double-double after leading Tech with 17 points and 10 rebounds. Dixon also added five assists and two steals for the Owls in the win. Kassi Conditt followed with 16 points and four rebounds, while Aundrea Albright was the third Owl player in double figures with 11 points to go with eight rebounds.

Oregon Tech, shooting just 37% at the half, knocked down 48% of their second half tries to finish 42% from the field for the night. After shooting 46% in the first half, the Oregon Tech defense held Corban to just 35% shooting in the second half as the Warriors ended the night at 39%.

Katie Steigleman scored a game-high 21 points, including 15 in the opening stanza, while Emily Tsugawa added 15 and Tess Bennett 12 in the loss for CU.