Warner Pacific improves to 9-3 in CCC play after 53-37 win.
Defense Rules for Warner Pacific in Win Over Oregon Tech
BOX SCORE
PORTLAND, Ore. – Warner Pacific held Oregon Tech to 20 percent shooting, sending the Knights to a 53-37 victory over the Owls at C.C. Perry Gym tonight.
The result is the fourth win in a row for WP and sends the Knights into sole possession of 4th place in the CCC standings at 9-3 and 15-8 overall. Oregon Tech slips to 19-6 overall and 8-5 in conference play.
The host Knights led wire to wire, and held OIT without a field goal until 8:34 remaining in the first period. A Kelsey Mattsen free throw gave WP their largest lead of the period (18-5) at the 6:57 mark and the game looked to turn into a rout. Kaitlin Nielsen broke free inside for the Owls at that point however, hitting a layup which started a 12-2 run by Oregon Tech. Despite holding OIT to just 4 of 19 shooting in the period, Warner Pacific led just 22-18 at the break.
The opening minutes of the second half saw the teams trade buckets, with the score at 29-25 in favor of WPC with 14:48 on the clock. A Layne Tucker three point play sparked a 9-0 burst from the Knights which provided a cushion. The WP lead later reached as many as 20 (50-30) with 3:27 to play, as the Knights began to find the range while OIT continued to struggle.
Chelsey Christensen dropped in 21 points to lead WPC, and Cameryn Calhoun added 14 counters. Katie Smith grabbed a game high nine rebounds.
Oregon Tech was paced by Karissa Dixon’s 10 points and six rebounds. Colleen Hunt contributed seven points.