Oregon Tech Comeback Falls Short at Simpson
REDDING, Calif. – Simpson University sank a pair of free throws with 1.1 seconds on the clock to break a 65-all tie, defeating Oregon Tech in non-conference women’s basketball action tonight at Heritage Student Life Center by a 67-65 score.
Oregon Tech falls to 6-3 on the year and will open Cascade Collegiate Conference action December 5 and 6 hosting Northwest Christian University at Corban University at Danny Miles Court. Tip is set for 5:30 p.m. on Saturday and 1:00 p.m. on Sunday.
Tech’s Megan Whetstone opened the game with a short jumper, only to see Simpson march out to a 23-8 advantage. The Red Hawks would maintain a 15-point lead with 6:33 to play in the second quarter.
A Bailey Nelson steal and score got the Owls back to within single-digits, 30-22, while a pair of Tess Armstrong free throws to close out the first half pulled the Owls to 34-28 at the half.
A basket by Tech’s Carly McIsaac got the Owls to within four points early in the third period, 38-34, but SU pushed their way back to a double-digit lead, 57-46, ending the third quarter.
Six minutes into the fourth quarter the Owls would still trail by nine, 65-56, before they mounted their comeback.
A 9-0 Tech run with 3:58 remaining turned into a 65-65 tie when Karly LeVeque capped the run with 46 seconds to play.
The Owls missed on their go-ahead try with 11 seconds to play. On SU’s next possession a Red Hawk miss turned into an offensive rebound and a shooting foul where SU sank their freebies to win 67-65 with 1.1 second to play.
Tess Armstrong (pictured - by Kelly Caleb) netted a team-high 14 followed by Megan Whetstone with 13 points. Both had six rebounds each. Karly LeVeque added 10 point with Ashleigh Vandenbrink and Nohea Waiwaiole coming away with nine points each.
Tech shot 38-percent from the field on 22-of-58 with SU knocking down 43-percent of their tries on 23-of-53. SU held a 38-28 edge on the boards.