Second Half Surge Sends Warner Pacific Past Oregon Tech
PORTLAND, Ore. – Warner Pacific overcame a 14 point halftime deficit to stop Oregon Tech 70-66 and earn a win in their Cascade Conference opener tonight at C.C. Perry Gym.
The Knights rebounded from a chilly 25 percent shooting effort in the first half with a 65 percent performance in the second to complete the comeback.
Oregon Tech (6-5, 0-1 CCC) took advantage of the Knight woes from the field to lead by as many as 16 points in the first period. Brittany Cherry scored 10 points in the first half to spark OIT to a 37-23 lead at the break.
WP started quickly in the second period, closing to within 38-41 just five minutes in. Kelsey Mattsen came alive for Warner Pacific (5-2, 1-0 CCC), dropping in 16 points to bring the Knights back.
For the next ten minutes the teams traded the lead seven times, with WP taking the advantage for good with 5:06 to play on two Katie Smith free throws.
Mattsen finished with a team high 20 points for WP, while Layne Tucker added 19 points including four makes from three point range. Cameryn Calhoun contributed 16 points and six assists.
Cherry and Kassi Conditt scored 13 points each for Oregon Tech, with Cherry also pulling down a game high 11 rebounds.
Warner Pacific will host Southern Oregon tomorrow night, while OIT will visit Concordia. Both games start at 7:30 pm.