Box Score KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – The NU Eagles erased a 15 point Oregon Tech lead in the fourth quarter, but fell short, 78-74, in Cascade Conference play this afternoon. Northwest U cut the OIT lead down to three points with 15 seconds left in the game, but OIT's Carly McIsaac would make one of two free throws with 6 seconds left to clinch the game for the Owls.
The two teams opened the game with a battle in the first quarter with three ties as neither team would establish a strong foot hold until Michelle Cottier's jumper with 53 seconds to go would give the Owls a slim, 16-15 lead at the end of the quarter.
Oregon Tech would continue to lead throughout the second quarter building an 8 point, 36-28 lead at 2:21 after Ashlei Vandenbrink's 3-pointer. Kalee Fowler would hit a jumper for the Eagles with 19 seconds to go in the half to close the gap to 38-32 at halftime.
The Owls would outscore NU 11-4 in the first 4 minutes of the third quarter to increase their lead to 49-36 on another Vandenbrink 3-pointer. With 3:44 to go in the period, NU's Mariah Stacona would bury a 3-pointer to close the gap to 9 points, 50-41, but OIT would go on a 10-4 run to close the quarter to lead 60-45 as the quarter would end.
Ten seconds into the fourth quarter, Tech would go up 61-45, but then the Eagles would begin to mount their comeback. A jumper and 3-pointer by Morgan Jacobson would cut the Owl lead to 11, 51-40 at 8:46. Brianna Fiso would hit a jumper with 6:30 remaining to make it a 9 point game, 63-54 as the Eagles defense would hold OIT scoreless for the next four minutes. Two free throws by Fiso would pull NU to within 7 points, 63-56. OIT would hit four straight free throws would give the Owls an 11 point lead with 1:58 to go in the game. Charmaine Bradford's six straight points with 53 seconds left and a Jordan Asher's jumper with 27 seconds showing on the clock would make it a 3 point game, but it would be Tech hitting three of four free throws in the final 18 seconds to pull out the narrow victory. Senior Brianna Fiso led Northwest U (10-13, 5-8 CCC) with a double-double: 18 points and 11 rebounds. Jordan Asher scored 15 points while Charmaine Bradford scored 14 points along with 6 rebounds and 4 assists. The Eagles shot 38 percent for the game and managed just 24 percent from 3-point range on 5 for 21 shooting.
Oregon Tech (16-5, 10-2 CCC) was led by Ashlei Vandenbrink's 18 points while teammate Karly Leveque added 7 points and 10 rebounds for a double-double. Megan Whetstone score 15 points, all coming in the second half. Tech won the rebounding battle by edging NU 47-44 and shot 38 percent for the game.
"We had a great effort this afternoon from the lady Eagles," stated NU coach, Ken Crawford. "I was very happy with our perseverance and our commitment to compete the entire game. We're looking forward to getting home and playing in front of the Eagle crowd next weekend."
