KLAMATH FALLS, OR – Oregon Tech took the season series with No. 12 LC State on Friday with an 80-71 victory over the Warriors. The two teams shot nearly identical from the field with the difference in the contest being at the free throw line.

The loss has the LC State record at 16-5 on the season and 10-3 in Cascade Conference play.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Lindsey Wilson scored on the first possession of the contest and Kendall Wallace gave LC State a 6-3 edge with a triple at 6:16. Tatum Brager made a quick impact off the bench with five points to continue a back-and-forth battle between the two teams and a pair of baskets by Camden Barger had the Warriors within two, 18-16, after 10 minutes.

The Lady Owls continued to stretch their lead in the second quarter as baskets by Wilson and Barger kept the game within reach. A triple by Brager cut the deficit to 25-23 at 6:41 and Sitara Byrd evened things up 30 seconds later. Darian Herring kept things tied 31-31 with six points in 90 seconds, but a late push by OIT had LC State down 41-33 at the break.

Wilson put up the first three points of the second half for LC State before a layup by Byrd had the deficit at 43-38, but OIT kept its momentum to maintain a double-digit advantage throughout much of the frame. Barger came up with a clutch 3-pointer and free throws to bring the score to 53-44 at 2:28, but another Owl run had LC State trailing 60-48 with one quarter to play.

Payton Hymas scored six straight points before Wallace and Herring combined for a run of five to bring LC State within seven, 69-62, with 3:46 on the clock. Baskets by Herring and Byrd had the deficit at 75-71 in the final minute, but the Owls hung on to defeat the Warriors.