KLAMATH FALLS – The toughest road swing on the Cascade Conference schedule is already in the books, and No. 18-ranked Southern Oregon came out of it in fine shape after Saturday night's 81-47 victory at Oregon Tech.
The Raiders pounded their rivals by forcing 29 turnovers and keeping the Owls at 30-percent shooting, both season-best marks for SOU defensively. The margin of victory was their widest at Danny Miles Court, and in any game against OIT, since 1980.
Heading into their first home games in seven weeks next Friday and Saturday against Evergreen (Wash.) and Northwest (Wash.), the Raiders stand at 6-2 overall and 2-1 in the CCC.
They led the Owls (5-4, 1-2) for the final 35 minutes and never relented after giving up just six points in the first quarter and taking a 33-17 advantage into halftime. The SOU backcourt dominated as
Brianna Phiakhamngon scored 21 points – the senior has averaged 20 over three conference games – and
Kalei Iwami hit a career-high five 3-pointers on 10 attempts to score 17. Both guards collected a pair of steals.
In the frontcourt,
Kami Walk went for 13 points, seven rebounds and four assists, and
Clara Robbins had five boards and three steals. The Raider bench also became a big part of the story by contributing 12 buckets.
Izzy Hernandez shot 4-of-4 with nine points,
Camille Feary had eight points with a couple 3-pointers, and
Emma Schmerbach tallied six points, four steals, four assists and three rebounds.
"I though we executed the game plan on both ends really well," SOU head coach
Carlotta Kloppenburg-Pruitt said. "We had players off the bench really step up today and it was a great all-around team win."
Collectively, they hounded the Owls from start to finish. Point guard Olivia Sprague was limited to 17 points after scoring 29 at both College of Idaho and Eastern Oregon last week, and she turned the ball over eight times. Her teammates combined to shoot 10-of-42 from the field.
SOU has won five straight in the series against the Owls and four of the last five matchups in Klamath Falls.