BOX SCORE

KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – Despite a team-high 22 points by freshman Katie Steigleman (Eugene, Ore.) on 8-for-16 shooting from the field, Corban's women's basketball team returned to Cascade Collegiate Conference action Friday night and fell to the Hustlin' Owls of Oregon Tech, 89-87, at Danny Miles Court.

Behind a career-high 28 points from Amanda Johnston and a school and conference record 19 3-point field goals, the host Owls held off Corban to secure a late two-point win to improve to 9-5 overall and 2-3 in the conference standings.  Meanwhile, the Warriors evened their record at 6-6 and 2-2 in conference play.

OIT jumped out to their largest lead of the game, 23-12, with 14:00 minutes remaining in the half, only to see Corban rally and cut the lead to 32-29.  Corban then tied the game at 35-all following a jumper by freshman Joani Reimer (Ferndale, Wash.) before taking the lead (38-35) thanks to a three-pointer by senior Kailey Bostwick (Medford, Ore.) with 4:33 left in the opening half.  Back-to-back treys and a jumper by the Owls' Megan Ross closed out the first half scoring, giving OIT a four-point advantage (46-42) heading to intermission.

After the half it was all Owls once again.  Oregon Tech increased the lead to double-digits on a Lisa Busch 3-pointer to make it 59-49 with 15:08 remaining.  Corban again chipped away at the Owl lead, cutting the deficit to three points, 75-72, and eventually taking a 77-75 lead on another Bostwick 3-pointer.  The Owls quickly regained an 87-82 lead with just over two minutes on the clock.  A Warrior lay-up cut the deficit to two, and on the next possession a Stiegleman trey tied the game at 87-87 with 1:13 left.  Missed shots and turnovers by both teams kept the game tied over the next minute.

With the clock ticking closer and closer to overtime, OIT then received a late Christmas gift when a Corban foul sent the Owl's Johnston to the free throw line with only 2.0 seconds remaining in the contest.  Johnston calmly sank both free throws and when an errant Warrior 3-pointer fell short; the Owls were able to walk away with the slim 89-87 victory.

Along with Steigleman's team-high scoring output, Corban had four other players finish in double-figures with sophomore Jennesa Miller (Mica, Wash.) registering 16 points followed by junior Monique Tribble (Coquille, Ore.) with 14 points and a team-high nine boards.  Reimer had 13 points and Bostwick finished the evening with 11 points and a game-high tying nine assists.

Johnston recorded her career-high in points on 11-for-16 from the field and 2-for-2 from the free throw line.  Kellie Morey also scored a career-high with 20 points to go along with Busch's 20 points.  Nicole Morgan finished with 16 points, eight assists, and five rebounds, while Meagan Miyasaka grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds and finished tied for a game-high nine assists.

Both teams shot well for the game with Corban knocking down 35 of their 70 (50.0%) attempts and Oregon Tech hitting on 31-for-62 (50.0%). It was the Owls, however, who hit for a blistering 52.8% from beyond the arc, knocking down a Cascade Conference and school-record 19 three point field goals on 36 attempts. Meanwhile, Corban connected in a season-high tying seven trifectas on 14 attempts (50.0%).

The Warriors return to the floor on Saturday, January 3rd, when they take on the NAIA's No. 20-ranked Raiders of Southern Oregon beginning at 5:30 p.m. inside McNeal Pavilion in Ashland.  Tomorrow night's game can be followed either via live statistics, live video, or via Internet radio at www.souraiders.com.