WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

The Walla Walla Women’s Basketball team will honor its seniors this weekend as the Wolves play at Windemuth Court for the final times this season. Walla Walla faces a difficult slate of games against the top two teams in the Cascade Conference. No. 4 Southern Oregon is undefeated and will play the Wolves at noon on Friday and No. 23 Oregon Tech will come to College Place for a game at 7 p.m. on Saturday.

No. 4 - SOUTHERN OREGON RAIDERS (23-0, 17-0)

The Raiders are one of two teams (William Carey) still undefeated in the NAIA entering the weekend. The defending CCC champion has rolled with double-digit victories in six of its last seven contests. Southern Oregon has outscored its opponents by 24 points a game with a conference-leading 77.8 points per game and 53.8 points allowed per game.

Ball control has been another key for SOU as the Raiders are top four in the CCC in several key statistics. Southern Oregon averages 10 steals (2nd), 15.8 assists (4th), 3.5 blocks (4th) and 38.8 rebounds (3rd) a game and are second in the conference with a +6.30 turnover margin.

Morgan Baird is one of the best shooters in the CCC with a conference-leading 58.5% shooting percentage as the senior averages 14.9 points per game. Emma Schmerbach averages 11.9 PPG and Meghan McIntyre and Bridgette McIntyre both average double figures as well. Bridgette McIntyre (46.6%) and Mallory Williams (46.2%) are the two most efficient 3-point shooters in the CCC. Meghan McIntyre averages 2.6 steals and 3.9 assists per game.

The first meeting between Walla Walla and Southern Oregon was controlled by the Raiders as the No. 4 team in the country won 87-44. SOU had a 40-15 lead at halftime and had 48 points off the bench. Baird led with 19 points and Eliza DiGiulio added 15 points for Southern Oregon. Freshman Jaylo Bello had 15 points to lead the Wolves. Walla Walla is looking for its first win against the Raiders.

No. 23 - OREGON TECH OWLS (19-4, 15-2)

The Owls have won four in a row and 13-of-14 coming into the weekend. Oregon Tech broke into the top-25 in the latest poll at the end of January and could move up when the new poll is released later this week. OIT has a two game lead over LC State for second in the conference and the two will meet on Friday.

Oregon Tech is second in the CCC with 75.7 points per game and have allowed a fourth-best 58.9 PPG this season. The Owls are dominant on the glass with a +13.2 rebounding margin and OIT brings down 46.8 rebounds a game. Oregon Tech is second in the conference with 3.7 blocks and 17.6 assists per game.

The trio of Tatum Schmerbach (12.4 PPG), Gabbie Gascon (12.3) and Jozie Ramos (11.9) lead the Owls in scoring. Gascon leads the CCC with 4.6 assists per game and Schmerbach is just behind her teammate with 4.2 a game. Alexis Elquist averages 8.2 rebounds a game and Schmerbach brings down 7.3 boards a contest.

Oregon Tech jumped out to a 43-14 lead over Walla Walla by halftime in the first meeting this season. Tatum Schmerbach and Jozie Ramos had 14 points each for the Owls. Alexis Elquist and Ramos had 13 boards each in the win. Natalee Trevino led WWU with 13 points and Chariah Daniels added 12 points. Walla Walla is looking for its first win against Oregon Tech.

WALLA WALLA WOLVES (7-17, 4-14)

The Wolves snapped a program-best three-game winning streak last weekend with losses to Eastern Oregon and College of Idaho. Walla Walla is currently two games behind Evergreen State for the final CCC postseason spot with four games to go.

Windemuth Court has been a great place for the Wolves to play as WWU is 5-5 when playing on its home court. 

MILESTONE WATCH

Chariah Daniels

• 4 rebounds from breaking her own record (262) for total rebounds in a single season
• 3 assists from breaking Dani Carlman’s record (75) for assists in a single season
• 10 field goals made from 400 all-time (Would be 3rd to reach that milestone)
• 1 free throw made from 250 all-time (Would be 2nd to reach that milestone)

Jaylo Bello

• Nine 3-pointers made away from breaking Isabella Robles’ record (67) for most 3s made in a single season

Natalee Trevino

• 20 points from 500 all-time (Would be 9th to reach that milestone)

MEN’S BASKETBALL

The Walla Walla Women’s Basketball team will honor its seniors this weekend as the Wolves play at Windemuth Court for the final two times this season. Walla Walla faces a difficult slate of games against the top two teams in the Cascade Conference. Southern Oregon will play the Wolves at 2 p.m. on Friday and No. 24 Oregon Tech will come to College Place for a game at 9 p.m. on Saturday.

SOUTHERN OREGON RAIDERS (16-7, 11-6)

The Raiders have clinched a spot in the CCC postseason tournament and are currently in fourth place. That would allow Southern Oregon to host a first-round contest, but Multnomah is just behind them with an 11-7 record in conference play. SOU has used a strong defense to the second-best scoring margin in the CCC at +11.2. The Raiders only allow 69.7 points per game.

Opponents struggle to shoot against Southern Oregon as the Raiders are second in field goal percentage defense at 43.4%. SOU has a conference-best 8.1 rebounding margin as the Raiders bring down 39.6 rebounds per game.

Elijah Jackson leads Southern Oregon with 12.8 points per game. Gabe Richle averages 106 and Bryce Dyer brings in 10.3 PPG. Dyer is second in the CCC with 9.2 rebounds per game.

A 9-0 run by the Raiders to start the second half helped put the Wolves away in the first meeting this season in an 87-62 win. Mason Whittaker had 18 points to lead 12 SOU scorers. Andrew Vaughan led the Wolves with 25 points. Walla Walla is looking to snap a five-game losing streak to Southern Oregon. The last win came at Windemuth Court in 2022.

No. 24 - OREGON TECH OWLS (18-5, 14-3)

The Owls are in second place in the CCC with a 1 ½ game lead over LC State going into the weekend. Oregon Tech will travel to Lewiston to play the Warriors on Friday. The Owls swept their games this weekend and are 7-3 as the away team in the 2024-25 season.

OIT averages 86 points per game, second best in the CCC, and has a third-best +11.1 scoring margin. The Owls shoot lights out, just shy of 50% (701-of-1404) on the year, best in the conference. The strong shooting percentage has also aided in Oregon Tech allowing only 31.3 boards a game.

Keegan Shivers averages 14.5 points per game to lead four double-digit average scorers for the Owls. Blake Jensen averages 11.9 PPG and has the best shooting percentage in the conference with a 67% success rate. Jamison Guerra tops the CCC with 5.9 assists per game.

Walla Walla had a one point lead at halftime, but the Owls outscored the Wolves 53-26 in the second half en route toa 93-67 victory. 11 different players for Oregon Tech scored at least five points in the victory. Thomas Mestrov led WWU with 25 points and seven rebounds.

WALLA WALLA WOLVES (4-18, 3-15)

The Wolves head into senior night weekend after a difficult weekend and will look to bounce back in an attempt to keep their playoff hopes alive. Walla Walla is currently three games behind Warner Pacific and Bushnell for the final CCC postseason spot with four games to go. 

MILESTONE WATCH

Andrew Vaughan

• 3 points away from passing Tristan Greenidge (1,308) for 1st on the all-time scoring list
• 10 steals away from passing Artur Borges Paraizo (88) for 1st on the all-time steals list
• 16 field goals made from 500 all-time (Would be the 1st to reach that milestone)
• 5 assists from 150 all-time (Would be 5th to reach that milestone)
• 3 blocks from 50 all-time (Would be 5th to reach that milestone)

Soren Dalan

• 1 offensive rebound away from passing Miguel Martinez (67) for 3rd on the single season offensive rebound list
• 7 rebounds away from 200 this season (Would be 6th to reach that milestone)