ALVA, Okla. – Despite having four players in double digits scoring for the second straight contest, the Northwestern Oklahoma State women's basketball team was unable to sneak away from the Pioneer Cellular Events Center with an upset win over arch-rival No. 17 Southwestern Oklahoma State University. Southwestern (14-1, 9-0 GAC) used the league's top-ranked scoring offense to score a 95-81 victory over the Lady Rangers (8-7, 4-5 GAC) and remained undefeated in conference play.

Freshman Kinsey Neiderer posted 18 points while Jade Jones, Bailey Forell, and Selena McDonald all reached double-digit scoring in the game. McDonald combined her 10 points with 12 rebounds to post her third double-double of the season.

The Lady Rangers shot 42 percent (30-of-71) from the field and 40 percent (12-of-30) from behind the three point line, but couldn't keep pace in the end with a Southwestern squad that made 31-of-59 (52.5%) shots from the field. Northwestern outrebounded the Lady Bulldogs by a final total of 40-to-37, but simply couldn't keep pace on the offensive side of the ball in the end.

McDonald's four rebounds and four points in the first five minutes of the contest weren't enough to slow down a high-powered Southwestern attack as three early three point shots from the Lady Bulldogs pushed them ahead to an early 13-6 lead. Two Jones free throws with just over a minute to play narrowed the lead down to four at 17-13, but a last second lay-up from Southwestern gave the home squad a 22-16 lead at the conclusion of the first quarter of play.

Neiderer's three-point shot from off the glass brought the deficit down to just two at 27-25 with just over six minutes remaining in the second quarter. That shot from the Okarche, Okla. native proved to be a spark as Forell joined in on the onslaught and tied the contest up at 28-28. Neiderer made it three makes in a row from long range and gave the Lady Rangers their first lead of the ballgame at the 5:35 mark of the second quarter at 31-28.

Both teams picked up the intensity on the offensive side of the ball throughout the second quarter, as they continued to answer each other and found themselves in a tied up contest at 38-38 with just over a minute remaining in the half. Freshman McKenzie Dean connected on a jump shot in the lane with 15 seconds remaining in the half to give the Lady Rangers a 43-40 lead, but a last second lay-up once again from Southwestern brought the score to 43-42.

Northwestern made 11-of-17 shots in the second quarter, including three from behind the three-point line to keep pace with the Lady Bulldogs and guard Hayden Priddy, who scored 23 points in the first half alone. The Black-and-Red kept up the intensity under the glass as well, pulling down eight offensive rebounds to post eight second-chance points in the first half.

The offensive showcase continued into the first few minutes of the second quarter as both teams combined to make 10 of their first 15 shots in the second quarter. Consecutive three-pointers from Priddy and the conference's leading scorer in Hailey Tucker put the Lady Bulldogs ahead 64-59 at the 4:26 mark of the third quarter, the largest scoring differential since the 7:27 mark of the second quarter.

Tucker and company continued to maintain their advantage before consecutive buckets from McDonald brought the deficit back to just four at 70-66 with just under two minutes remaining in the quarter. The Lady Bulldogs tacked on another lay-up to bring the score to 72-66 at the end of three quarters of play.

Seven points with a Forell three pointer thrown into the mix gave Southwestern their largest lead at 79-69 since the first quarter of action. Former Bulldog turned Lady Ranger Jones went on a seven point run on her own to once again bring the Lady Rangers back to within striking distance, down just 81-78 with just over five minutes remaining in the contest.

The offensive firepower of Southwestern once again came alive and put together eight consecutive points to extend their lead to 89-78. That run proved to finally put the Lady Rangers away, as the Lady Bulldogs scored their sixth straight win of the season.

Northwestern will return home on Jan. 18 at 5:30 p.m. to take on Southeastern Oklahoma State University looking to put together a conference winning streak as the first half of the conference schedule nears to an end.