TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – Three Northwestern Oklahoma State University Lady Rangers finished in double-figures as the Lady Rangers pick up their first win of the season with a 76-71 victory over Northeastern State on Saturday in MIAA/GAC Crossover action.
Northwestern is 1-1 this season after splitting its two games in the crossover, hosted by Northeastern State. The Lady Rangers will see their first action of the season inside Percefull Fieldhouse Thursday evening when Emporia State, the third straight Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association opponent for NWOSU, visits Alva.
The two teams battled back and forth throughout the first quarter there were six lead changes and two ties in the first ten minutes of play. Kenzie Mize knocked down a three-pointer to tie the game at 14 with two minutes to go in the quarter.
NSU regained the lead in the final seconds of the first to hold onto a 20-17 lead.
The Riverhawks held the lead throughout the second quarter, but the Lady Rangers never let the home team extend its lead to move than seven. With 5:36 remaining the in the second and the Hawks up seven, Jade Jones found Tori Coulter who drained a three to cut into the lead.
After NSU extended its lead to seven again late in the quarter, Kalea King finished a fast break play started by a Mize steal. King finished the game leading all scorers with 20 points, while Jakeria Otey and Jones both added 16 points.
Coming out of the locker room trailing the Riverhawks 36-31, the Lady Rangers cut the lead to two early in the third after a free-throw from King and Jones laid the ball in on a fast break. King knocked down a long range shot to give the Lady Rangers a 41-40 lead.
As the third quarter came to an end, and into the opening minutes of the fourth, the Riverhawks went on an 11-0 run to take a 10 point lead with 6:39 to go in the game. However, the Lady Rangers began to cut into the lead as they answered the NSU with an 8-0 run of their own.
NSU began to get into foul trouble in the final stanza and the Lady Rangers took care of business at the line. In the fourth quarter alone, the Lady Rangers hit 14 free throws, including two from Bailey Brown to regain the lead with 1:58 to go.
Brown finished the game with eight points, McKenzie Billy had six points and Presley Payahsape added four points to go along with Mize and Coulter's three pointers.
Jakeria Otey knocked own a jumper in the paint to make it a three-point ball game and the Lady Rangers never looked back.
Cailyn Long and Bailee Eldred led NSU with 22 and 21 points, respectively.
After being held scoreless in the opening game Friday against Central Oklahoma, the Northwestern bench stepped up with 12 points in the victory.
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