HILLBORO, Kan. – The Northwestern Oklahoma State University women's basketball season tipped off Monday evening as the Lady Rangers fell to the Tabor College (Kan.) Blue Jays in an exhibition contest, 77-62, in Hillsboro, Kansas.
Northwestern will seek its first victory of the season Friday afternoon when the Lady Rangers travel to Tahlequah, Oklahoma, to take on Central Oklahoma in the MIAA/GAC Crossover. Start time against the Bronchos is set for noon.
Tabor, the reigning Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference champions, improved is 2-0 on the season.
Tabor used the energy from the crowd in its home opener to jump out to an 18-12 lead after the first ten minutes of play. In the second second quarter, the Blue Jays continued to hit shots from the outside led by hot shooting Morgan Ediger who had 15 points in the first half.
The Lady Rangers went into the break trailing the home team, 40-25.
As the third quarter progressed, Northwestern looked poised to cut into the Blue Jay lead. Unfortunately, when the Lady Rangers would cut the difference to 11 points, Tabor would answer with a small run to keep the visitors at bay at keep it a 15 point deficit for the Lady Rangers.
With four minutes to go in the game, Kalea King capitalized on a Tabor turnover with a fast break layup to cut the Blue Jays' lead to single digits for the first time since early in the second quarter. Tabor, however, went on an 8-0 run to yet again stretch its lead and stave off a NWOSU comeback.
In her first game back since the start of the 2016-17 season, King led the Lady Rangers with 17 points, as the redshirt junior went 7-for-10 at the free throw line. Bailey Brown began her sophomore season with 17 points and seven boards.
Freshman Presley Payahsape 10 points, four boards, two blocks and two steals in her first game in a Northwestern uniform.
With a minute remaining, Jade Jones ended the run with a deep three-pointer from straight away. Jones finished the game with nine points, three assists and three steals.
Three Tabor players finished in double-figures, led by Ediger with 18, Kristyn Wedel had 14 points and Sammy Peterson finished with 13.
For the latest news and updates on NWOSU women's basketball, follow @NWOSUAthletics on TWITTER or visit www.riderangersride.com.
