TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – The Northwestern Oklahoma State University women's basketball team got off to a hot start early in its season opener against Central Oklahoma on Friday, only to fall to the Bronchos 64-53 in Tahlequah, Oklahoma.

It was the first game of the Mid-American Collegiate Athletic Association/Great American Conference crossover event taking place at Northeastern State. Northwestern (0-1) will look to rebound Saturday evening when they take on NSU Saturday evening at 5 p.m.

NWOSU started Friday's contest on fire as they jumped out to a 14-0 lead, ultimately holding on a 22-6 advantage after the first quarter. Jakeria Otey had 10 of her 20 points in the first quarter of play.

The Bronchos cut the Lady Rangers lead to 10 with 1:27 remaining in the first quarter, but Otey answered with back-to-back three points to stretch the lead to 16. The junior led all shooters from behind the arc with four three-pointers.

Northwestern's defense forced the Bronchos to turn the ball over 19 times. Otey led the Lady Rangers with five steals, while Jones and King came up with steals as well.

When the contest ended, Bailey Brown was the only other Lady Ranger in double figures with 11. The front court duo of Jade Jones and Kalea King had nine points each and freshman Presley Payahsape had four points in her regular season collegiate debut.

Central Oklahoma began to cut into the difference in the second quarter as they outscored the Lady Rangers 17-9, sending the game into the break with the score at 31-23 with Northwestern on the high side of the tilt.

Unfortunately, Northwestern struggled to get shots to fall in the second as they finished the final 20 minutes of play shooting 6-for-33 from the field. Shatoya Bryson had the hot hand for UCO as she finished with 17 points and added 10 rebounds for the double-double. Bryson was the lone Broncho in double figures.

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