ALVA, Okla. - In the second to last home game of the season, Northwestern Oklahoma State hosted cross-state foe, Southern Nazarene in a pivotal game for both teams. It was a tight contest throughout, but in the end the Lady Rangers prevailed over the Crimson Storm, 78-71.

Northwestern had three different shooters in double figures on the day as Jade Jones and Jakeria Otey shared the leading scorer spot on the team with 15 while Selena McDonald chipped in 12 of her own. Jones was once again keeping up with her average of seven assists as she tallied exactly that mark in the game.

Right out of the gate, the Crimson Storm came out hot and particularly Kennedy Gillette who posted the first 13 points of the contest, putting the Lady Rangers in an early large deficit. 

One more bucket would drop for the visitors before Northwestern was able to get on the board as McKenzie Billy would knock down a three-pointer to make the advantage for SNU, 12.

Before the Lady Rangers were able to start the comeback bid, the lead climbed all the way to 14 at 20-6, but a monster comeback would happen in the second quarter, where the hosts turned on the offensive game.

A 15-4 run ensued the opening woes for the Lady Rangers, as a big part of that run was sparked by Deja Beechum who knocked down two-straight threes to get the game to back within three points.

Northwestern finished the half out on a 5-2 stretch, making it a tie ballgame to finish out the half tied up at 26.

Gillette paced the Crimson Storm in the first half with 15 while the leading scorer for the home team was Beechum with six.  

The second half began as a back and forth battle as both teams would take the lead on multiple occasions. 

Southern Nazarene would control the early minuets of the second half but just could not break away from Northwestern.

The Rangers ended the third quarter on a five point run on the shoulders of Selena McDonald who scored the final five points for the black and red to give the home team a four point lead heading into the final frame.

The Fourth quarter was all Northwestern as they would lead by as many as eight on their way to a victory.

The Lady Rangers will be in action again on Monday as they take on rival Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Alva at 5:30 p.m.