SHAWNEE, Okla. – The Lady Rangers use their 13-0 run late in the third into the fourth quarter to propel them past the Bison to earn the first Great American Conference victory on the young season.

Senior guard Kalea King continued her impressive start on the season earning a double-double this afternoon leading the Rangers with 25 points on 11-21 shooting along with 10 rebounds in the game. King was one of four Lady Rangers in double figures in points, being followed by Bailey Brown, and Kenzi Lamer who had 13 each. Like King, Brown also posted a double-double as she tallied 11 rebounds to go with those 13 points. Jakeria Otey rounded the scoring out with 11 points of her own. 

Northwestern won the "hustle" stats this afternoon as well which helps all over the board. Lady Rangers out rebounded the Bison 41- 34, only committed 12 fouls compared to 23 from Oklahoma Baptist and had eight steals compared to the Bison's seven.

Rangers started slow in this game falling behind 5-0 early on but they did not let this phase them at all as they battled right back in the game. King opened the scoring for the Lady Rangers scoring her first basket at the 7:18 mark in the quarter. Bison would never allow the Lady Rangers to find a lead as they had an answer each time. After shooting 46% from the field Oklahoma Baptist held a 19-14 first quarter lead, but things would change from there. 

After the Bison got the first basket of the 2nd quarter, the Lady Rangers would make their move. Northwestern would go on a 7-0 run started by an Otey 3-pointer and finished by a Hillary Hurst layup to knot things up at 21-21. After that this was a true battle that never saw either team ever really find large enough momentum to pull away. Northwestern really used their tough defense to carry their offense. 

Lady Rangers would grab their first lead of the game with 2:23 left in the 2nd quarter on a Presley Payahsape layup to put them in front 33-31. Northwestern and Oklahoma Baptist would go into halftime knotted up at 36 after Lamer hit one of her three 3-pointers of the quarter in which it was a quarter Northwestern won 22-17. Lady Rangers would shoot 14-33, 5-14 from 3 in the first half. 

Once again the Bison were the ones who got on the board first this quarter on a 3-pointer. The two seniors, in Otey and King, hit back to back layups to cause the first of ten lead changes in the quarter. In a very defensive minded quarter where both teams struggled from the field shooting 36% from the field, the Lady Rangers used the advantage at the foul line. Northwestern would make eight  foul shots compared to Oklahoma Baptists one. This would be a big difference in a quarter that was won by four points. Bison regained the lead on a layup, for a 55-54 lead, but this is where the Lady Rangers would make their next move that went a long way in this game. The senior duo did it again a run started by an Otey three pointer followed by a King layup gave the Rangers a 59-55 lead to close the 3rd quarter. 

The 5-0 run that was started to close the quarter was only getting started as it continued into the fourth as an 8-0 run totally a 13-0 run extending the lead to 67-55, which was a lead that was never lost. Oklahoma Baptist tried last move as they brought the game back within four at 71-67, but Otey, and Brown would seal the win with a combined five clutch made free throws in the final 40 seconds of the game to keep this one out of reach as the Lady Rangers prevailed in this one by a final of 76-71. 

Northwestern would finish the game 26-61 good for 42% from the field, 6-22 from 3-point ranger, and 18-26 from the charity stripe. This was a game that featured 11 ties and 18 lead changes in a great battle between two Great American Conference teams. This was the second consecutive victory for the Lady Rangers over the Bison, which is the largest in program history. 

The win improves Northwestern on the year to 3-3 and evens their conference record at 1-1. The Lady Rangers will travel to face Oklahoma Christian University on Tuesday with tip-off being set for 5:30pm.