ALVA Okla. – The Northwestern Oklahoma State University women's basketball team was ready to start their season Friday evening. As Northwestern hosted the GAC/MIAA/NSIC Challenge this year. The Lady Rangers would draw the Riverhawks to open up. The Rangers were able to prevail an early Northeastern attack and win this game 71-59 behind 27 points from senior guard Kalea King.
NWOSU would get off to a slow start in this one falling behind 18-8 during the first quarter with 2:58 left in the opening quarter. The Lady Rangers would us an 8-0 run in the final minutes of the quarter to spark their comeback. After the first quarter Rangers trailed 18-16.
Rangers would start the second quarter where they left off as they would even the score at 20 on a Hillary Hurst layup at the 7:08 mark in the second. After teams started trading baskets throughout the quarter the Rangers finally got an advantage on a King jumper to give the Rangers a 31-30 lead late in the quarter. NWOSU would carry a 32-30 lead into the break.
The Riverhawks would even the score to start the half at 32 apiece. However, that would be it as the Rangers would use an 11-0 run sparked by King's six points there. As Northeastern tried to climb back into the game that was shortly lived as Bailey Brown would add six straight points of her own to build the lead to 13 at 49-36. The Rangers would outscore the Riverhawks 24-13 in the quarter behind 42% shooting a long with 11 free throws to take a 56-43 lead into the final quarter.
NWOSU would make sure there was no thought of a comeback from the Riverhawks, as to open the final frame Jakeria Otey had a layup along with a Brown 3-pointer. This would give the Rangers their largest lead of the game at 18. Northeastern would get as close as five points but King would end that run with a basket to start another Ranger run. Otey would put the final touches on the game with two free throws giving the Rangers a 71-59 opening night win.
Lady Rangers overcame struggling from three (3-17) by playing stellar defense forcing 24 turnovers including having 15 steals. Led by Kyleigh Leverich and Otey's four steals each. Along with finding different ways to draw fouls scoring 24 points from the stripe. NWOSU finished with three scorers in double figures including; King (27) Brown (15) and Otey (10). Rangers would also out rebound the Riverhawks 45-34 including 19-7 offensively. Let by a Brown double-double getting 15 points and 10 rebounds.
Rangers will have a quick turnaround as they will be back home Saturday evening at 5PM against University of Central Oklahoma.
