WEATHERFORD, Okla. – Northwestern got set to take on longtime rival in Southwestern down in Weatherford, Okla. The Lady Rangers looked to do something for the first time since 1992, which is win in Weatherford. Unfortunately, in a back in forth battle the Lady Bulldogs were able to oust the Lady Rangers 81-76 Thursday evening. In game that was close both ways for the majority of the game until Southwestern used a 5-0 run to switch a 63-61 Northwestern lead into a 66-63 Southwestern lead that they would never lose.
Hillary Hurst led all scorer with 19 points in the game on 6-of-16 shooting from the field bringing in eight rebounds as well. Bailey Brown scored 18 points on 6-14 shooting while bringing down 13 rebounds for the Lady Rangers. Kenzi Lamer provided 11 more points off the bench for Northwestern. Seniors Kalea King and Jakeria Otey each finished with 10 points in the game. King added seven assists in the game. Kyleigh Leverich had added a lot of different things to the game finishing with six points, six assists and nine rebounds.
Northwestern and Southwestern traded leads in the fourth quarter as Southwestern led by one, a Leverich three put NWOSU up 58-56, which was answered by a Taber Beer three from Southwestern, which was than answered by Hurst with a three putting Northwestern back on top 61-59. SWOSU would than go on a 7-2 run to take a 66-63 lead that they would never lose.
Northwestern led in points in the paint 28-16, bench points 30-22. The area that hurt the Lady Rangers would be getting outscored 20-11 on points off turnovers.
The Lady Rangers got off to a great start after the Lady Bulldogs would get the first shot of the game, Northwestern would open up a 17-9 lead over Southwestern. The Lady Rangers would get that lead off of an 8-0 run after a 9-9 game started by a Lamer three. After that SWOSU would hit back to back threes to bring the game right back within two at 17 -15 where the first quarter would come to a close with that score. The Lady Rangers would shoot 6-of-17 in the opening quarter, while holding Southwestern to 5-of-18.
King would open the second quarter with a three to stretch the lead back out to five. Southwestern would even the score at 23. NWOSU would take a 33-31 lead right before the half until Beer had an answer hitting a three right before halftime with 30 seconds left to take a 34-33 lead into the break in the rivals favor. Southwestern would win the quarter 19-16 off of 8-21 shooting. Northwestern was 6-of-17 in the quarter the same as the first quarter. In the first half the Lady Rangers were 5-of-12 from three versus a Lady Bulldogs 6-of-21 in the half.
The Lady Bulldogs would go into halftime with a slight advantage at 34-33 after one half of play.
Halftime would not cool off Southwestern as they opened the second half with a three from Beer and another one a few possessions after clinging onto a 40-39 lead. Northwestern was capitalizing on their own scoring chances keeping it at one-point deficit. The teams continued to battle and after Southwestern would take a 46-43 lead, the Red-and-Black would respond with another 8-0 run to regain the lead at 51-46 over the Lady Bulldogs. SWOSU would not go anywhere However bringing the deficit back within one before quarter end as Northwestern would take a 53-52 lead into the final quarter.
Southwestern would quickly tie the score in the final quarter a minute into it. The team started matching three for three at one point in the quarter and for Northwestern they were hit by Leverich, and Hurst. Southwestern would then go on their big run to get an advantage by going on a 15-6 run to open separation at 76-67 in the rival's favor. The Red-and-Black made sure not to go anywhere getting as close as three with 20 seconds left in the game. SWOSU would close out the win after foul shots and would win this one by a final 81-76. NWOSU would shoot 8-of-22 from the field 5-of-11 from three point range. However, SWOSU would go 9-of-14 including five three's over their own to win the quarter 29-23.
This would also allow the Lady Bulldogs to win the game by a final of 81-76.
The Lady Rangers would finish the game 25-69, good for 36% from the field, 10-of-26, and 16-20 from the foul line. The game had 12 lead changes along with eight ties in the game to create a great overall game between the two rivals.
The loss drops Northwestern on the year to 8-7 and falling to 4-5 in Great American Conference play. The Lady Rangers will return home for Hall of Fame weekend with the inductions of the new hall of fame inductees, as the team takes on Oklahoma Baptist during Saturday's matchup at 1 p.m.
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