ALVA, Okla. – The Lady Rangers looked to bounce back after a heartbreaking loss Saturday afternoon against Arkansas- Monticello. In a game that was close for the majority of the contest featuring a tie game five different times along with 10 lead changes throughout the game. It stayed close until Henderson used a 13-2 run to create separation, before closing out a 73-64 victory for the Reddies.
Senior, Jakeria Otey led all scorers with 23 points on 8-13 shooting. Hillary Hurst finished the game with 16 points on 6-12 shooting being the only other double digit scorer in this one. Hurst and Otey had five rebounds each to lead the Rangers in that total.
The difference in this game came after Hurst hit a three to give Northwestern the lead at 42-41 but that would be the last time the Lady Rangers would lead with 1:55 left in the third. The Reddies would use a 6-0 run to take the lead at 47-42 and would close the quarter leading 50-44 finishing on a 9-2 run in the final two minutes of the third. Henderson State used the offensive glass in this one and took advantage scoring 15 second chance points while bringing down 22 offensive rebounds of their 46 for the game.
After the opening tip the game turned into a defensive battle to start as it took two minutes and 20 seconds before the first field goal was made which was by Karrington Whaley of Henderson State. The first media timeout combined the teams had four field goals made. The lone one for Northwestern was an Otey fast break layup. Henderson State would quickly opened up a little gap after the break bringing it to 12-4 but the Lady Rangers had an answer. A run started by a Kalea King jumper brought the Lady Rangers to within three at the end of the first, trialing 14-11. Northwestern would shoot 4-15 from the field compared to a 6-20 by the Reddies.
The second quarter started out all Lady Rangers as they opened a 4-0 run and would hold the Reddies scoreless for the first three minutes of the quarter. After the teams would trade baskets throughout most the quarter the Reddies would use a late quarter surge to build a gap once again taking a 32-24 lead, which would cause Northwestern to trail 32-26 at halftime. The Lady Rangers would shoot 6-16 in the quarter against a 7-17 Reddies from the field and would be outscored 18-15 in the quarter.
The Reddies led the Lady Rangers 32-26 at halftime.
Otey would open the second half with a quick three, followed by her own layup bringing the Rangers with one after a quick 5-0 run to start the half, along with 13-3 run with 10 of those points coming from Otey giving Northwestern a 39-35 lead but the Reddies came right back. They went on a 6-0 run to regain the lead at 41-39, and would control most of the game the rest of the way. They finished the quarter on a 15-5 run to open up a 50-44 lead at the end of the third quarter. The Lady Rangers would shooter their best for a quarter in this game of 46.67% in the third. The Reddies however were able to knock down three 3-pointers in the quarter to stay a float and have an even 18-18 point quarter to maintain a six point lead they went into halftime with.
The fourth and final quarter saw a large Henderson run to open up a 68-53 lead good for a 26-11 run after the game was tied at 42 late in the third quarter.
Northwestern would get as close as nine in fourth but every time it got there the Reddies would stop the run. The Reddies should a solid 53% in the final quarter to maintain their lead and held the Lady Ranger to 42%. Henderson won the quarter 23-20 to extend their final lead to nine.
The Reddies won by a final 73-64 over your Lady Rangers Thursday evening.
Northwestern would finish the game 23-60 good for 38% from the field, 6-16 from 3-point range, and 12-16 from the foul line. The Lady Rangers were forced into 14 turnovers which is below the season average of 16 turnovers. The Reddies would finish 25-68 for 36%, 11-33 from deep and 12-18 from the foul line.
The loss drops Northwestern to 7-6 on the season and 3-4 in Great American Conference games. The Lady Rangers will be home once again for a game against the Lady Tigers of Ouachita Baptist Saturday afternoon at 1:00pm.