ARKADELPHIA, Ark. - Northwestern was ready to get back on the court after two losses last week one to Southwestern and the other to Southeastern. With the playoff hopes in the balance, the Lady Rangers came out Thursday night with keeping the hope alive with a 67-59 victory. The Lady Rangers victory completes the sweep over Ouachita Baptist, and win their first game in Arkadelphia since 2014.
The Lady Rangers used a big third quarter outscoring the Tigers 25-16 to gain control of the game. In that quarter Northwestern used a 9-1 run to build a seven-point lead and never trailed again in the game. The run was started by Presley Payahsape getting a fastbreak layup and finishing the three-point play at the foul line. Kenzi Lamer and then Payahsape knocked down back to back threes to build the 43-36 lead.
Sophomore guard Kyleigh Leverich got the job done offensively and defensively finishing with seven points, eight rebounds, four assists and three steals. The Lady Rangers had three double-digit scorers, first being Sophomore Hillary Hurst, who led the team in scoring with 17 points. Payahsape and Lamer were the other two finishing the game with 15 and 11 points respectively. Leverich led the team with her eight rebounds followed by Kalea King with six and Kaylyn Maple with five.
Ouachita Baptist got on the board first with a layup, which sparked their 11-2 run to open the game. After teams traded baskets the Tigers went up 14-6, and both teams would hit a two-minute scoring drought. The Lady Rangers ended the quarter on a run to cut into the deficit from a Payahsape three followed by a Bailey Brown layup to make it a 14-11 game at the end of the opening quarter.
After Ouachita opened the quarter with a three, Northwestern used a 7-0 run to take the team's first lead of the game at 18-17 from a Hurst three-pointer. The game would be knotted at 21 for over a minute as once again the defense would take over. The half would close with the Tigers getting four straight points to go into halftime with the three-point edge.
Ouachita Baptist led 27-24 at halftime over the Lady Rangers
Hurst and Leverich helped start a 5-0 run for the Lady Rangers to open the third quarter with an regain the lead at 29-27. The teams would trade baskets for a little while and with Ouachita regaining the lead at 35-34, Northwestern would strike. A Payahsape floater right inside the paint would spark the 9-1 Northwestern run to put the Lady Rangers up 43-36. Northwestern would never trail in this game again. The quarter would close with the Lady Rangers in front 49-43.
The Lady Rangers controlled the fourth quarter not allowing the Tigers closer than four points. The Red-and-Black would extend the lead to 10 at the 3:41 mark from a Hurst foul shot. Two Leverich foul shots would put the final touches on the game, finishing off the eight-point victory.
The Lady Rangers win Thursday evening 67-59 over Ouachita Baptist.
The win improves Northwestern to 12-13 on the season and 8-11 in Great American Conference play. The Lady Rangers will be back in action Saturday afternoon at 1 PM against Henderson State.
