ALVA, OKLAHOMA - Northwestern Oklahoma State dropped their second straight game Saturday afternoon in a 61-42 loss to Southern Nazarene. The Crimson Storm used a 10-0 run late in the 3rd quarter to take the momentum before closing out their win over the Rangers.
The loss drops Northwestern to 4-2 on the season and a 1-2 Great American Conference record with Southern Nazarene moving to 3-0 in the GAC.
Camille Thomas led the Rangers with 14 points along with a team high nine rebounds in the afternoon along with Faith Simpson scoring 12 points with seven rebounds as the two double figure scorers.
First Quarter:
Simpson gave the Rangers their first lead of the game on a layup to take a 2-1 lead before a three minute scoring drought by both teams as Payton Jones broke the silence with a layup at the 6:52 mark to take a 3-2 lead. Northwestern responded with a quick 6-0 run over the next two minutes following a made layup from Thomas and a Carly Craig three had the Rangers out in front 8-3. The defensive intensity continued as a jump shot by Cassandra Awatt of Southern Nazarene brought the game to the end of the opening quarter as the Rangers held a one point advantage of 8-7. The Lady Rangers forced five turnovers in the opening quarter.
SECOND QUARTER:
The Crimson Storm came out firing in the second quarter with five quick points in the opening minute and a half following a three pointer that gave them a 12-8 advantage. A shot by C. Thomas and Simpson evened the score back at 12-12. Southern Nazarene built a six point lead at 20-14 that the visitors held on to for about a quarter. After a couple of Rangers misses Adams of SNU knocked down a three to build a 23-16 lead for the Crimson Storm. The Rangers were able to cut the deficit down to four at the break as a forced turnover led to a three point play by Camille Thomas as she capitalized on the foul shot as the Rangers trailed 23-19 at halftime.
THIRD QUARTER:
The second half opened much to the like of the first half as the first points came across at the 7:54 mark of the quarter on a C. Thomas jump shot. The Lady Rangers had three steals, two by Simpson in that time frame. Adams broke the scoreless drought for the Crimson Storm pushing the lead back to four. The teams went back and forth before a 5-0 spurt from Northwestern had the Rangers back in front for the first time since the second quarter. A C. Thomas three at the top of the key gave the Lady Rangers a 28-26 lead. However, Southern Nazarene answered with a three by Adams on the other end to answer and regain the lead for the Crimson Storm. With Northwestern in front 30-29 the Crimson Storm used a 13-0 run to build their first double digit lead of the game at 42-30. The visitors held the momentum taking a 44-34 lead into the final quarter.
FOURTH QUARTER:
Southern Nazarene then opened the fourth quarter on a 10-3 run to build a 17 point lead at 54-37 following a fast break layup from Awatt. Josena Frame had a steal leading to a fast break layup to answer the run but Southern Nazarene would not allow the Lady Rangers any closer closing out a 61-42 win over Northwestern.
The Lady Rangers will return to action on December 17th against Southeastern Oklahoma State in Durant, Oklahoma with a 5:30 PM tip-off.
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