ALVA, OKLAHOMA -  The Lady Rangers lose to the Golden Suns of Arkansas Tech falling just short by a final score of 63-56. Arkansas Tech used an 8-0 run toward the opening part of the 4th quarter to build a 58-50 lead which the Golden Suns never gave up before closing out the win.

This makes their record now 8-9, and 4-9 in the GAC. Their leading scorers were posts Camille Thomas and Faith Simpson who both scored 14 each and had 9 rebounds to lead the Lady Rangers in both stats Saturday afternoon.

First Quarter

Faith Simpson started the game off with a pull-up jumper in the lane. Camille Thomas drew the first foul of the game for the Lady Rangers and knocking down both foul shots. After a few runs up and down the floor, NWOSU earned another opportunity to shoot free throws thanks to C. Thomas again, making both baskets. She shot six foul shots in the opening quarter. The second goal of the evening was a three-pointer shot deep by Carly Craig. C. Craig retrieved the ball from a steal on an Arkansas Tech pass down the floor to Nikya Orange for an assisted jump shot. C. Craig sealed the end of the first quarter with another three pointer this one assisted by Talayah Thomas. Ending score of the first quarter was 19-16 with the Lady Rangers trailing by three.

Second Quarter  

There was another layup made by Faith Simpson immediately after the break assisted by C. Craig as the Lady Rangers cut the deficit. Orange made her first appearance at the foul line. After going 1-2 at the line she knocked down a mid-range jumper at the 6:01 mark. T. Thomas shot free throws and both were good, following with a layup made by C. Thomas. T. Thomas made one more free throw after being fouled at the 0:45 mark brining the halftime deficit lower. The Lady Ranger trailed by four at halftime with a score of 32-28 Golden Suns.

Third Quarter

The third quarter openeed with a shot under the goal made by C. Thomas reverse layup attempt. It isn't until the 6:21 mark when Northwestern finds their second basket of the half, when Josena Frame passes to Simpson for an open two points. C. Craig drives up the court to recognize that C. Thomas is posted up leading to another basket, scoring another lay up. C. Craig stole the ball from Arkansas Tech at the 5:16 mark and helped T. Thomas find another open shot at the block. Simpson scores again in the post assisted by C. Thomas. Frame gets fouled and shoots two free throws and makes her first. With less than a minute and a half left, T. Thomas pulls up and shoots for two putting the Lady Rangers just one behind the Golden Suns with a score of 42-41.

Fourth Quarter

Simpson put the team in the lead by one with a block shot off the glass. T. Thomas steals the ball from Arkansas Tech at the 6:53 mark and draws foul scoring two free throws at the line. Ali Zeka looked inside to Simpson helping her score yet another layup, then turns around and scored a layup herself just 53 seconds later scoring four straight for the Lady Rangers. T. Thomas completed two more shots at the foul line  within the final two and half minutes of the game left. Orange also scores two points at the foul line. Orange went 3-4 at the line with 33 seconds until the end of the game. NWOSU gets fouled again and Simpson completed both trying to spark a Lady Ranger comeback. This ended the game with a score of 63-56, trailing by seven points at the final.

Lady Rangers will be on the road this next week as they visit the Blossom Suns of Arkansas Monticello on February 2nd before going to Southern Arkansas on Saturday.