TAHLEQUAH, OKLAHOMA - The Lady Rangers opened their season as a part of the MIAA / GAC Challenge on Friday against the host Northeastern State University. The Rangers started fast in this one and built a double digit lead early in the fourth quarter following four big three pointers from Carly Craig.
The Rangers open the season 1-0 for the second straight season and earn their first win against Northeastern State since 2019.Â
Carly Craig and Faith Simpson led Northwestern with a combined 36 points, 18 from each. Craig finished 6-8 behind the arc for 75% continuing where she left off from last season. Nikya Orange had a team high nine rebounds. Payton Jones helped the Lady Ranger defense force 24 turnovers thanks to seven steals.Â
In the opening seconds of the game Faith Simpson got the scoring started early with a layup following the opening jump ball win. The Ranger defense controlled the game through the opening minutes not allowing a point through the opening three minutes of the game. The defense forced four turnovers in that time period including two steals from Payton Jones. The Rangers took a 5-0 lead in that time span. The Riverhawks got on the board following a layup at the 6:52 mark of the quarter. Simpson answered the score with her fourth point. Craig hit her first three of the season as the Riverhawks had cut the lead to one as she pushed the Rangers back in front by four at 10-6. After the Lady Ranger lead was down to two the Red-and-Black scored five straight in the final minute of the game as Craig and Simpson continued a strong quarter as Simpson hit two foul shots giving her eight in the quarter followed by a Craig three at the buzzer.Â
Northeastern opened the second quarter hitting back to back three pointers to cut the Ranger lead down to 17-16 with 8:11 remaining in the first half after a strong stretch of defense forcing five turnovers between the two teams. The Riverhawks continued their run taking their first lead at 18-17 for an 8-0, however Faith Simpson ended the run and gave Northwestern the lead back at 19-18. Nikya Orange had back to back shots as Northwestern extended the lead to eight, the largest to this point in the game with a 28-20 lead. Camille Thomas had her first points of the contest right before halftime in the final seconds on a layup as Northwestern carried a six point lead at 32-26 lead into the halftime break.Â
The Riverhawks jumped out to a better start in the second half as they were able to tie the game at 36-36 following a 10-4 run. Camille Thomas knocked down her second shot of the afternoon to regain the lead. There was a two minute scoring drought between the two teams with the game tied at 39-39. Payton Jones and Syncere Harrod helped Northwestern take the lead back with back to back layups pushing the Rangers in front 45-40 after Harrod finished the three point play at the foul line. Harrod added two more in the final minute as the Rangers carried a three point lead into the final quarter 47-44 over the Riverhawks.Â
Northwestern held a one point lead before Carly Craig helped gain separation early in the fourth quarter. Following a Camille Thomas jumper, Craig knocked down two straight three pointers before hitting a third to push the Ranger lead to double digits at 60-48 with 5:42 left in the game. Paige Scott helped maintain the double digit lead with a jump shot assisted by Payton Jones, her fourth of the game. Craig followed by knocking down her fourth three pointer of the quarter for 18 points in the game and a 65-51 lead. The closest Northeastern would get is seven as the Lady Ranger defense continued to take over led by P. Jones with seven steals in the game. Northwestern closed out the victory by double digits at 68-58 following two Nikya Orange foul shots as she finished with eight points.Â
Northwestern will be back in action on Saturday afternoon with tip-off scheduled for 1:00 PM against Central Oklahoma.
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