Tahlequah, Oklahoma - Northwestern Oklahoma State finished off a successful weekend with their second straight win to open the season and the Lady Rangers first win over Central Oklahoma in the division II era. This marks the second straight season the Lady Rangers opened 2-0.
Northwestern jumped out early with a 9-0 run to start the game and would win each quarter before closing out the eight point victory.
The Lady Rangers were led by Carly Craig with 21 points five assists and three steals including 10-10 from the foul line. Faith Simpson finished the game with a double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds in the game. Payton Jones led the team with four steals while adding 11 points. Camille Thomas was the fourth Lady Ranger in double figures.
Northwestern could not have started the game better after racing to a 9-0 lead in the opening minutes started off by a Faith Simpson layup following two offensive rebounds keeping the possession alive. Camille Thomas added four points during the run and Craig hit her first three of the game all before Central Oklahoma got on the board. Central Oklahoma closed the gap to five before Faith Simpson silenced the run with a big three point play finishing a layup before knocking down a foul shot pushing the lead back to 16-8. The Bronchos though did not turn away quietly as they were able to close the gap quickly in the closing minutes of the first quarter as a three pointer by Natalie Stice cut the Ranger lead to one at 18-17 through the opening quarter.
Central Oklahoma continued one of their best stretches of the game into the early going of the second knocking down a three pointer before a shot inside the paint after forcing a turnover. The UCO lead grew to six before Simpson was able to end the run and give the Lady Rangers their first points of the quarter with 6:35 left to play in the second quarter. Northwestern's defense though led the way allowing the Lady Rangers to regain the lead before halftime. After trailing 26-23, Camille Thomas had back to back layups for the Rangers to regain a 27-26 lead with 57 seconds left. Payton Jones had the last opportunity in the half as she buried a three in the closing seconds of the quarter assisted by Summya Adigun to push the Rangers back in front 30-28 as the Rangers held the halftime lead.
Craig continued the Ranger run by knocking down her first three attempts of the half after Thomas kept the possession alive with an offensive rebound. After Central Oklahoma briefly took the lead Syncere Harrod had her first points of the game to even the score at 37-37. With the score tied at 39-39 halfway through the third quarter it was Craig pushing the Rangers back in front by knocking down two foul shots. Simpson and Craig each scored putting the Lady Rangers in front 45-41 through three quarters. Northwestern's defense did not allow a single point in the final four minutes of the quarter as the Broncho's last made shot was at the 4:11 mark, as they held them to 0-6 in that span with two turnovers.
The Lady Ranges opened the fourth quarter by expanding their lead to eight, the largest of the half at the time following four points from Payton Jones and a three pointer by Craig had Northwestern leading 54-46 with 7:13 to play. The lead was down to five when Northwestern continued to widen the gap after four straight foul shots and a Camille Thomas layup had Northwestern leading 64-53 for their first double digit lead of the afternoon. Craig knocked down four foul shots in the final minute to seal the Lady Ranger victory 68-60 over Central Oklahoma.
Northwestern will take their 2-0 record into Tuesday night's home opener against Kansas Christian College on November 14th with tip-off scheduled for 5:30 PM.
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