ALVA, OKLAHOMA - Northwestern Oklahoma State Lady Rangers returned home Wednesday evening looking to bounce back from Saturday's loss. The Lady Rangers did just that with a 75 point victory over McPherson College. Northwestern used a 12-0 run to start the game and never trailing in the victory.
The win brings Northwestern to 9-1 on the season overall as McPherson drops to 4-8 on the season.
Northwestern was led by five players scoring in double figures as Faith Simpson led with 22 points as Carly Craig finished with 19 points. The Lady Ranger defense forced 31 turnovers that included 18 steals, five coming from Craig to lead the team.
The Lady Rangers started the game 5-7 from the floor including knocking down two three pointers jumping out to a 12-0 lead to start the game. Simpson got the scoring started with the first four points of the game before Craig scored the next eight points for Northwestern. In this two and a half minute stretch McPherson was held to 0-2 shooting while turning the ball over twice.
After a Bulldog timeout the visitors ended the Lady Ranger run scoring five straight as Northwestern lead was cut to seven. Craig ended the run with a running floater for a 14-5 lead. Paige Scott followed with a three pointer at the five minute mark pushing the lead back to double figures, which it did not fall back under the rest of the way. Craig extended the lead to 15 as she had her 16th point of the opening quarter. Northwestern then closed the first quarter on a 18-2 run opening a 27 point lead. Payton Jones scored seven straight on the run for Lady Rangers as Northwestern shot 7-13 in the time frame forcing six turnovers. Northwestern led 39-12 after the opening quarter.
In the second quarter the Northwestern defense continued to control the game only allowing four points in the quarter. Talayah Thomas got the scoring started in the quarter with a layup assisted by Tegan Jones, before the Lady Rangers extended the lead to thirty for the first time at 42-12 following two foul shots by Camille Thomas. After opening the game on a 12-0 run the Lady Rangers took it a step further in the second opening the quarter on a 19-0 run for the first five minutes. Northwestern was 7 of 12 from the floor forcing four turnovers and holding McPherson to 0-7 from the field. Northwestern was led by Simpson with six and Camille Thomas with four on the run. This pushed the Lady Rangers out in front 58-14. In the final minutes of the quarter Northwestern reached the largest lead of the halfway at 50. Northwestern led 66-16 at the halftime break.
Out of the break both teams' offenses started slow as combined only two points in close to the first three minutes out of the break. Simpson scored the first 10 points of the quarter for the Lady Rangers as Simpson had 22 halfway through the third quarter. Syncere Harrod scored the next four points taking the lead to 60 points as Northwestern continued to grow the lead. Harrod finished with eight points in the quarter pushing her game total into double digits for the fifth time this season. Northwestern led 91-26 after three quarters of play against the Bulldogs.
Lady Rangers pushed the lead to 70 following five consecutive points to start the fourth quarter after a Tegan Jones three pointer. Chrissen Harland led the Lady Rangers in the fourth quarter scoring a team high 12 points in the final frame. This is her new season high and the second time scoring double figures. Northwestern extended the lead to 75 after out-scoring the Bulldogs 21-11 in the fourth quarter. The Lady Rangers closed out the 112-37 victory over McPherson in the midweek non conference match-up.
Northwestern will be home Saturday afternoon returning to conference play against Southeastern Oklahoma State. Tip-off is scheduled for 1:00 PM.
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