ALVA, OKLAHOMA - The Lady Rangers made it two straight wins Saturday afternoon following a 86-64 victory over the Savage Storm. Northwestern's defense helped open an early lead at 13-3 and never let the lead go the whole way before closing out the 22 point conference victory.
The Rangers improve to 10-1 on the season with a 3-1 Great American Conference record on the season.
Northwestern led by Faith Simpson with 26 points and eight rebounds along with four assists. She was one of four double figure scorers joined by Carly Craig, Camille Thomas, and Talayah Thomas.
The Rangers opened the game with the first five points forcing an early Southeastern timeout, following a first possession layup from Camille Thomas. Paige Scott followed with a steal leading to a fast break three pointer drilled by Payton Jones for the five point lead.
After a Savage Storm three pointer the Lady Rangers jumped on an 8-0 run led by Camille Thomas's four points taking their first double digit lead of the quarter at 13-3 at the 4:54 mark of the quarter. The Lady Ranger defense held the Save Storm to three points until the two minute mark following a jump shot by Kenzli Warden. Faith Simpson hit the final shot of the quarter for Northwestern taking an 18-10 lead through the first quarter into the second.
As the Storm looked to start a comeback Lauren Beason opened the quarter with a three pointer cutting their deficit to five. The score remained 18-13 after the Red-and-Black defense forces two striaght turnovers with the second one leading to a Carly Craig three pointer at the 7:37 mark for the first points of the second quarter pushing the lead back to eight. Camille Thomas pushed the lead back into double digits following two consecutive foul shots.
Southeastern then scored seven straight points to cut the Lady Ranger lead down to three at 23-20. However the Northwestern offense was right there to answer the Storm run with five straight and 10 of the next 12 points getting the lead back to eight. Northwestern then closed the half on a 9-0 run taking a 41-24 lead into the halftime break.
Much like the start of the game Simpson opened the half with the first points as Northwestern extended the run to 11-0 pushing their largest lead to that point in the game to 19 at 43-24. The Lady Ranger defense continued to force the Storm's offense struggling as the gap continued to widen following Paige Scott's first points of the game and three straight by Simpson completing an and one. The lead was stretched to 26 points following a Craig three pointer at 53-27 and followed by another three and a Simpson jumper hit 31 points over the Savage Storm.
A Josena Frame three pointer pushed the lead to 35 points as the Rangers continued to further the gap over Southeastern. Northwestern led 73-42 through three quarters of play into the fourth quarter.
Simpson answered a Southeastern basket to start the fourth quarter as Northwestern continued to hold a thirty point lead over the Savage Storm. An 8-0 run for the Savage Storm halfway through the fourth quarter cut the Ranger lead to 22 points but a three pointer by Charmayne Marshall put it back to 25.
The Lady Rangers closed out a 22 point victory over Southeastern by a final score of 86-64 Saturday afternoon for the final conference game of the fall semester.
Northwestern will close out the 2023 year against Bethel College on December 31st with tip-off scheduled for 2:00 PM.
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