ALVA, OKLAHOMA - Northwestern Oklahoma State Lady Rangers closed out the 2023 year with a dominating win 115-47 over Bethel College. The Lady Rangers opened a double digit lead early in the first quarter and never looked back leading the whole way. The Lady Rangers improve to 11-1 on the season following the non conference victory.
Northwestern was led by Faith Simpson with 28 points, one of five double figure scorers joined by Camille Thomas, Carly Craig, Payton Jones, and Syncere Harrod.
The game opened with a layup from Camille Thomas off a pass from Faith Simpson as the Lady Rangers took an early 3-0 lead as Thomas completed the three point play at the line. Following a Yoder three for Bethel to tie the game that would be the last time it was tied. Northwestern used a 10-0 run to take a 13-3 lead over the next four minutes stretch led by Simpson with nine of those 10 points, while the Rangers forced two turnovers and held Bethel to 0-5 shooting. After the Threshers ended the run the Rangers started another scoring eight straight points taking a 16 point lead at 23-7 before leading 23-10 after the first quarter. Simpson scored nine of her 28 in the opening quarter.
After Bethel scored six straight points on back to back three pointers by Robinson, Payton Jones ended their run with a layup off a pass from Talayah Thomas for a 25-13 lead. This started a 13-0 run for the Lady Rangers led by Carly Craig with seven points in that three minute stretch that opened a 36-13 lead over Bethel. Northwestern forced seven turnovers during that time period stretching the lead to over 20. The lead continued to grow for the Lady Rangers as the defense continued to take charge opening up scoring opportunities as the lead grew to 31 in the first half with 50 seconds to play as Simpson knocked down a turnaround jump shot for her 21st point of the opening half. Nikya Orange knocked down a foul shot right before halftime to extend the lead to its largest of the half at 53-21 into the break.
The second half picked up right where the first half ended as Camille Thomas got the second half scoring started for a 55-21 lead before opening the half on a 8-0 run. The lead was stretched to 40 with a 63-23 lead following a layup from Faith Simpson. Payton Jones helped lead the next big run for the Lady Rangers scoring six of the points on a 17-1 run that Northwestern shot 4-7 from the field forcing three more turnovers and holding Bethel 0-7 from the field. Northwestern then led 80-29. A Talayah Thomas three pointer in the final minute of the quarter helped push the lead to 53 points at 85-32 assisted by Nikya Orange. As the Lady Rangers carried that lead into the fourth quarter.
Josena Frame opened the fourth quarter with a three pointer assisted by Syncere Harrod, as he helped start a 14-2 run to open the fourth quarter, building a 99-34 lead as Tegan Jones and Harrod combined for nine of the points. A shot by Harrod pushed the Lady Ranger over the century mark for the third time this season and the second in three games, and the lead was stretched to over 60. Chrissan Harland scored four straight points for the Lady Rangers to close the game out as Northwestern finished off a 115-47 victory over Bethel.
This was the second straight win for the Lady Rangers over Bethel after winning last season's matchup and is the third straight victory for Northwestern.
The Lady Rangers will travel to Arkansas this week for two conference games first against Arkansas Monticello on January 4th before facing Southern Arkansas on January 6th.
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