SEARCY, ARKANSAS - Northwestern Oklahoma State Lady Rangers were in Arkansas for the second straight game this one a battle of ranked teams as the #10 Lady Rangers fell in a back and forth thriller to #16 Harding. The Bisons closed the game on a 6-0 run to seal the victory.
Northwestern falls to 15-3 overall on the season and a 7-3 conference record.
Faith Simpson led the team in scoring with 28 points along with four rebounds, along with a block and steal. Carly Craig was the other double figure scorer with 11 points while adding eight assists and five rebounds.
The Lady Rangers were first to strike Saturday afternoon as Faith Simpson finished off a putback layup for her first two points of the contest. Harding answered back though with back to back three pointers by Bailey and Geer for a 6-2 lead over the Lady Rangers.Camille Thomas tied the game at 8-8 before Harding jumped out to a quick 5-0 run to regain the lead over Northwestern at 13-8. After the teams traded points for a few baskets Summya Adigun finished home a driving layup to bring Northwestern back to two. At the end of the opening quarter the deficit remained at two as Josena Frame made a layup with 30 seconds left in the quarter but the Lady Ranger defense forced a turnover. Northwestern trailed 19-17 at the end of the first.
The second quarter started with a Josie Williams three pointer after a steal by Bailey put the Bisons back up by five. Simpson scored six straight for the Rangers as Northwestern was back within four points following a fast break layup. Harding kept the Lady Rangers trailing though going back up by eight at 34-26 with 2:21 left in the half. Northwestern then closed the half on a 6-0 run. It started with a jump shot by Carly Craig followed by a shot by Nikya Orange as the Lady Rangers went into halftime down 34-32 against Harding.
Harding opened the second half on a 5-0 run as the Bisons regained a seven point lead before Faith Simpson got the Lady Rangers on the board in the second half. Harding extended their third quarter lead to 44-34 about halfway through the quarter. Josena Frame hit a corner three pointer assisted by Carly Craig answering a Harding three which was followed by Carly Craig as Northwestern was back within six. Northwestern's defense continued to help the Lady Rangers get back into the game as a steal by Nikya Orange helped lead to a layup by Talayah Thomas. Faith Simpson scored four straight to tie the game at 46. The teams traded baskets in the final minute of the quarter as Camile Thomas knocked down a couple of foul shots to send the game tied heading into the fourth quarter.
The home team knocked down a three pointer to start the fourth quarter taking a 51-48 lead on a shot by Maddi Holt who hit two straight for the Bisons to take a 54-50 lead. After a small field goal drought from both teams Carly Craig drilled a three pointer to give the Lady Rangers their first lead since the first quarter early in the game. The teams traded baskets as Harding and the Lady Rangers were then locked at 61-61 following a three pointer by Rory Geer. Harding took the lead back at 64-62 and would not trail again from that point on with 2:30 remaining in the game.
Simpson hit a layup to bring Northwestern back within two points at 68-66 and then later at 70-68 with 30 seconds left in the game. Harding took care of the game at the foul line making six straight foul shots to close out the win over the Lady Rangers.
Northwestern will be back in action on Thursday against Southwestern Oklahoma State for the third straight road game. The Lady Rangers will tip-off at 5:30 in Weatherford. Then will return home for the hall of fame game on Saturday against East Central.
