MONTICELLO, ARKANSAS - Northwestern Oklahoma State Lady Rangers returned to action with their first game in 2024. The Lady Rangers used an 11-0 run to extend a four point lead to 15 in which the team never let the lead get back into single digits closing out the victory Thursday. Northwestern won 75-58 over the Blossoms.
The win marks the fourth straight for the Lady Rangers improving to 12-1 on the season with a 4-1 conference record.
Faith Simpson led the Lady Rangers with 30 points on the evening along with nine rebounds, four assists and two blocks all team highs. She was one of four double figure scorers for the Lady Rangers joined by Carly Craig, Camille Thomas, and Payton Jones.
The home team struck first with a corner three pointer from Haleigh Crews for an early 3-0 lead. After close to two straight minutes scoreless Faith Simpson broke the drought at the foul line as the Lady Rangers cut the deficit to one. Carly Craig helped give the Lady Rangers their first lead of the game with a steal before finishing a fast break layup for the 4-3 lead. Northwestern trailed 6-4 before Faith Simpson started a 9-0 run for the Lady Rangers. Simpson scored five during the run before Craig had her second fast break layup off her own steal giving Northwestern a 13-6 lead.
The Blossoms answered back though with a 9-2 run to even the score back at 15-15 after finishing off a three pointer followed by a steal and a fast break layup by Bailey Harris. After Simpson scored her 11th point of the quarter to regain the lead Arkansas Monticello's Crews hit a three pointer her second of the quarter with 10 seconds left to take a 18-17 lead through the opening quarter.
Simpson continued her strong opening half with two quick points in the second quarter to regain the lead for the Lady Rangers. Craig scored the next four points for Northwestern one off of Paige Scott's second steal of the game as Northwestern opened the quarter on a 6-0 run, before Long drilled a three pointer to end the Northwestern run and bring the Blossoms back within two. The Lady Rangers closed out the half with a 36-32 lead over the Blossoms. Simpson and Craig combined for 29 points.
In the second half Simpson opened with the first seven points for the Lady Rangers as Northwestern extended the lead to six in that time frame in the opening three minutes of the half. Camile Thomas followed with a layup on Simpson's third assist taking an eight point lead.
Northwestern continued to hold the eight point advantage before Arkansas Monticello scored the next five points to cut it back down to three at 51-48. Camille Thomas and Nikya Orange closed the quarter with a couple of layups as the Rangers carried at 55-49 lead into the third quarter.
After a scoreless opening minute to the fourth quarter Summya Adigun broke the silence with two shots at the foul line for a 57-49 lead, before Payton Jones followed with a three pointer for five straight in the fourth quarter and the first double digit lead of the evening. This started seven straight scored by Payton Jones as the Lady Rangers opened a 64-49 lead over Arkansas Monticello. Simpson put the final touches on the game with a layup for a 75-58 victory over the Blossoms for her 30th point of the evening.
Northwestern will close out the trip in Arkansas with a matchup with Southern Arkansas on Saturday afternoon at 1:00 PM tip-off in Magnolia.
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