ALVA, OKLAHOMA - Northwestern Oklahoma State Lady Rangers opened the 2024-2025 season against Winona State to begin the GAC-NSIC Challenge. The Rangers jumped out early in the opening quarter to an 11 point advantage before closing out the 75-66 victory.
The Rangers start the season 1-0 as Winona State falls to 0-1.
The Rangers were led by Kira Bass with 20 points, one of five double figure scorers, joined by Kennedy Hight, Payton Jones, Carly Craig, and Camille Thomas. Summya Adigun led the team with eight rebounds in the evening.
Bass started the scoring for the Rangers with an offensive rebound putback layup for the first points of the season and the early lead for the Rangers. Northwestern started strong on the defensive end only allowing one point through the opening five minutes of the game and forcing three turnovers with at the 4:16 mark Hight finished a layup in the paint off a fast break to take a 10-1 lead in the opening quarter. Hight then pushed the lead to double digits for the first team at 12-1. With 3:15 remaining in the quarter Winona State hit their first field goal, this one a three point attempt by Mattie Schimenz but Bass quickly put the Rangers backup 10. The Rangers led after one quarter 15-4 over the Warriors.
Winona State looking to climb back in the game went on a quick 5-0 run early in the second quarter cutting the Ranger lead down to six at 17-11 but Camille Thomas hit a jump shot followed by Kennedy Hight giving the Rangers a 21-11 lead The Rangers continuing to hold the double digit lead after was cut to eight the Rangers had back to back three pointers down the stretch in quarter number two as Summya Adigun and Carly Craig went back to back to give the Rangers a 32-18 lead over the visitors heading into the halftime break.
To start the third quarter, Payton Jones pushed the Rangers lead to the largest of the evening on a putback layup after another offensive rebound for the Rangers. After Winona State tried to chip into their deficit Kira Bass hit back to back layups for the Rangers pushing the lead back to 40-26. Craig then scored four straight for the Rangers pushing the lead to the largest of the night at 19 points. Warriors were able to chip into the lead cutting it to 11 but a three by Hight kept the Rangers in front by 14 to close the 3rd quarter.
The fourth quarter the Rangers continued taking advantage of inside the pain as Bass started the quarter with a bucket in the pain pushing the lead back to 16 with two of the 38 points scored inside the area. Winona State was able to cut the deficit to single digits for the first time since the first quarter with 2:12 left to play as Vivica Bretton made a layup on the put back but a Craig three pointer kept the Rangers in front 75-64. Two late free throws had the Rangers win by a final score 75-66 for the first win of the season.
The Rangers will be back in action on Saturday evening, closing out the opening weekend challenge at 5:30 against Minnesota Duluth following the conclusion of Southeastern Oklahoma State and Winona State.
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