ALVA, OKLAHOMA - Northwestern Oklahoma State Women's Basketball beat Southern Nazarene on Thursday evening to close out the four game homestand. The Lady Rangers used a dominating second quarter out scoring the Crimson Storm 17-4 before closing out the 55-50 victory.
The Lady Rangers improve to 5-4 on the season with a 2-1 Great American Conference record while Southern Nazarene drops 5-4, with a 2-1 GAC record.
Northwestern had three players in double figures led by Camille Thomas with 13 points knocking down five shots along with pulling down nine rebounds and three steals. She was joined by Payton Jones with 12 points followed by Kennedy Hight with 10 points. Kira Bass and Camille Thomas led the team with nine rebounds, Hight led the team with three assists in the win.
Southern Nazarene started the scoring before the Lady Rangers were on the board by Thomas answering their layup to even the score. The first quarter was a battle back and forth with four ties and lead changes with the final one a three point play by Payton Jones finishing a layup while drawing the foul for the 9-8 lead. The run reached 8-0 with Tegan Jones and Payton Jones with three point plays to take a 14-8 lead. Kira Bass hit a jump shot in the closing seconds of the opening quarter to take a 16-9 lead.
Camille Thomas started the scoring in the second quarter starting the beginning of a dominating quarter. Northwestern led 18-9 starting a 7-0 run to open the quarter as the Rangers took their first double digit lead at 23-9 as the Lady Rangers started the quarter three of four, while holding Southern Nazarene 0-6. After a basket by the Crimson Storm, the Lady Rangers then answered with another run this time 8-0 as the Lady Rangers went in front 25-11 on four different scorers shooting 4-8. The Crimson Storm were one for their last 14.Northwestern grew the lead to 20 at 31-11 following a layup by Tegan Jones for her 5th point of the half. Northwestern went into the halftime break leading 33-13, with a 20 point halftime lead.
Southern Nazarene started the half on a 7-0 run cutting into the Lady Rangers lead following a Jena Bay three pointer her fifth point of the game. Out of the timeout Bass ended the Southern Nazarene run with her sixth point of the game for the 35-20 lead. Southern Nazarene got their deficit down to 12 before the Lady Rangers ended the run with a Hight jump shot for the 39-25 lead. Summya Adigun scored her first points of the game drilling a three pointer from the left corner to push the lead back to 16 at 45-29, the score closing out the third quarter.
King on Southern Nazarene hit a three pointer three minutes into the quarter for the first points from either team bringing the Lady Ranger lead to 13. Southern Nazarene continued the run on a 10-0 run as the ninth point from Katie King cut the Lady Ranger lead to six. Camille Thomas and Payton Jones continued to push the Lady Rangers out in front, holding the nine point. Kennedy Hight pushed the Lady Ranger lead back to ten points at 53-43. Southern Nazarene hit a three pointer in the final minutes, but the Lady Rangers closed out the 55-50 victory over Southern Nazarene for the second conference victory over the season.
Northwestern Oklahoma State will be on the road Monday evening against Southeastern Oklahoma State before coming back to Alva against East Central to close out the 2024 calendar year.
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