ALVA, OKLAHOMA - Northwestern Oklahoma State Women's Basketball team hosted Harding Saturday afternoon as the Bisons won the game over the Lady Rangers in a defensive battle in today's game with a final score of 59-47.

Northwestern drops to 4-4 on the year with a 1-1 Great American Conference record while Harding improves to 2-0 on the season in conference.

Kira Bass had her Ranger high of the season with 22 points making 11 field goals while adding eight rebounds, three steals all team highs Saturday. Kennedy Hight was the other Ranger scoring double figures and led the team with five assists. Payton Jones had a team high two blocks. 

Hight was the first one to score in the game with a layup in the opening minute off a defensive stop. This was the only points in the opening quarter until the 5:39 mark of the quarter on a shot made by Sage Hawley to even the score. The first half of the quarter the teams combined to force four turnovers and shot 2-13 in a defensive start to the game.  After a Payton Jones three pointer the game was tied at 5-5 with four minutes remaining as the teams went back and forth. After Harding grabbed a 10-5 lead, Northwestern closed the quarter on a 6-0 run taking an 11-5 lead to end the quarter. Bass scored four points on the run as the Lady Rangers closed the quarter strong. 

The second quarter saw the offense pickup as the teams traded baskets early, as the Lady Rangers grabbed a 17-14 lead after back to back shots by Bass giving her eight points in the early part of the second quarter. She scored four more to give the Lady Rangers a 21-16 lead before Harding went on a 7-0 run to close the first half holding the Lady Rangers to 0-3 from the floor and stealing the lead at the break going in front 23-21 at the break. 

Harding took the lead and led the whole way in the second half as Sage Hawley scored the first eight points for the Bisons in the second half. Kennedy Hight and Kira Bass helped keep the Lady Rangers in striking distance as the Lady Rangers trailed 31-29 with four minutes left in the quarter. Rory Geer for Harding then scored six straight to take a seven point lead over the Lady Ragners before High ended their run. Harding closed the quarter building a nine point lead after Josie William hit a three before Tegan Jones hit a jump shot as the Lady Rangers trailed 42-35 through three quarters. 

To start the fourth quarter Camille Thomas scored four straight for the Lady Rangers bringing the deficit back down to three at 42-39, but Harding answered with six straight taking their lead back to nine with six minutes left to play in the game. The Lady Bisons lead hit double digits for the first time at the 4:45 mark of the quarter at 52-41. The deficit for the Lady Rangers was 14 points at 59-45 before Northwestern hit a shot in the final seconds losing Saturday by a final of 59-47 to Harding. In a defensive battle the Lady Rangers finished shooting 36% from the field while Harding was 39%.

Northwestern Oklahoma State returns to action on Thursday December 12th against Southern Nazarene with tip-off scheduled for 5:30 PM. 

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