ALVA, OKLAHOMA - Northwestern Oklahoma State closed out the third victory in a row, this one coming over Southern Arkansas to complete the season sweep over the Muleriders. The Lady Rangers used a late first half run to take control of the game. Following the Muleriders taking a 18-17 lead, Northwestern closed the half on a 9-0 run for a 26-18 halftime lead and never trailed again before closing out the 65-49 victory.
The Lady Rangers are now 18-3 on the season with a 10-3 conference record and improving to 9-0 in Percefull Fieldhouse this season.
Northwestern was led by Faith Simpson's fifth double-double on the season with a 27 point 12 rebound performance, while adding three blocks and two steals. Camille Thomas and Carly Craig were in double figures as well with 17 and 10 points.
The Lady Rangers took advantage inside the paint early in the game with back to back layups from Simpson and Camille Thomas for a 4-0 lead, an area the team took advantage of all night with 48 of the 65 points inside the paint. Southern Arkansas got on the board two and a half minutes into the game. After trailing for the first time Northwestern scored six straight all by Simpson in the paint to regain a 12-7 lead. In a one possession game Carly Craig hit her first three pointer of the game in the final seconds of the opening quarter to give Northwestern a 15-10 lead at the end of one.
In the second quarter the Muleriders used an 8-0 run to take the lead at 18-17 forcing the Lady Rangers into a timeout. Right out of the break the Lady Rangers went inside to Nikya Orange for a layup assisted by Camille Thomas to retake the lead. This over the final six minutes of the quarter sparked a Lady Ranger rally scoring nine straight to end the half. Northwestern's defense held the Muleriders scoreless over that time period for six straight minutes forcing five turnovers in that time frame. Simpson scored four straight before Orange ended the half with a big three point play finishing a layup and drawing the foul with 26 seconds left in the half. This sent the Lady Rangers into the break with a 26-18 lead over Southern Arkansas.
Northwestern started the second half right where the team left off in the first with a steal by Craig turning into a fastbreak layup and a double digit lead for the first time of the evening at 28-18. Southern Arkansas hit a three to briefly stop the run but Northwestern answered with 10 of the next 12 points extending the Lady Ranger lead to 13 points at 40-27 following points from Orange. The final two minutes of the quarter went to the Muleriders as following a basket by Camille Thomas keeping the lead at 13 Southern Arkansas cut into the lead bringing it down to as many as six. A steal by Paige Scott and a fastbreak layup pushed it back to eight to end the third quarter.
Early in the fourth quarter Southern Arkansas was able to bring the Ranger lead down to five after a three pointer by Chloe Wilbanks. Payton Jones started the next Ranger run which included 13-0 to build an 18 point lead and seal the victory. Northwestern defense again shutdown the Southern Arkansas offense holding them scoreless for seven minutes after Diamond Morris hit a shot with 7:11 remaining the visitors did not score again until the final seconds of the game. A steal by Simpson leading to a Craig three pointer pushed the lead back into double figures. Southern Arkansas made a putback layup in the final seconds as the Rangers won 65-49.
Northwestern has now won three straight and will return to action on Saturday afternoon at 1:00 PM for Fan Appreciation Day with Free admission and free t-shirts against Arkansas Monticello.
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