DURANT, OKLAHOMA- Northwestern Oklahoma State closed out the regular season in Durant with a 78-74 victory. The win completes the season sweep over the Savage Storm as the Lady Rangers led the entire second half in the win.
The Lady Rangers finish the regular season with a 24-6 record overall and a 16-6 Great American Conference record. The 24 and 16 wins are both Lady Rangers records for most wins in a season since Northwestern joined Division II.
Faith Simpson led the Lady Rangers with 22 points with five rebounds and two steals, all team highs. Josena Frame had a team high five rebounds as well along with a team high five steals. Northwestern had three players in double figures in Carly Craig with 18 and Payton Jones at 10 the other two along with Simpson.
Josena Frame opened the scoring for the Lady Rangers in this one in the first possession for the Lady Rangers on a layup assisted by Faith Simpson. Northwestern opened the game on a 7-0 run. Caitlin Kobiske of Southeastern ended the run for their first points of the game answering with a four straight. Northwestern continued to hold slight distance as Simpson answered, keeping Northwestern up by four at 11-7. Summya Adigun answered back with a three point play extending the Lady Ranger lead back to seven. Northwestern led with a 16-10 lead over the Savage Storm before their best run of the quarter. Alverson hit a three pointer to start a 6-0 run to even the score at 16-16. A shot by Josena Frame in the final minute of the quarter sent the Lady Rangers with the lead at 19-16 to end the first quarter.
Southeastern Oklahoma State opened the second quarter with the first five points to take their first lead of the game as Holli Lindley finished a layup to give her five points in the game and a 21-19 lead. Nikya Orange scored the Rangers first points with a layup to tie the game after her fourth point of the game. This started a 10-0 run for the Lady Rangers as Syncere Harrod's three point play pushed the Lady Rangers up 29-21 with 6:55 left in the quarter. A three pointer by Hackler ended the Lady Ranger run and brought Southeastern back within five in the game. Payton Jones extended the Lady Rangers lead after it stayed at five for a few minutes pushing the Lady Rangers to 39-31. Two Southeastern foul shots in the final 30 seconds sent the game to halftime with the Lady Rangers in front 39-33 over Southeastern.
Northwestern opened the second half with four straight points as Simpson hit back to back jump shots for a 43-33 lead over Southeastern. However the Savage Storm hit back to back three pointers to quickly bring the home team back within four points. Southeastern cut it to as close as two after Lindley had two points for a 45-43 Lady Ranger lead by Carly Craig answered with a three pointer to put Northwestern back up by two possessions. The two teams traded points as Northwestern continued to maintain the five point lead after Adigun scored with 50 seconds left in the quarter. Northwestern took the five point lead at 56-51 heading into the fourth and final quarter.
Northwestern stretched the lead out to start the fourth quarter as Carly Craig and Paige Scott hit back to back three pointers. Simpson pushed it to a 10-0 run as the Lady Rangers opened a 12 point lead over Southeastern with seven minutes left in the game. Two Southeastern three pointers cut the Ranger lead down to 68-62 with just under five minutes left. The Savage Storm continued to close the gap getting to within one at 68-67 with 3:59 following a three pointer. Southeastern then tied the game at 70 with a three pointer. Simpson put the Lady Rangers back in front though with a layup with 1:09 left in the game. The closest Southeastern could get to again is one point as Northwestern sealed the win at the foul line in the final minute as the Lady Rangers hit six straight foul shots to seal the victory.
Northwestern will be back in action for the Great American Conference tournament as Northwestern will be the three seed in the conference play with the opponent still to be determined.
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