ARKADELPHIA, ARKANSAS - Northwestern Oklahoma State Women's basketball played the second straight game down to the final seconds in Arkadelphia. Henderson State pulled off the three point victory over the Lady Rangers, holding off the Rangers on missed three pointer for the tie. The Reddies used 10 three pointers in the win to comeback and beat Northwestern by a final score of 72-69.
The Lady Rangers drop to 6-8 on the season with a 3-5 conference record following the trip to Arkadelphia while Henderson State improves to 4-4 in conference play.
Northwestern was led by Jaida Shipp who finished with her first double-double of the season with 23 points and 10 rebounds both season highs. Payton Jones finished with a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Kira Bass was the third Lady Ranger in double figures with 11 points. Kennedy Hight led the team with five assists.
The two teams traded runs in the opening minutes of the game as Henderson State was the first to score on a three pointer off an offensive rebound for the early 3-0 lead. After Payton Jones was the first to score for the Lady Rangers, the home team opened a 9-2 lead in the first three minutes of the game. Kennedy High scored her first points as the Lady Rangers answered with a 13-2 run to comeback and strike a 15-11 lead after a layup from Camille Thomas. The Lady Rangers controlled the rest of the opening quarter working the ball inside the paint. The Lady Rangers led 23-18 after the first quarter closing the opening quarter on a 4-0 run on back to back layups.
In the second quarter Carly Craig started the quarter with a three pointer to build an eight point lead. After a quick three by the Reddies to cut the Lady Ranger lead back to three. Jaida Shipp then continued her strong first half with back to back shots with the second a hook shot off a Lady Ranger steal to take a 30-23 lead. Henderson State answered to bring the lead back down to 30-27 as the Reddies stayed just close enough to keep it within one possession. The teams continued to battle trading baskets as the Lady Rangers held the four point advantage after points from Kennedy Hight and Kira Bass. At the break the Lady Rangers led 41-39 controlling the game inside with 24 points in the paint and eight offensive rebounds.
The third quarter started in favor of Henderson State as the home team tied the game at 41-41 on a fast break layup from Natalie Cardenas. Northwestern then scored six straight with four from Camille Thomas and a put back layup from Payton Jones for the 47-41 lead. Shipp kept the Lady Rangers in front with a putback layup before finishing a layup in transition from Patyon Jones. Henderson State went on their run to steal the lead back right out of the third quarter media timeout with the Lady Rangers in front by six the Reddies hit back to back three pointers before a third straight field goal from behind the arc following a foul shot to complete a 10-0 run and a build a 56-52 lead. Henderson State held a two point advantage at 59-57 after Shipp closed the quarter with four straight points.
Shipp tied the game at 59-59 with points early in the fourth but Henderson State went back in front with their first three pointer of the quarter. Bass tied the game with a three point play off a made shot followed by a foul shot for a 62-62 game. The defenses really picked up late in the fourth quarter. The Lady Rangers would only allow one more field goal the rest of the way but Henderson State built a 68-64 lead over the Lady Rangers late in the game. The Reddies took care of the foul line to stay out in front. Payton Jones hit a three pointer with the Lady Rangers down by five to cut the deficit back down to 71-69. After the Reddies split a pair at the foul line Northwestern had a chance to tie but missed the three pointer as the home team closed out the 72-69 win over the Lady Rangers. Northwestern finished with 44 points in the paint, while the Reddies hit 10 three pointers to help lead them to the win.
Northwestern returns home for three straight games in Percefull Fieldhouse starting with Arkansas Monticello on Thursday evening with tip-off scheduled for 5:30 PM on January 16th.
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