ALVA, OKLAHOMA - Northwestern Oklahoma State Women's Basketball snapped the three game losing streak following the 74-57 victory over Arkansas Monticello. The Lady Rangers closed out the win behind a big fourth quarter scoring 30 points in the fourth quarter.
The Lady Rangers improve to 7-8 on the season with a 4-5 Great American Conference record while the Cotton Blossoms drop to 3-6 in conference play.
Carly Craig and Jaida Shipp were the Lady Rangers leading scorers with 19 points each, the two Northwestern players in double figures. Shipp secured her second straight double-double with 10 rebounds, while also leading the team with two blocks with Kira Bass adding two blocks.Shipp added four steals. Craig led with five steals. Kennedy Hight led the team with nine assists.
Payton Jones started the scoring for the Lady Rangers a minute into the game to even the score. Halfway through the opening quarter the Lady Rangers evened the score at 6-6 as Kira Bass finished a layup assisted by Kennedy Hight. Both teams started the game 3-5 from the floor while the Lady Rangers defense was able to force two turnovers. Arkansas Monticello scored the next four points taking a 10-6 lead. The Blossoms hit a three pointer from Alindsey Long to take their largest lead of the quarter 14-9. In the closing seconds Camille Thomas scored her first points of the game as the Lady Rangers trailed by three to end the quarter 14-11.
Northwestern took their first lead of the game at 17-16 starting the quarter on a 6-2 run with Jaida Shipp scoring back to back points as the Lady Rangers were a perfect 2-2 from the floor forcing a turnover not getting a shot off. The Lady Rangers continued to extend the lead with a strong second quarter as Craig hit a jump shot before Tegan Jones drilled a three pointer assisted by Carly Craig for the 22-18 lead. The Lady Rangers extended the lead to 28-20 as Jaida Shipp continued her strong quarter with seven points. The Blossoms hit a three pointer at the buzzer for the first half as the Lady Rangers led 28-23 after two quarters of play.
In the third quarter Camille Thomas opened the scoring for the second half before the teams traded baskets. With the lead at five, Northwestern scored five straight extending the lead to double digits for the first time of the game as Hight hit back to back foul shots at 37-27 lead. Craig scored five straight points with a three pointer and a layup both assisted by Hight for a 44-32 lead over the Blossoms. In the closing minutes of the third quarter, Arkansas Monticello was able to strike a run with back to back three pointers finished off with an Ellis layup as the Lady Rangers led 44-38 through three quarters of play.
Shipp started the fourth quarter with a basket for her 11th point of the night. At the 8:40 mark left in the game Camille Thomas put the lead back to double digits. Lily Mahy answered a Blossoms three pointer keeping the Lady Rangers at 10 point advantage. Kennedy Hight continued to extend the lead with a corner three pointer assisted by Shipp for a 58-41 lead for the Lady Rangers. Arkansas Monticello went on one more run to bring their deficit back down to 11 at 62-51 with 3:34 left in the game but Jaida Shipp stopped the run and helped the team bring the lead back to 15 at 69-54. Hight scored the final points of the game for the Lady Rangers to push the lead to 20 points at 74-54. Northwestern closed out the 74-57 victory over Arkansas Monticello Thursday evening.
Northwestern will look to make it two straight wins on Saturday afternoon against Southern Arkansas with tip-off scheduled for 1:00 PM.
