ALVA, OKLAHOMA - The Northwestern Oklahoma State Lady Rangers (8-8, 5-5 GAC) have won two straight games looking to make it three straight on the three-game home-stand. Lady Rangers are set to face rival Southwestern Oklahoma State (9-7, 5-5 GAC). Both teams are 5-5 in conference tied for fifth in the league. The theme for the 5:30 game is a blackout for Ranger fans.
This is match-up number 28 of the series history between the two teams dating back to 2013. Northwestern trails the series history 6-21 against Southwestern Oklahoma State in that period. Lady Rangers have won three of the last four games after sweeping the regular season match-up last season before Southwestern won the conference playoff game.
Northwestern has won two straight after a perfect week against Arkansas Monticello (74-57) and Southern Arkansas (75-59). Rangers have won four straight at home and are 8-2 overall in Percefull Fieldhouse.
In the win over Southern Arkansas, the Lady Rangers were led by guards Carly Craig and Kennedy Hight each with 20 points, two of four double-figure scorers along with Kira Bass and Jaida Shipp.
The Rangers are led by Payton Jones at 13.6 points per game, one of four double-figure scorers with Hight at 12.5, Carly Craig at 10.5, and Kira Bass at 10.5. Kira Bass is second in the conference in offensive rebounds per game at 3.2 per game followed by Camille Thomas at 2.8 for 5th. Carly Craig is second in the conference in three-point percentage at 37.7%, and second in made three-pointers. Hight leads the team in assists at 4.3 per game for second in the conference.
Kira Bass leads the team in blocks on the season with 17 blocks, fourth in the conference. Carly Craig leads the team with 30 steals followed by Camille Thomas with 27 steals. Kira Bass with her 17 blocks has 23 steals. Thomas is the team-leading rebounder with 5.9 per game tied with Kira Bass at 5.9.
The Lady Rangers' defense is second in the conference in turnovers forced per game at 19.2, and second in turnover margin. Northwestern is second in scoring with 70.3 points per game.
SOUTHWESTERN OKLAHOMA STATE:
Southwestern Oklahoma State enters Thursday evening with a 9-7 record with a 5-5 GAC record. The Bulldogs have won two straight games and won three of their last four. On the road, Southwestern is 3-5.
Like the Lady Rangers, Southwestern finished the previous week with wins over Southern Arkansas and Arkansas Monticello. The last time out the Bulldogs had a 63-48 victory behind Layni Zinn scoring 16 points, the only Bulldogs player in double figures.
During the season the team is led in scoring by Averi and Layni Zinn. A. Zinn leads the team with 11.6 points per game and is the only player in double figures, followed by Layni Zinn with 9.8 points and Hailey Grant 9.4 points. Averi Zinn is sixth in the conference in assists and eighth in assists per game at 3.1.
Defensively Averi Zinn is fifth in the conference in steals per game with 1.8, with Hailey Grant seventh in blocks with 15 and eighth in blocks per game at .94. Grant leads the team in rebounding with 4.4 per game.
Southwestern Oklahoma State is first in turnovers forced per game at 19.3 and is second in turnovers per game for first in the conference in turnover margin. Southwestern is top 10 in free throw percentage in Division II and fourth in the conference.
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