SHAWNEE, OKLAHOMA - Northwestern Oklahoma State fell to Oklahoma Baptist on Saturday evening 83-70. The Bison used 14 three pointers to build the double digit lead and close out the home win in the first game since break.
The Rangers drop to 6-6 on the season with a 3-3 Great American Conference record. The Bison improved to 9-3 on the season with a 5-1 conference record.
Kennedy Hight was the game's leading scorer with a new season high having a 30 point performance shooting 9-16, beating her previous season high of 19 points. Carly Craig and Kira Bass led the team with six rebounds each with Bass having a team high three steals. Craig led the team with three assists.
Oklahoma Baptist was the first on the board with a couple of foul shots before knocking down back to back three pointers after Kennedy Hight opened the scoring for the Lady Rangers. The Bison were able to build an 8-4 lead after the two three pointers. Tegan Jones cut the deficit down to two points after a layup with her first points off the bench. Oklahoma Baptist took a 13-6 lead before the Lady Rangers went on a run. Started by Tegan Jones and Camille Thomas with back to back points started an 11-0 run as Bass then scored four straight points. On the run the Lady Rangers forced three turnovers and took a 17-13 lead. After Oklahoma Baptist regained the lead at 19-17, Bass closed the quarter with four straight points as the Lady Rangers led 21-19.
The second quarter Rangers scored five quick points on a jump shot by Carly Craig followed by Kennedy Hight. Was a two minute scoring drought before Oklahoma Baptist cut the deficit down to one. Hight ended a four minute drought by the Lady Rangers on a three point play to regain the lead. She scored five straight before Payton Jones hit a shot to push the lead to six after completing the three point play for a 33-27 lead. Northwestern held a 34-27 lead and later a 36-29 lead, the largest lead of the opening half before Oklahoma Baptist scored seven straight points to close out the half and go into the break tied at 36-36.
The Bison continued the run and momentum into the second half when the home team hit back to back three pointers for the 42-36 lead and a run of 13-0 before Hight ended the run with a foul shot. The Bison pushed their lead to double digits at 50-39 at the 6:05 mark, as Kennedy Hight scored the five points for the Lady Rangers and eight of the first 10 points. A three pointer by the Bison's Katelyn Davis held their double digit lead into the later part of the third quarter at 61-50. A buzzer beater put back layup for the Bison sent the Rangers trailing 63-52 heading into the fourth and final quarter.
Mackenzie Crusoe knocked down a couple of points to help extend the home team's lead to 15, the largest of the game, to the early part of the fourth quarter. Largest it got was 16 before Hight knocked down a three pointer and a layup brought the deficit back to 11. The Bison hit three of their 14 three pointers in the quarter with the Lady Rangers hitting two. The Bison closed out the 83-70 victory over the Lady Rangers on Saturday evening.
Northwestern will travel to Arkadelphia for a two game trip next week starting with Ouachita Baptist Thursday evening at 5:30 PM.
For the latest news and updates on NWOSU Athletics, follow @NWOSUAthletics on TWITTER or visit www.riderangersride.com.
