ARKADELPHIA, ARKANSAS - Northwestern Oklahoma State women's basketball fell to Ouachita Baptist on Thursday afternoon 65-62. The Lady Rangers late comeback attempt fell short after cutting the deficit to one at 63-62, before the Tigers were able to close out the 65-62 win over the Lady Rangers.
Northwestern drops to 6-7 on the season with a 3-4 conference record, while Ouachita Baptist improves to 2-5 in conference play.
The Lady Rangers had a balanced scoring attack with four players in double figures as Kira Bass led the team with 15 points followed by Carly Craig and Kennedy Hight with 12 points each. Payton Jones was fourth in double figures with 10. Bass had team highs of seven rebounds and four blocks. Hight led the team with four assists.
Madeleine Tipton of Ouachita Baptist was the first to score, giving the Tigers the early 2-0 lead before scoring the first eight points of the game after back to back three pointers. Kira Bass was the first to score for the Lady Rangers off a pass from Camille Thomas before a Kennedy Hight three pointer made the game 11-5 With five minutes left in the quarter the Tigers opened their first double digit lead of the game on a Abbey Harrison layup on the fast break. Tegan Jones followed with her first points of the night helping the Lady Rangers start a 4-0 run to close the quarter. The Tigers led 16-11 after the first quarter of play.
Jaida Shipp started the scoring in the second quarter for the Lady Rangers bringing the game back down to one possession. However a three pointer from Robinson her second of the game helped spark the Tiger run at 7-0 as the Lady Rangers trailed by 13 at 28-15. Payton Jones stopped the run hitting a three pointer, followed by a Carly Craig three pointer her first of three in the game as Northwestern was back within six points. Ouachita Baptist answered though with four straight points for a 34-24 halftime lead over the Lady Rangers. The Rangers finished the first half 10-24 shooting from the field.
The two teams traded three pointers to open the third quarter in the second half as Tipton from the Tigers followed by Craig for Northwestern, Ouachita Baptist continued to answer the Lady Ranger offensive output after a High floater was good on back to back possessions to bring the deficit back to nine the Tigers hit a three pointer from Mears for the 45-33 lead over Northwestern. The Tigers continued to hold a 10 point lead through the quarter before leading 54-42. Kira Bass finished the quarter scoring three straight to close the quarter to bring the deficit to nine at the quarter end.
The Tigers hit a three pointer to start the fourth quarter as Mears hit one assisted by Robinson for the 57-45 lead. Kennedy Hight start the comeback for the Lady Rangers as she buried a three pointer for her 12th point of the game before Camille Thomas hit a layup after a put on the offensive rebound. Craig's back to back three pointers had the deficit to five. After a Tigers shot Bass had back to back layups off the glass to cut it to three at 63-60 with 2:17 left in the game her 13th point. Bass cut it to one with 1:40 left in the game. Both defenses stepped up late as the Lady Rangers forced three turnovers and the Tigers had two. After missing a three pointer the Tigers scored two on the fast break to seal the 65-62 win over the Lady Rangers.
Northwestern will return to action on Saturday afternoon in Arkadelphia Arkansas against Henderson State with tip-off scheduled for 1:00 PM.
