WEATHERFORD, OKLAHOMA - Northwestern Oklahoma State Lady Rangers faced Southwestern Oklahoma State Thursday evening as the Bulldogs won the rematch with a double-digit victory after a 29-8 opening quarter. Southwestern closed out the 78-61 victory.

The Rangers fall to 12-11 on the season with a 9-8 conference record as Southwestern improves to 13-10 on the season with a 9-8 GAC record.

Rangers were led by Carly Craig with 18 points, followed by Payton Jones with nine and Camille Thomas with seven. Kira Bass was the team-leading rebounder with eight on the evening. Craig had a team-high four assists.

Southwestern Oklahoma State started the game on a 10-0 run after a Layni Zinn three-pointer started the scoring. It was Tegan Jones who buried a corner three-pointer for the 10-3 deficit. The Bulldogs later then hit three straight three-pointers going on a 9-0 run as the home team opened a 21-5 lead early on the Rangers.  The Bulldogs finished the three-point play as Averi Zinn knocked down a jump shot while drawing the foul as their lead went to 28-8. The Bulldogs led 29-8 following the opening quarter.

In the second quarter, Carly Craig hit a three-point shot to start the scoring for both teams but Southwestern answered with an 11-0 run hitting three straight from behind the arc as they took a 40-11 lead over the Rangers with 6:21 left in the half. The two teams traded three-point shots late in the first half as the Bulldogs carried a 50-25 lead into the halftime break over the Rangers.

Jaida Shipp opened the second half with three straight points before a bass layup had the Lady Rangers on a 5-0 run to start the second but Hailey Grant ended the run with the Bulldogs' first points three minutes into the second half. Southwestern continued to maintain their lead as after Carly Craig hit a shot to cut the lead back to 20 it was an Averi Zinn three-pointer sending it back to 23. Their lead grew to as many as 27 points in the quarter before the Lady Rangers closed the quarter on a 12-2 run getting the deficit down to 17. The run started with points from Tegan Jones before the Lady Rangers forced three missed shots and four straight points by Payton Jones. At the end of the third quarter the Lady Rangers trailed 63-46.,

Hailey Grant started the fourth quarter with the quarter's first five points as their lead was back to 22, now at 70-48 with 8:31 remaining in the game. After the Lady Rangers forced two turnovers and two missed shots the game went into a three-minute scoring drought before Lily Mahy ended it with a foul shot. Jamesha Reece and Ella Porter combined for the next four points as the Rangers trailed by 17 points. The game closed out as Southwestern closed out the 78-61 victory over Northwestern to split the season series between the two teams.

Northwestern returns home for the game Saturday afternoon against Oklahoma Baptist scheduled for a 1:00 PM tip-off. Admission into the game will be free for anyone who brings two items to donate for the food drive.

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