MAGNOLIA, ARKANSAS - Northwestern Oklahoma State Lady Rangers opened the road trip against Southern Arkansas. Northwestern closed out a 72-67 victory Friday evening after taking the lead in the second quarter after a strong 10 minutes in the second to lead the rest of the way.
The Lady Rangers improve to 13-12 on the season with a 10-9 Great American Conference record. Southern Arkansas falls to 12-13 on the year with a 7-12 conference mark.
Northwestern had two players in double figures as Kira Bass led the team with 18 points followed by Payton Jones with 17 points, as the two combined for 10-20 from the field. Bass led the team with eight rebounds. Carly Craig had a team high seven assists. Payton Jones led the team on defense with four steals and a block.
The Lady Rangers got the first point on the board on a foul shot by Jaida Shipp at the 8:30 mark of the opening quarter. Northwestern defense held Southern Arkansas scoreless two minutes into the game when Qua Chambers put the home team on the board for their first lead of the game. This started a 7-0 run for the Muleriders, as Chambers scored five of the seven points. It was a Tegan Jones three pointer assisted by Camille Thomas. Kira Bass got the Lady Rangers back within one possession with her fourth point of the quarter. In the opening quarter the Lady Rangers got within two at 11-9 before Southern Arkansas pushed their lead to seven points. A Final second three pointer gave the Muleriders an eight point lead at 21-13 at the end of the first quarter as Chambers had 13 first quarter points.
In the second quarter Lily Mahy started the big quarter for Northwestern with a three pointer to get the Lady Rangers back within five. Lady Rangers scored the first seven points as Bass hit back to back shots as Northwestern trailed 21-20. It took Southern Arkansas five minutes before getting their first point of the quarter. Northwestern's defense had forced three turnovers in that stretch. Summya Adigun got the Rangers back within one point at 26-25 before Kira Bass' 12th point of the half regained the lead for the Lady Rangers at 27-26. Payton Jones kept the momentum on the Lady Rangers side with a three pointer pushing the lead to four. Lily Mahy hit a three pointer in the final minute of the half as the Lady Rangers took a 35-29 lead into the halftime break.
Southern Arkansas struck first in the second half but the two teams traded points as Payton Jones scored the first four points for the Lady Rangers in the half. Tegan Jones followed with a three pointer for the nine point lead, the largest to that point in the game for Northwestern. Tegan Jones pushed the Northwestern lead to double digits for the first time of the game off a defensive rebound by Kira Bass. Southern Arkansas hit a three pointer in the closing part of the third, but with three seconds left Carly Craig picked up a steal and a fast break layup for the 56-45 lead over Southern Arkansas at the conclusion of three quarters of play.
The Muleriders, looking to climb closer to the Lady Rangers, started the quarter with a jump shot from Ortiz to bring the game back to nine. Northwestern had their lead back to 12 at 59-47 but Southern Arkansas switched the momentum. The Muleriders started a 10-1 run getting back within three points. Qua Chambers hit two points as the Lady Ranger lead was 60-57 with 3:10 remaining in the game. The Lady Rangers had a big possession late, turning into two points picking up three offensive rebounds before Camille Thomas scored two to keep the Lady Rangers out in front. Payton Jones and Carly Craig combined for the final eight points for the Lady Rangers as Northwestern closed out the 72-67 victory over Southern Arkansas.
The Rangers return to action on Sunday afternoon against Arkansas Monticello. The tip-off for the game is scheduled for 1:00 PM against the Blossoms.
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