BETHANY, OKLAHOMA - Northwestern Oklahoma State played the final road game of the season on Thursday evening in Bethany, Oklahoma against Southern Nazarene. In a defensive battle between the two programs Southern Nazarene was able to close out the 45-40 victory, taking the lead after a 7-0 run in the third quarter and holding a 15-8 advantage in the quarter.

Northwestern Oklahoma State falls to 13-14 on the season with a 10-11 Great American Conference record, while Southern Nazarene improves to 18-3 in conference with a 21-6 overall record. Lady Rangers will now be the six seed in the Great American Conference tournament. 

Lady Rangers were led by Carly Craig with 18 points in the game hitting four 3-pointers, along with two assists. Kira Bass led the team with 10 rebounds in the game along with 6 points. Payton Jones finished the game with seven points, three steals and a block.

Lady Rangers jumped out to an early 5-0 lead for the opening quarter, after an early layup from Camille Thomas followed by a three pointer by Carly Craig off an assist from Payton Jones running the break off the rebound. Craig and Payton Jones teamed up for a second three pointer off a Payton Jones steal, running the break assisting on Craig's second three pointer for the 8-2 early lead. Craig scored her eighth point of the quarter with 1:51 left to take a 10-4 lead. Southern Nazarene struck late in the first though as Hannah Giddey scoring two points sparked a 7-0 run for the Crimson Storm, after keeping Northwestern off the board with a couple of blocked shots back to back possessions with points from Umi Otsuka pushed the home team in front 11-10 after the first quarter. 

The second quarter the defensive battle continued but not before Payton Jones started the second with a three pointer assisted by Shipp taking a 13-11 lead. Shipp following possession scored her first points of the game for the 15-13 lead. A two and a half minute scoring drought took place until off a Isabella Pehrson steal lead to a Carly Craig three pointer for the 17-13 lead with four minutes left in the half. Lily Mahy answered with her first three pointer of the game taking a 20-15 lead with 3:02 left in the half. Kira Bass off a defensive rebound started the break as Bass scored two off an assist by Craig the teams went scoreless the rest of the half as Northwestern led 22-17 at the halftime break. Northwestern's defense forced 14 first half turnovers and held the Crimson Storm to six second quarter points to take the lead at the halftime break. 

It took over a minute into the third quarter before either team scored and first it was the Lady Rangers off a Bass steal leading to a layup for Bass this time assisted by Tegan Jones for the 24-17 lead. Southern Nazarene scored seven straight points to answer as they tied the game on a Carley Gasaway three pointer. Jillian Crawford of the Crimson Storm buried a three pointer for the lead. Out of the timeout the Lady Rangers got two from Camille Thomas to tie the game with 4:57 left in the third quarter. It was late in the third quarter when Southern Nazarene took the lead back with a 4-0 run following a three pointer by Gasaway for the 31-27 lead. Payton Jones capitalized on a three point play taking the following and scoring as the Lady Rangers trailed 32-30 at the end of the third quarter. 

Giddey opened the scoring with a layup, before a three pointer by Otsuka hit a three pointer taking a seven point lead, which they held until the five minute mark. Northwestern broke the scoring drought with a pull up jump shot as the Lady Rangers trailed 40-35. Northwestern forced the Crimson Storm's 20th turnover of the night, leading to a Bass turnaround jump shot as Northwestern cut the deficit back to three with 1:46 left. After a Crimson Storm basket Carly Criag was able to drill a step back three pointer for her 18th point of the game as Northwestern was back within three. However Southern Nazarene closed the game at the foul line to seal the win at 45-40 over the Lady Rangers. 

Northwestern will close out the regular season with senior day on Saturday, March 1st with scheduled tip-off at 1:00 PM with the senior day activities before the game.

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