FORT SMITH, ARKANSAS - Northwestern Oklahoma State Lady Rangers Women's Basketball starts the Great American Conference Tournament on Friday afternoon. The tip-off is scheduled for 2:15 PM in Fort Smith, Arkansas, at the Southside Arena.

The Rangers' No. 6 seed (14-14, 11-11)  will face the Oklahoma Baptist Bison No. 3 (20-8, 16-6) for a third time this season on Friday. In series history, the Bison lead 24-11, including two wins this season. Northwestern is 2-8 in the last 10 meetings.

In the first two meetings, the Rangers were led by Kennedy Hight in the first meeting scoring 30 points. In the second game, Payton Jones and Jaida Shipp led the way with 14 points each. For Oklahoma Baptist, Katelyn Davis led the team with 15 points in the 83-70 win in Shawnee, before Mackenzie Crusoe led the team with 20 points in a win in Alva.

Overall, for the Rangers, Payton Jones leads the team with 12.7 points per game, followed by Cary Craig at 10.6 per game. Camille Thomas and Kira Bass were just under double figures with 9.1 points. Craig leads the team with 111 assists. She is second in the conference in assists and assists per game at 4.0. Kira Bass is second in the conference with 3.4 offensive rebounds per game.

Defensively for the Rangers, Kira Bass leads the team with 24 blocks on the season eighth in the conference overall. Craig is the team leader with 51 steals on the season which is fifth in the Great American Conference. Camille Thomas is second in steals with 43 with 18 rebounds. Kira Bass leads the team with 6.4 rebounds per game.

As a team, the Rangers are first in the conference in offensive rebounds at 14 per game, and are second in steals per game at 9.3. The Lady Rangers force the second most turnovers per game at 17.57.

OKLAHOMA BAPTIST: 

The Bison (20-8, 16-6) enter as the No.3 seed in the conference tournament. Oklahoma Baptist enters play on a five-game winning streak dating back to February 15th.

Last time out, the Bison picked up a win against East Central with a 61-55 victory over the Tigers. Oklahoma Baptist was led by Mackenzie Crusoe with 17 points.

On the season, Oklahoma Baptist is led by Mackenzie Crusoe with 17.1 points per game, one of two double-figure scorers joined by Jaedyn Getman at 10.1 points. Crusoe leads the team with 90 assists on the year.

Defensively, the Bison are led by Crusoe, with 57 steals on the season, which is third in the conference. Sierra Copeland is the leader in blocks with 31, which is fourth in the conference, and Jill Leslie has 25 for seventh in the conference.

As a team, the Bison are first in assists per game at 13.4 per game, and first in three pointers per game at 9.5 On defense Oklahoma Baptist sits first in blocked shots per game.

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