FORT SMITH, ARKANSAS - Lady Rangers played in the quarterfinals of the Great American Conference tournament Friday afternoon. The six seeded Rangers pulled off the upset over three seeded Oklahoma Baptist. The win marks the first win for the Lady Rangers in the Great American Conference Tournament history.
Northwestern moves to 15-14 on the season as Oklahoma Baptist ends the season 20-9.
Carly Craig led the Rangers with a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds in the afternoon. Payton Jones led the Lady Rangers in scoring with 19 points and added nine rebounds. Overall the Lady Rangers had four players scoring double figures with Jaida Shipp finishing with 17 and Kira Bass adding 10 points. Camille Thomas led the team with four assists.
Kira Bass opened the scoring for the Lady Rangers with two points in the paint off a pass from Tegan Jones for the early lead. Oklahoma Baptist took their first lead on a three pointer from Mackenzie Crusoe as the Bison led 5-4. Shipp started her night off with an offensive rebound put back as the Lady Rangers regained the lead, as Payton Jones followed with a three pointer for the 9-5 lead the Northwestern run continued. The Lady Rangers took advantage off the glass with an offensive rebound by Kira Bass setting up Carly Craig for the three and a 16-10 lead. Craig hit back to back three pointers pushing the Lady Rangers in front 19-12 and with her second three pointer of the night sent her for program history as she became the all time leader in Northwestern history in making three pointers with her 248th. Bison hit a shot in the closing seconds as the Lady Rangers led 19-14 after the opening 10 minutes.
In quarter number two the Lady Rangers struck first on two points from Bass for two of her eight first half points. Lady Rangers in the second quarter held the Bison scoreless for three minutes forcing two of the 15 first half turnovers as the Lady Rangers led 25-18 after a made layup from Bass. Northwestern's defense continued to control the game as after a shot by Getman with 4:20 left was the Bison's final points of the half. The Lady Rangers led 28-20 at the halftime break, with three players leading the team with eight points.
The third quarter the two teams traded baskets in the opening minute as Kira Bass assisted by Camille Thomas had the Lady Rangers still leading by eight. Both teams went into a scoring drought before Oklahoma Baptist ended the drought by scoring three straight to get back within five but Jaida Shipp made a layup while taking the contact and completing the three point play at the line for the 33-25 lead. Northwestern was able to extend the lead to double digits for the first time at 35-25 after Shipp capitalized at the line with five minutes left in the quarter. Oklahoma Baptist closed the gap though heading into the fourth and final quarter as the Lady Rangers led 39-34 heading into the final quarter.
Payton Jones opened the quarter with a three point play taking the contact and making the shot before completing the three point play at the line. After Crusoe hit a three pointer Lilly Mahy answered back immediately to keep the Lady Ranger lead at eight. Both teams were held scoreless over the next three minutes before the Bison closed the gap before taking the lead with a 9-0 run on a made three pointer by Crusoe for the 46-45 lead. The Lady Rangers trailed by three at 48-45 before Carly Craig out of the timeout drilled a three pointer to tie the score at 48-48 to send the game into overtime for free basketball.
Payton Jones opened the scoring in overtime for an opening seconds three pointer in overtime for the 51-48 lead. Oklahoma Baptist was able to steal the lead back going in front 54-53 before the Rangers scored four straight from Payton Jones and Jaida Shipp for the 57-54 lead. Jill Leslie sent the game into a second overtime after hitting three straight foul shots.
With the game tied at 59-59 after two points from Camille Thomas, Carly Craig hit another three pointer to take a 62-59 lead. After the Bison created a turnover and took a 63-62 lead, Shipp answered on the following possession for a 64-63 Lady Ranger lead. Northwestern closed the game out after that with two points from Camille Thomas to extend the lead to four before a final buzzer with the Lady Rangers closing the win 69-65.
Northwestern will now play in the semifinal game against two-seeded Harding Bisons, with tip-off scheduled for 2:15 following the Southern Nazarene and Southeastern game.
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