WEATHERFORD, Okla. – The Northwestern Oklahoma State women's basketball team fell to Southwestern, 68-60, on Thursday night.
The Lady Rangers got off to a cold start, as Southwestern started the game on a 10-2 run, but the Lady Rangers responded with a 7-0 spark led by
Kira Bass and
Conley Cayot knocking down a three-pointer to cut the deficit to one midway through the first quarter. The Lady Rangers and Lady Bulldogs traded baskets throughout the rest of the quarter, as
Catyn Graham made two threes while Cayot hit another to keep Northwestern within five points going into the second quarter.
Northwestern quickly cut the Southwestern lead down to three to open the second quarter, but the Lady Bulldogs went on a 11-0 run to go up by 14 with 5:35 remaining in the first half. The Lady Rangers tried to rally to end the half, but Southwestern continued to expand their lead to 42-27 at halftime.
The third quarter started with a bang, as Cayot led the charge with a 7-2 stretch to put Northwestern within 10, and Graham connected on another three to bring the Lady Rangers deficit down to nine. Northwestern and Southwestern traded buckets to close the quarter, with Southwestern leading 56-45.
Southwestern's lead grew back to 15 early in the fourth quarter, but Bass and Graham combined for a 7-0 spark to bring the lead down to eight with five minutes remaining in the game. The Lady Rangers kept chipping away at the lead with layups, by Conley and Bass to bring Northwestern within six, but they could not complete the comeback, and fell 68-60.
Cayot led the Lady Rangers in points with a career-high 19, while Bass led in rebounds with eight and three different players had three assists. On the defensive side,
Jaida Shipp led in steals with four, while
Ella Porter and Cayot each had three.
The Lady Rangers will be back in action on February 14, when they travel to Ada to take on East Central University at 1 p.m.
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