BETHANY, Okla. – The Northwestern Oklahoma State women's basketball team fell to Southern Nazarene, 50-48, on Saturday afternoon.

The game started out as a defensive battle, as both teams continued to get stops until the Crimson Storm went on a 6-2 stretch to end the first quarter with an 11-7 lead. The Lady Rangers opened up the second quarter with Summya Adigun burying a three to cut the deficit down to one, and Kennedy Hight tied the game with another trey to tie the game at 13-13 midway through the quarter. The Crimson Storm responded with a 5-0 spurt before Camille Pritchard ended the scoring drought with a layup to bring the Southern Nazarene lead down to 18-15 at halftime.

Northwestern's offense started to come to life in the second half, as Adigun and Kira Bass scored on back-to-back possessions to draw within one before the Crimson Storm answered back to extend their lead to five. The Lady Rangers countered back with an 8-2 run fueled by Hight to give Northwestern an 27-26 lead midway through the third period, and the offense started to pick up as both sides traded baskets, with Southern Nazarene closing the quarter with two straight buckets to lead 32-31.

The Lady Rangers seesawed back in front at the start of the fourth quarter, as Bass led the charge on a 6-0 run to put Northwestern ahead by five with 7:30 remaining in the game. The Crimson Storm raced back to take the lead, 42-40, but the Lady Rangers stormed back with a triple from Hight and free throws from Bass to take a 45-42 lead with under three minutes to go. Southern Nazarene went on a 7-0 run to retake the lead, 49-45 with seven seconds left. Hight drained another three to keep the Lady Rangers alive, but Southern Nazarene held on to win, 50-48.

Hight and Bass led the Lady Rangers in scoring with 17 points, while Adigun led in rebounds and assists with 10 boards and seven assists.

The Lady Rangers will be back in action next week at the Great American Conference tournament in at Northside Arena in Fort Smith, Arkansas, with the opponent and time to be announced.

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