FORT SMITH, Ark. – The Northwestern Oklahoma State women's basketball team defeated East Central, 66-65, on a last-second free throw from Summya Adigun to send the Lady Rangers to the Great American Conference Tournament semifinals. The win gives the Lady Rangers their second win ever at the GAC Tournament, and moves them to 20-9 on the season.

Northwestern found itself in an early deficit, as the Tigers opened the game on an 8-2 run, but the Lady Rangers quickly rallied back with a 9-2 run of their own led by Kira Bass, Kennedy Hight, and Catyn Graham all finding ways to score inside the paint. The final 45 seconds of the opening quarter consisted of nothing but free throws, as Jaida Shipp tied the game at 12-12 by knocking down a free throw.

Both offenses ramped up in the second quarter, with Northwestern surging ahead on five straight points from Graham to put the Lady Rangers ahead early in the period. The Northwestern defense continued to lock up the Tigers, as they held East Central to six points in five minutes while the Lady Rangers went on a 10-2 run to push their lead to seven.

Bass continued to attack inside the paint, and was rewarded with multiple trips to the stripe, as she converted an and-one to put the Lady Rangers up by eight, and made another pair of free throws to extend the lead to 34-24. East Central responded just before halftime to cut Northwestern's lead to 34-26 going into the locker room.

Bass and Shipp continued to hammer away inside the paint to start the second half, but East Central stormed back with an 11-0 run to take a 42-39 lead with 2:45 remaining in the third quarter. Adigun answered back with two straight buckets to retake the lead, but the Tigers quickly yanked the lead back to go up 46-45 heading into the fourth quarter.

Northwestern and East Central traded baskets to open up the final frame, as the Tiger lead slowly dwindled as Bass and Shipp scored inside and Adigun buried a triple to cut the lead down to one. East Central got their lead back up to three, but Hight nailed back-to-back threes to seesaw Northwestern in front, 58-55, with 3:53 to go in the game. The Tigers retook the lead on a 5-0 stretch, and Bass converted another and-one to once again put the Lady Rangers on top with two minutes left.

Both teams traded scores in the final minute, as Bass and Adigun each split a pair of free throws to tie the game, 65-65, with 12 seconds left and East Central having possession. Northwestern needed a stop, and the Lady Rangers poked the ball free into the arms of Adigun, who drew a foul with one second left to go to the free throw line for a shot to win the game. In a game 40-minute game, it came down to the final second, as Adigun nailed the free throw, and the Lady Rangers escaped with a 66-65 victory to stay alive in the GAC Tournament.

Bass led the Lady Rangers in scoring, rebounds, and steals with 23 points, seven boards, and three steals, while Adigun led in assists with six. Three other Lady Rangers scored in double figures, with Shipp having 13 points, Hight dropping 11, and Adigun finishing with 10. Northwestern outscored East Central inside the paint, 30-18, and finished with 14 second chance points off 18 offensive rebounds.

The Lady Rangers will be back in action on March 7 at 8 p.m. for the GAC Tournament semifinals at Northside Arena, as they will take on the winner of Arkansas Tech and Ouachita Baptist.

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