FORT SMITH, Ark. – The Northwestern Oklahoma State women's basketball team defeated Arkansas Tech, 61-58, in the Great American Conference semifinals to move on the GAC Championship for the first time in program history.

The Lady Rangers opened the game on a 5-2 stretch, with Catyn Graham knocking down a three to start the game and Madison Denison scoring on a putback layup. Arkansas Tech responded with a 16-2 run with Kennedy Hight ending the scoring drought with another three to put the Lady Rangers down 20-10 at the end of the first quarter.

Arkansas Tech continued to extend its lead to 11 with 6:15 to go in the second quarter, but the Lady Rangers went on a 9-2 run fueled by Hight, Kira Bass to cut the Golden Sun lead down to four. The Lady Rangers continued to hang around with Arkansas Tech, and found themselves down 32-27 at halftime.

Summya Adigun buried a triple to start the second half, and the Lady Rangers continued to grapple for the lead until Adigun hit another trey that started a 7-0 run that allowed Northwestern to retake the lead, 41-39, midway through the third quarter. Northwestern started to pull away on a 9-0 run that started off a three from Graham and continued off free throws from Bass. The Golden Suns ended the quarter on a 6-0 spurt to bring the score to 50-47, favoring Northwestern heading into the fourth quarter.

The Lady Rangers and Golden Suns traded baskets to start the period, with Jaida Shipp dominating inside the paint to keep the Northwestern lead at four. Adigun nailed another three to keep Arkansas Tech at bay, and Bass hammered away inside to put the Lady Rangers up by seven, 61-54. Northwestern's defense salted the game away, as they only gave up four points in the final three minutes to secure the win to play for a GAC title, 61-58.

Bass led the Lady Rangers in scoring, rebounds, and blocks with 24 points, 13 boards, and a career-high seven blocks. Hight led in assists with five, and Graham led in steals with four. Graham was the only other double digit scorer for the Lady Rangers, as she finished with 10 points. Northwestern won the battle in the paint, 30-18, and won the rebound battle in the second half, 21-10, to help secure the victory.

The Lady Rangers will be back in Fort Smith tomorrow, as they take on Southeastern Oklahoma State for the GAC title at 3:30 p.m. inside Northside Arena.

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