Faith Simpson/Women's Basketball | Northwestern Oklahoma State University
Faith Simpson/Women's Basketball | Northwestern Oklahoma State University
Northwestern will open the 2023 year at home against Southern Arkansas on Thursday evening with tip-off set for 5:30 PM. The Lady Rangers enter Thursday's game with a 6-2 record overall and a 2-2 Great American Conference record. The Muleriders enter with a 4-6 record overall and an 0-4 conference record.
This will be the 19th meeting between the two schools since 2012 with the series tied 9-9. In the last 10 games the Lady Rangers lead 6-4 after splitting last year's season series.
Northwestern has won two straight games with wins over Southeastern (54-50) and Bethel College (79-58). Faith Simpson led the Lady Rangers in the most recent win over Bethel with 29 points and seven rebounds while Carly Craig added a double-double with 13 points and 11 assists.
On the season Faith Simpson leads the team with 17.6 points per game while adding 7.5 rebounds per contest both being team highs. Carly Craig is second on the team at 11.9 points a game with a team high 21 three pointers made. Camille Thomas is the third Lady Ranger averaging double figures scoring 10.3 points a night with 6.8 rebounds. Craig has controlled the offense leading the team with 50 assists on the season.
Simpson has been the leader on the defensive side of the court leading the team with 28 steals and eight blocks this season. Craig is second with 21 steals while Nikya Orange and Camille Thomas are tied with four blocks each. The Lady Ranger defense ranks 12 in the nation allowing 54.9 points per game. Northwestern is sixth in steals per game with 13.9 which ranks second in the conference.
Southern Arkansas:
The Muleriders enter Thursday evening coming off a win against University of the Ozarks (110-47) after dropping four straight conference matchups including two overtime thrillers.
Southern Arkansas has been led by Diamond Morris scoring 12.7 points per game as one of four players averaging double figures which leads the number one ranked offense in the nation with 92.8 points per game. Mychala Linzy (11.3), Kylie Warren (11.1), and Jessica Jones (10.4) are all scoring double digits a game. Morris leads the Muleriders with 40 assists on the season.
The defensive side of the ball Morris leads the team with 20 steals and seven blocks with Linzy close behind with 18 steals. Warren has six blocks which is second on the team. Morris is the team's leading rebounder with 6.5 per game.
History:
This is the first meeting between the two programs with the Lady Rangers winning four of the last six. The two teams split the season series last season, each winning on their opponent's floor. Northwestern won in Magnolia 73-66 before Southern Arkansas won the Alva matchup 72-47. Northwestern head coach Tasha Diesselhorst has a 6-4 record all-time against the Muleriders.
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