NW Oklahoma News

Northwestern loset a tough game against the Lady Tigers. The game started out defensive as they ended the first quarter with 14 points but bounced back at the half leading the opposing team by two with a score of 34-32. The Lady Rangers had their highest scoring quarter after halftime with a total of 21 points at the end of the third quarter. The most success was found outside the paint this evening as they ended the game shooting 45% from the three. NWOSU falls short at the end of the game with a score of 80-73.

This makes the Lady Rangers now 7-6 this season, tying them in the conference alongside Southern Arkansas and Ouachita Baptist with a 3-6 record. They have only won one game this season on the road, making them 1-4. Faith Simpson showed out this evening earning a 20-piece, with most shots made around the three-point line. Simpson shot 66% from the three scoring 4-6 baskets outside. She also led the team in steals and blocks with a total of 5 each. Talayah Thomas was the team's second leading scorer with a total of 13 points and leading rebounder, rebounding 8 times today. Carly Craig led the team in assists with a total of 6 assists.

First Quarter:

After a late start to the game, the Lady Rangers get their first bucket of the game at the 6:47 mark, with a contested three made by Chrissen Harland. Then there was trip made to the foul line by Nikya Orange who scored both free throws. Carly Craig then scores the second three of the night creating a 4-0 run for the ladies. Orange draws another foul to get a second opportunity to the line and sinks both shots yet again. Talayah Thomas earned the Lady Rangers back-to-back free throw opportunities creating a two-point difference in the game 14-12 at the 1:34 mark. Nikya Orange visits the free throw line for a third time tying the game up 14-14. She is 6-6 from the free throw line in the first eight and a half minutes of the game. The quarter ends with a score of 17-14 in favor of the Tigers.

Second Quarter

T. Thomas scored the first two points of the quarter during an inbounds play. After a few runs, Faith Simpson was found to score an open three, and immediately scores a layup within the next possession assisted by T. Thomas. Simpson continued to shoot and score another three tying the game 24-24 at the 5:13 mark. Craig finds Simpson in the paint bringing the Lady Rangers their first lead of the game! Shortly after Camille Thomas earns her first points of the game with a jumper. T. Thomas passes the ball to Simpson and scores another layup and the Lady Rangers are now on a 10-0 scoring streak before the Lady Tigers score again in the quarter. This run brought Northwestern up eight points with a score of 32-24. With 1:40 left in the first half, C. Thomas steal the ball and scores again with an easy jump shot. The quarter ends with NWOSU in the lead 34-32!

Third Quarter

After the halftime break, T. Thomas opens for the Lady Rangers with a fastbreak steal into layup. Carlie Badley finds Craig open for a three and nails her third one of the night. In the next possession, Craig sees that Harland is set and assist her with another three-point shot made. Simpson pulls up in the paint again for another jump shot! Craig earns her seventh assist of the game finding Simpson yet again at the three, making that her third one of the night alongside Craig. Northwestern doesn't make a trip to the free-throw line until the 3:33 mark and T. Thomas was able to sink both shots. Orange is able to draw another foul under the basket bringing her to the line for the fourth time this evening. C. Thomas also draws a foul at the block and scores another two points for the Lady Rangers at the foul line. In the next possession, T. Thomas gets a quick pass off to Craig scoring another three! That is T. Thomas's fourth assist of the game and Craig's third three. The quarter ends with NWOSU trailing behind 56-55.

Fourth Quarter

There was a late start to scoring in the fourth quarter for the Lady Rangers. After some inside-outside pass action, C. Thomas found Harland wide open for a three. Quickly in the next play, Simpson passes the ball off to Badley scoring two more points down in the post. Harland manages to steal the ball from the Lady Tigers and draws a foul finding herself shooting free throws for the first time this game. Both free throws shot by her are good creating a two-point difference of 64-62 at the 5:22 mark in favor of the Lady Tigers. Simpson sinks her twentieth point of the night at the three with a great pass made by T. Thomas tying the game up 65-65. The Lady Rangers do not find themselves scoring again until the last 56 seconds of the game with a trip to the line by T. Thomas. There is a six-point difference when full timeout was called by Northwestern with a score of 72-66.T. Thomas quickly visits the free throw line again and makes both with 46 seconds left in the game. The Lady Rangers use their final timeout of the game at the 0:28 mark trying to get a basket off. Harland is able to draw a foul in less than 3 seconds of the time out and scores them both. Craig sinks her fourth three of the game with just 17 seconds left in the game. The game ended with a score of 80-73 Lady Tigers.

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