By TRAVIS HARMON-SMITH
Staff Reporter
Cancer is a harmful condition that has taken the lives of millions globally.
Each year in college basketball, coaching personnel from around the country demonstrate the importance of saving individual lives from perhaps the worse medical condition that can happen in the human body, cancer.
Coaches versus Cancer is a nationwide event in which various basketball coaches in the (NBA) National Basketball Association, and (NCAA) National Collegiate Athletic Association unify together to wear sneakers with their desirable suits of choice to raise awareness on the fight against cancer.
Ideally, the event is scheduled on a yearly basis during the week of January 19th until January 25th. As a part of Coaches versus Cancer, numerous nationally televised sporting events accompanied by local broadcasts will assist the American Cancer Society to help save the lives of cancer patients, as well as research how to fight against cancer and its harmful effects.
During last week’s excitement at historical Percefull Field house, the Ranger’s basketball coaches Andrew Brown, and Eric Bozeman showed their support for Coaches versus Cancer during the anticipated rivalry of GAC conference opponent and in-state foe Southwestern Oklahoma State.
Historical Percefull Fieldhouse looked as if it had reached capacity as students, faculty, and staff gathered together for a magnificent evening of college basketball to witness both the Men’s and Women’s Ranger basketball teams collect victories last Thursday evening.
Starting off the Coaches versus Cancer event for Northwestern would be head coach Eric Bozeman and the Ranger basketball with an annihilating 30 point win over the Lady Bulldogs of Southwestern 61-31.
Northwestern (6-10, 5-5 GAC) women’s basketball hasn’t defeated the Lady Bulldogs in a five year span, since 2010.
Tenaciously, the guard play in the backcourt of the Ranger’s fueled Northwestern throughout the evening after struggling early on during the first three in a half minutes of play. During the first half, neither team produced offensively early in the game, as Northwestern played effective defense down the stretch. Northwestern eventually went on an early 6-0 run. Before Southwestern would respond with a few baskets in transition to tie the score immediately 11-11 at the 12:55 mark.
It didn’t take the Ranger’s long to regain rhythm, as they capitalized on the Lady Bulldog mistakes extending the lead 18-11 on a 7-0 run.
Perhaps offensive rebounding was a major component for Northwestern during the first 20 minutes, as the Ranger’s crashed the boards effectively which gave Bozeman and his crew a favorable 24-21 halftime lead.
Moments after intermission, the Ranger’s dominance continued defensively as Northwestern came up with key deflections to put eight quick points on the board.
With the tenacity that Northwestern displayed on defense, Southwestern fell into a deep hole as the Ranger’s would take a 15-4 run in 12 minutes extending the lead to 18. The effectiveness of Northwestern’s defense played a huge decision during the win, as Northwestern forced the Lady Bulldogs to 15 first half turnovers, alongside 12 turnovers during the second half.
Three Ranger’s had double digit scoring on the evening, as Relina Johnson led all scorers with 14 points, followed by Jonae Isaac and Kalea King adding 12, and 10 points respectively. In addition to the double-digit scoring, each of the three ladies contributed five rebounds.
Coach Bozeman and the Ranger’s return to Historical Percefull Fieldhouse this Thursday evening in a doubleheader against the Savage Storm of Southeastern Oklahoma State. The ladies will tip-off at 5:30 p.m.