By OAKLEE FIELDER
The Lady Rangers defeated Henderson State and lost to Ouachita Baptist last week in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, keeping the Lady Rangers in third in the standings.
The first game for the Ladies, against Henderson, was a great win for Northwestern, as they defeated the Reddies 73-59. This win was a good reset for the Lady Rangers after losing two games before Henderson.
The game started close as they were tied three minutes into the game. Then, the Lady Rangers went on a run to score eight straight with no response to gain a large lead over the Reddies early. Henderson responded, but were only able to cut the lead to five. Kira Bass scored two free throws to make it seven, Henderson shot one, and then Bass hit a jumper to end the first quarter 20-12.
The Reddies started the second quarter with a three-pointer. Conley Cayot shot two free throws, and then Henderson made three straight three-pointers to take the lead by two. A layup from Bass tied it at 26 with five minutes left in the quarter. The two teams stayed close, not getting more than two points away from each other for six minutes. A free throw from Jada Shipp allowed the Lady Rangers to have a three-point lead, but two free throws for the Reddies cut it down to just one.
The first half of the third quarter was closely contested. Neither team got more than one possession away from the other until two free throws from Camille Pritchard gave Northwestern a four-point lead. Henderson made a three-pointer, which was responded to by one from Kennedy Hight. Then, the Lady Rangers went on a crazy run to earn a 15-point lead over Henderson State by the end of the third quarter.
The fourth quarter was tight, with neither team budging, and Northwestern kept their large lead over the Reddies. The penultimate quarter in the game ended up being the most important, as the large run from the Lady Rangers seemed to be what won them the game.
Bass had 22 points against the Reddies. Bass did not miss a free throw and had an incredible 15 rebounds, the most from Northwestern. Kennedy Hight had the most steals with three.
The second game for NWOSU did not go as well. They were outscored by Ouachita Baptist in every quarter but the final quarter, in which the Lady Rangers outscored the Tigers by one.
The first quarter started close, with the game being tied at eight just four minutes in. The Tigers did gain the lead and extended it to four, but by the end of the quarter, the Lady Rangers had cut it down to just two.
Ouachita started the second quarter off right, extending their lead to seven. NWOSU responded, as they were able to shrink that lead to two.
Then, the two teams battled throughout the rest of the quarter, not getting much of an advantage over the other. With 38 seconds left, Bass shot two free throws to make it a one-point game. Then, the Tigers shot a three-pointer to increase their lead to four to head into halftime.
Just like the last game, the third quarter was game-making. Ouachita outscored the Lady Rangers by ten. The Tigers immediately went on a run to earn a large lead over Northwestern. By the halfway point in the quarter, they were up by 12. They ended the quarter up by 14, wrecking the game for the Lady Rangers. The Lady Rangers were not able to come back from the third quarter and lost the game 62-75.
Bass scored an incredible career-high 39 points against the Tigers. She scored 14 field goals and 11 out of 12 free throws. Bass also had the most rebounds for Northwestern with nine. Summya Adigun had the most steals with four.
Bass was announced as the Great American Conference Offensive Player of the Week for her heroics against the Tigers.