by Ashley Watts, Sports Editor
Northwestern Oklahoma State women’s basketball team competed against Southern Arkansas in Percefull Fieldhouse Saturday afternoon. After a win Thursday night the Lady Rangers tried to keep the streak going, but they fell to Southern Arkansas 68-63.
Bailey Brown had a big game were she scored a total of 28 points and had 11 rebounds for her sixth double-double for the season. The 28 points ties her career high in points for a single game. Kalea King joined her in double figures with 16 points on the afternoon for her seventh game scoring in double figures. Kyleigh Leverich led the team in assets with 10 in the game.
The Lady Rangers opened up the game with three quick points, but the Muleriders answered with eight of their own. A free throw from King sent the Lady Rangers into the second quieter leading with a score of 20-14.
The Black-and-Red had three turnovers in two minutes in the second quarter. This allowed the Muleriders to lead going into halftime.
Brown and King tried to carry the Red-and-Black’s comeback scoring all 15 of the Lady Rangers points in third quarter including 10 of those from Brown. They would help win that third quarter and take a one point lead 48-47 into the final quarter.
Muleriders opened the fourth on a 9-2 run and would never trail again. The score was tied 56-56 but Southern Arkansas answered with a 5-0 run creating enough separation to hold on to a five-point victory for the difference in the game 68-63 over the Lady Rangers Saturday afternoon.
Along with forcing 22 turnovers, Southern Arkansas used 12 three-pointers and 20 offensive rebounds that would create enough separation to hold off the Lady Rangers.
The loss drops the Lady Rangers to 10-10 on the season and 6-8 in Great American Conference play, and now trail the final playoff spot by two games to Arkansas-Monticello and Southern Arkansas who improves to 8-6 in conference play. The Lady Rangers will finish off the three game homestand with a matchup against Southern Nazarene Thursday evening at 7:30.