By Emma Sporleder
Student Reporter
The Lady Ranger’s 2018-2019 basketball season came to a heartbreaking end Thursday night in Bartlesville at the Great American Conference Championship Tournament when Northwestern Oklahoma State University’s Lady Rangers fell to conference rival Southwestern Oklahoma State University’s Lady Bulldogs 78-73.
NWOSU entered the tournament at the No. 8 seed and faced the undefeated in conference play SWOSU, who were the No. 1 seed.
Northwestern kept a tight game from the opening tip off as the two teams traded baskets throughout the first quarter.
Southwestern had an early advantage, but Jade Jones and Bailey Brown put in shots around the rim for the first tie of the game.
Northwestern went into the second quarter with a 30-25 lead over the Lady Bulldogs and the third quarter was a defensive battlefield as both teams turned the ball over multiple times.
Unfortunately, the Lady Rangers were not able to pull the lead in the end.
The Lady Rangers were eliminated from the tournament by the Lady Bulldogs by a five-point loss.
The final score was 78-73, Southwestern.
Kalea King led the Lady Rangers with 19 points, Jade Jones had 14 points, Jakeria Otey gave 12 points and Bailey Brown finished with 10 points.
The Lady Rangers finished their season with a 12-18 record and made history after qualifying for their first ever Great American Conference Tournament.