by Dacoda McDowell-Wahpekeche
The Lady Rangers basketball team traveled to Arkadelphia, Arkansas to play the Tigers of Ouachita Baptist.
Coming off two straight losses, the Lady Rangers looked to improve their 11-13 record.
Northwestern came out slow with the Tigers taking the lead 14-11.
The Lady Rangers would eventually take their first lead of the game in the second quarter, but Ouachita would come back and finish the half up 27-24.
The Northwestern Lady Rangers had a point-filled third quarter.
The Lady Rangers scored 25 points, more than they scored in the first half. This would be led by Presley Payahsape, Kyleigh Leverich, and Hillary Hurst. To end the quarter, Northwestern would finish the quarter up 49-43.
The fourth would be played like the third quarter was. The Lady Rangers held on to win 67-59.
The team’s field goal percentage was 44.7% which topped Ouachita’s 36.8%. The Lady Rangers were led by Hillary Hurst who finished with 17 points, closely trailed by Presley Payahsape who scored 15. 5’4” Point Guard Kyleigh Leverich led the team in rebounds with eight.
The Rangers followed the Lady Rangers game.
Northwestern had not found their stride until the Rangers gained momentum at the 10 minute mark in the first half.
After that, the Rangers kicked it into gear with threes draining from Parrish Hewitt, Cole Jones. And Jack Peck.
In the first half, Jaedon Whitfield and Parrish Hewitt led the Rangers in points.
Both of the Rangers came out and ended the half with 13 points each. Almost every Ranger who got at minute of playing time got some points besides two showing all around team involvement. The Tigers were held to 35 points with Northwestern up by 11.
Early into the second half, the Rangers would build their lead up to 13 points.
Ouachita Baptist was not out of it though, crawling back with defensive stops eventually got their Tigers within one.
Northwestern showed spirit and built their lead back up just to be brought within one again. With six minutes left the game was back and forth. In the final minute, Ouachita kept their lead and won 90-88.
Jaedon Whitfiled finished with 29 points and eight rebounds. Parrish Hewitt followed with 13 points, Cole Jones hit four threes to end the game with 12 points.