By MALCOM SMITH
Student Reporter
The Northwestern Lady Rangers upset No. 3-ranked Harding Lady Bisons Thursday, 61-56, and beat Arkansas Tech, 67-64, on Saturday.
Following the weekend of games, NWOSU (15-5) now sits in third place behind Southern Nazarene (19-1) and Harding (17-3).
Faith Simpson popped off the game Thursday with a layup assisted by Carly Craig to get the lead early.
The Lady Rangers defense held strong throughout the opening quarter with the Bison scoreless through the first minutes of the game.
Then the game tied 4-4. Craig came back and hit a 3-point jump shot to put Northwestern up 7-4 in the first half.
In the second half of the game, the Lady Rangers began to heat up as Jones hit her second 3-pointer of the game.
Thomas made a 3-point shot to give the Lady Rangers a two-possession lead with one minute and a half to play in the fourth quarter.
The Lady Rangers ended up taking this one, 61-56.
Simpson was leading scorer with 20 points, and also had the double with a team high of 12 rebounds.
She is one of the four double figure scorers on Thursday. Craig had 14 point, Jones with 12 and Talayah Thomas with 11.
Saturday
In Saturday’s game, Senior Night, the Lady Rangers won 67-64 against Arkansas Tech Golden Suns. The win, the 13th straight at home, puts the Lady Rangers to 23-5 on the season and a 15-5 conference record.
Simpson had the only double numbers with 15 points in total. However, six players had at least eight points.
Northwestern will play No. 1-ranked Southern Nazarene at 5:30 on Thursday in the final home game of the season. The travel to Southeastern Oklahoma State University on Saturday for the final regular season play.
The Lady Rangers have been assured a berth in the Great American Conference tournament that begins March 7 at the FireLake Arena in Shawnee.
