Northwestern Oklahoma State Women’s Basketball was defeated 101-42 by the University of Central Oklahoma in the first game of the MIAA/GAC challenge on Nov. 11.
Although the Rangers were defeated many of the girls still played a strong game. Kori Barrios had a successful debut in a Ranger uniform, providing a double-double that included 10 rebounds to go along with 15 points. Bailey Forell went 3-4 from three-point range, finishing with nine points. Coach, Tasha Diesselhorst got underway in Edmond against MIAA power Central Oklahoma. Kalea King hit the first basket of the season with 7:35 left in the first quarter, but it wouldn’t take long for the Bronchos to jump out ahead of the Rangers.
The home team went on a huge 24-point run to take the lead at 28-4 early in the second quarter and never looked back.
The Rangers did show some resilience however, as three consecutive three’s from the duo of Barrios and Forell threatened for a small Ranger comeback. The Bronchos quickly answered, and slowed down the outside threat from the Rangers, allowing them to take a 50-18 lead into the half.
The onslaught of offense would prove to be too much for the Rangers in the second half as Central Oklahoma finished off the contest with a 101-42 victory.
The Bronchos shot the ball from behind the arc at a ridiculous rate. Central Oklahoma made 19 threes, shooting exactly 50% from long range. The Rangers shot just 21% from the field in the contest, while the Bronchos posted a ridiculous 47.9% number.
Sadly, Northwestern lost another game on Sunday to Northeastern State University in a 82-67 final score.
Following a tough season opener against Central Oklahoma on Friday evening, the Rangers returned to action at Hamilton Fieldhouse on the campus of UCO to take on MIAA foe Northeastern State. Guard Jonae Isaac gave the Rangers their first lead of the season with a deep three-point shot just 12 seconds into the ball game. The Riverhawks answered with three buckets from behind the arc, going on a 15-4 run midway through the first quarter.
Coach Diesselhorst settled down the troops following a timeout and used some potent perimeter shooting of their own in the form of three point shots from freshman Taylor Cell and senior Ashley Pride. A lay-up from Isaac brought the Rangers within one with 42 seconds left in the opening quarter, but a Riverhawk lay-up brought the score to 26-23 at the end of the quarter.
After the break in action, the Rangers defense allowed a few lay-ups to the Riverhawks, but another three for the Rangers slowed the bleeding, and a lay-up from Isaac brought the Rangers within three. Both teams tightened up on the defensive side of the ball as neither team was able to put any more points on the board for nearly four minutes.
A deep three from the Riverhawks gave them a 41-34 lead going into the half. Coming out of the break the Riverhawks got a quick lay-up to extend their lead to 43-34, followed by a stretch where both teams once again went cold until Northeastern got another lay-up to fall all the way at the 6:38 mark of the quarter.
Northeastern continued their explosion of offense and extended their lead to the largest of the ball game at 58-43. The Rangers closed out the third quarter with six unanswered points to bring the score at the end of three to 58-47.
Isaac hit another crucial shot to bring the Rangers within ten points, and King’s free throw added to the mix brought the Rangers back within single digits of the Riverhawks. An 8-0 run during the midway point in the half gave the Riverhawks the control they needed to finish off the Rangers 82-67.
Northwestern will be looking to take the first win of the season on Thursday against Harding University.