ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – The Northwestern Oklahoma State University women’s basketball team battled back from a slow start to within two possessions late in the fourth quarter, but Ouachita Baptist held off the pesky Lady Rangers Saturday afternoon, 79-70.
Ouachita started the game on a roll as they took 16-point lead after the first six minutes. However, the Lady Rangers outscored the Lady Tigers late in the quarter to keep the game in reach thanks to three-pointers from Jade Jones and Jakeria Otey.
Leading 23-13 after the first quarter, OBU stretched its lead to 13 with a Madison Brittain three-point basket in the first minute. The Lady Rangers settled in from that point and began to cut away at the lead yet again.
With 3:49 to go in the first half, Presley Payahsape knocked down a jumper and on the next possession found Otey behind the arc for a three to make it a two point game. Unfortunately, as was the case throughout the game, the Lady Tigers quickly answered to keep the Lady Rangers at bay.
Payahsape finished the game with a career high 20 points and five rebounds. Kalea King reached her season average with 16 points, and Kenzie Lamer and Bailey Brown had 12 points in the game. Brown finished two boards shy of a double-double with eight rebounds.
Later in the second, the Lady Rangers had another opportunity to tilt the scoreboard in their advantage when Lamer drained her third three of first the first half to yet again make it a two-point game. But back-to-back Ouachita baskets helped the home team take a 42-35 lead into the break.
After the Lady Tigers stretched its lead to 12 by the end of the third, the Lady Rangers did what they could to get something going in the final stanza.
Trailing by 11 with just over three minutes to play, Northwestern quickly scored six-straight to make it a five point ballgame with two minutes to go. Brown started the abbreviated run with a pair of free-throws, followed by a King steal and Payahsape fastbreak layup and capped off by another Payahsape basket after Otey took the ball away from the Lady Tiger offense.
But Lady Ranger turnovers late were too much to overcome as the clock wound down to zero.
Early in the game when the Lady Rangers found themselves in the large hole, a big factor was due to what seemed like a lid on the rim. Northwestern shot just 18.8-percent from the floor in the first half, but improved to shoot better than 45-percent in the final three quarters.
The Northwestern bench had a huge game as they outscored the home bench 38-12.
Northwestern (5-10, 2-6 GAC) will be tasked with facing longtime rival Southwestern Thursday when the Bulldogs visit Perceful Fieldhouse. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
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