DURANT, Okla. – The Northwestern Oklahoma State women's basketball team dropped their regular season opener to Northeastern State University by a final score of 82-75.

Despite leading for just shy of 75 percent of the contest, the Lady Rangers couldn't answer the 51 bench points that the Riverhawks accumulated during the game in tournament action at the GAC/MIAA Challenge in Durant, Oklahoma. Four Lady Rangers totaled double digit points including junior Jade Jones, who posted team highs in points with 17, as well as rebounds with nine. Jones also manufactured the offense with seven assists, guiding the Lady Rangers to a 48 percent shooting percentage from the field on 27-of-56 shooting.

Trailing 58-52 moving into the final quarter of action, the Riverhawks tied the contest up for the first time since late in the second quarter at 61-61 with just over seven minutes remaining in the game. The Lady Rangers had taken a 34-28 lead into the halftime break in a relatively low scoring first half of action for both squads.

A 7-3 run then put Northeastern in the driver's seat with less than five minutes remaining before back-to-back buckets from Jones and senior Amani Davis brought the Lady Rangers back to with-in one.

Davis totaled six points and two rebounds throughout the game.

Following a made free throw from Northeastern, the Lady Rangers committed a costly turnover with just under three minutes in the game leading to a lay-up that extended the Riverhawk lead to four. Timely buckets and made free throws allowed Northeastern to capitalize on that late advantage and seal their first victory of the season.

Freshman Kinsey Neiderer posted 14 points in her Northwestern debut, while senior Kori Barrios and freshman Bailey Brown each recorded 12 points. Barrios led the squad with a 2-for-5 performance from behind the arc, as the Lady Rangers hit 4 of 13 three pointers.

Northwestern had a quick turn-around as played their second and final game in the GAC/MIAA Challenge Saturday evening against Central Oklahoma.