Alva Review-Courier -

HONOLULU, Hawaii – A big first-quarter advantage the Northwestern Oklahoma State University women’s basketball team created against Chaminade on Friday was all the Lady Rangers needed as they knocked off the home team 82-77 in Honolulu, Hawaii.

The victory snapped a three-game skid by the Northwestern women. The Lady Rangers moved to 2-4 on the season and look forward to kicking off conference play Thursday evening at home against Southern Nazarene. Start time against the Crimson Storm is set for 5:30 p.m. inside Percefull Fieldhouse.

Kalea King scored 22 points for the second time in as many games to lead the Lady Rangers. Bailey Brown followed up a career game on Thursday when 19 points and 13 rebounds for her first double-double of the season. Jade Jones added 16 points, three assists and two steals.

Shooting has been a struggle early this season, but the shots are beginning to fall for Northwestern. The Lady Rangers sank 10 three-pointers in the contest, and converted at the line with 26 made free-throws.

With the rebounding performance by Brown, as well as 11 from Jakeria Otey, the Lady Rangers dominated the Silverswords on the boards, outrebounding the home team 45-36.

Every Lady Ranger that saw the floor recorded points in the victory, including McKenzie Billy with eight points, Bailey Forell with six points, Otey added five points, Presley Payahsape tacked on three points, Kenzie Mize and Kyleigh Leverich finished with two and one, respectively.

After the two teams traded baskets early in the game, the home team took an early four-point advantage midway through the first quarter. The Lady Rangers, however, quickly gained the lead when Brown followed a Payahsape free-throw with a basketball from behind the arc to make it 9-8.

At the 4:54 mark of the first, Chaminade regained a 14-12 lead from the Lady Rangers. Less than a minute later, Forell knocked down a three-pointer to spur a 14-5 run to close the first quarter. McKenzie Mize had a layup during the spurt and Jones, Billy and King each added threes.

In the second quarter, the Silverswords outscored the Lady Rangers to cut the difference to 39-31 at halftime. Whenever it looked like the momentum was starting to completely swing in favor of the host, Northwestern would get a big basket.

The Silverswords chipped away at the Lady Rangers lead as the second half progressed, eventually taking a lead 60-59 lead after a pair of free-throws at the 7:58 mark. But Jones, a senior, answered with a three to put the Lady Rangers on top for good.

After the Silverswords cut the game to one with 1:47 remaining, the three-ball lifted Northwestern yet again, this time off the fingertips of Forell to lock in the victory.