Alva Review-Courier -

ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – The Lady Rangers dropped the opener of a three game road trip Thursday evening. Henderson State used a strong opening quarter taking a 20-8 lead before carrying that to their 72-64 victory over Northwestern.

Northwestern falls to 7-4 on the season with a 3-4 GAC record overall while Henderson State improves to 4-3 in conference.

The Lady Rangers finished with three players in double figures in Faith Simpson with 19, Carly Craig 15, and Camille Thomas with 10 points. Simpson led the team with eight rebounds, and Craig with four assists.

First Quarter

Talayah Thomas gave the Lady Rangers their first lead of the game with a made jumpshot with 7:37 to go in the opening quarter. Craig followed with a shot to extend the lead to four at the time. Henderson State went on an 8-0 run to take the lead at 10-6. Simpson answered to make the score 10-8 with 4:07 left in the quarter. However, Henderson State closed the quarter on a 10-0 run to take a 20-8 lead over Northwestern at the end of the first quarter.

Second Quarter

Simpson tried to get things going for the Lady Rangers grabbing the first basket of the quarter however Henderson State answered back with a three pointer to go up 13 points. The Lady Rangers went three minutes without their next basket before Carly Craig silenced a 6-0 run by Henderson State and Northwestern trailed 26-13 with 6:21 left in the half. The sixth Reddie three pointer of the half pushed their lead to 14 at 29-15. Craig finished a layup as the Lady Rangers trailed 34-19 at halftime.

Third Quarter

Henderson State started the scoring before a Nikya Orange jump shot opened the scoring for the Lady Rangers in the second half. The Reddies answered back, keeping the distance 16 points following a Camille Thomas layup at 42-26 with 6:50 left in the quarter. Craig knocked down a three as the Rangers trailed by 13. The Lady Rangers closed the gap at the end of the quarter as a Paige Scott three had the Rangers down 10 at 46-36. Camille Thomas finished a layup followed by two foul shots by Faith Simpson had Northwestern within six which was the closest since the first quarter.

Fourth Quarter

Northwestern was the first to score in the fourth quarter cutting the deficit down to four points early going. Abbie Jiles though silenced the run with a three pointer pushing the lead back to seven with 8:39 left to play. Henderson State finished a layup and forced two turnovers from the Lady Rangers before getting their lead back to 11 at 53-42. The two Thomas' helped the Lady Rangers get back within seven at 53-46 but Henderson State kept answering before extending the lead to twelve. Henderson State closed the game out late at the foul line as Northwestern got back within six at 66-60 following a three point play by Paige Scott but the Reddies closed out the eight-point win 72-64.