NW Mississippi News

Lady Rangers' Sophomore Night Soured by Southwest Mississippi

On a night honoring Northwest sophomores Claire Leak and Sequoia White, Southwest Mississippi came into Howard Coliseum and spoiled the festivities on Tuesday evening, defeating the Lady Rangers by a 56-28 final.

Northwest was held under 10 points in all four quarters, but kept the game within reach throughout the first half. The 28 point output was the lowest point total recorded in a game this season for the Lady Rangers. 

With the loss, the Lady Rangers' record fell to 6-16 overall and 1-12 in conference play, while the Lady Bears moved to 16-10 on the season and 7-7 in the MACCC.

Offense was not a strong suit for either team in the first quarter, as both teams shot 21 percent or less for the first 10 minutes of play. Savannah Hailey provided the game's first bucket nearly three and a half minutes into the contest, but White countered with a layup on the next possession to tie the game.

Northwest built a 7-3 lead off a Leak three-pointer and a Kae'la Mitchell layup with 5:31 left, but both teams soon went ice cold for the remainder of the quarter. Over five minutes would pass before either team scored again, which Southwest Mississippi did on back-to-back baskets with 20 seconds left, tying the score at 7-7 to end the quarter.

Once again, shooting woes plagued the Lady Bears and Northwest for the first three and a half minutes of the second quarter. Michaela Payton helped break the ice with a free throw at the 6:37 mark and Southwest Mississippi would go on to build a six-point lead with less than five minutes remaining in the half.

Zaria Glover provided the Lady Rangers' first basket of the quarter on the next possession, nailing a three-pointer that would trim the deficit down to three. However, Southwest Mississippi would eventually widen the gap to 10 as the second period began to wane, and the Lady Bears remained ahead by six at the break.

Though Mitchell would cut the deficit to four to open the second half, Southwest Mississippi began to pull away over the course of the third quarter, jumping back ahead by double figures on Payton's three-pointer with 4:54 to go. The Lady Bears' lead swelled to as many as 18 points late in the third period.

Gradually, the Lady Rangers' deficit grew over the final 10 minutes of regulation, with Southwest Mississippi stretching its lead to 21 points with three minutes left in regulation. When it was all said and done, Northwest fell behind by its largest and final margin of 28 points on a late Justice Cox layup.

Despite the first half shooting woes, Southwest Mississippi ended the evening shooting 36 percent from the floor, compared to just 21 percent from Northwest. The Lady Rangers did collect 49 rebounds, but also committed a season-worst 29 turnovers.

All but three players reached double figures in the loss, but no Northwest player scored more than four points on the evening. Mitchell finished with four points and Leak provided three points to go with four rebounds, while fellow sophomore White captured six rebounds.

Manaca Keyes led the Lady Rangers with seven rebounds, while Marian Jenkins totaled four rebounds and a team-leading three steals.

As for Southwest Mississippi, Mookie Lampley racked up 17 points with four rebounds, three assists and three steals, followed by an 11-point effort from Nia Hardison. Payton and Veronica Williams notched seven rebounds apiece, leading the Lady Bears in that category.

Northwest will conclude the 2022-23 season on Thursday, February 23 at Copiah-Lincoln. The Lady Wolves are 16-8 overall and 6-7 in the MACCC, but are in the midst of a three-game losing skid that includes losses to Itawamba, Meridian and Mississippi Gulf Coast.

Original source can be found here.