ALVA, Okla. - The nationwide search for a new head women's basketball coach at Northwestern Oklahoma State University has ended. Athletic director Andy Carter has announced former Southern Arkansas head men's basketball coach Eric Bozeman will take over the women's basketball program.

“We are very fortunate to have coach Eric Bozeman commit to leading our women’s basketball program, Carter said. “His character, leadership, and vision set him apart in the search process”

“The search process took about a week longer than I had planned, but the importance in finding someone who had years of basketball experience and the character to develop young people was paramount," Carter added. "Coach Bozeman is not only a great fit for the vision of Ranger athletics, but his family will be a great addition to the Alva community”

Bozeman will jump right into the fold here at Northwestern looking to add signees to next season’s recruiting class.

“I'm extremely excited. It's like a re-birth to me,” Bozeman said. “It's something different. I'm really excited about the community and university and appreciative to be given the opportunity"

Bozeman comes to Alva from Southern Arkansas University where he was the head men's basketball coach from 2005-12. While there, Bozeman had an overall record of 73-116 and led the Muleriders to the Great American Conference Tournament last season, the school’s first postseason tournament berth in 10 years.

Experience in the GAC is important for the Lady Rangers as they make the transition into that conference beginning next season.

Bozeman's experience with the GAC schools is enhanced by the time he spent at Henderson State. He was the assistant coach of the Reddies from 1991-93 before taking over as head coach. He was the face of the Henderson State program from 1993-98 and led the squad to a 71-67 record during his tenure as head coach.

After leading the school to consecutive 20-win seasons, Bozeman took the job as assistant men's head coach at Ole Miss. He worked under head coach Rod Barnes from 1998-2005. Bozeman helped lead the Rebels to three 20-win seasons, three NCAA Tournament berths and a Sweet 16 appearance in 2000-01.

Bozeman replaces former head coach Stephanie Shaw, who led the Lady Rangers to a 13-15 clip and a Sooner Athletic Conference Tournament berth in the team's final season in the league.

He has no prior experience coaching women's basketball but believes he will be successful coaching females.

"I don't think there will be much of an adjustment. People are people. I'm going to coach just as hard with women,” Bozeman said. “I’ll be just as loving, just as disciplined and expect just as much. I don't think the women would want it any other way."

Carter also believes Bozeman will make a smooth transition into women’s basketball.

“There was some initial concern that Eric has not coached on the women’s side, but, once I met him and completed the necessary research, I have no hesitation at all," Carter said. "I feel his basketball experience, character, and desire to develop and educate young people make him a great fit for our women’s basketball program. Eric owns the unique qualities to be a great women’s basketball coach.”

ALVA, Okla. - Northwestern Oklahoma State junior guard Audrey Richmond was named an Honorable Mention All-American by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics on Wednesday afternoon.

Richmond adds this to a long list of accolades this season. She was named Second Team All-Sooner Athletic Conference, joined the 1000-Point Club as well as being named an NAIA-Daktronics Scholar Athlete.

The junior needed a minimum of a 3.5 grade point average and junior academic status to qualify for that honor.

Richmond averaged 13.6 points per game and scored a season-high 22 points twice and in consecutives games (vs. Oklahoma Baptist 12-1, vs. St. Gregory's 12-3).

The Cherokee native led the Lady Rangers to a 13-15 season which culminated with a trip to the SAC Tournament in Siloam Springs, Ark. where the Lady Rangers fell to Lubbock Christian, which lost in the national semifinal to eventual national champion Oklahoma City.

Three Lady Ranger basketball players were honored by the NAIA as being named a 2011-12 Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athlete. Northwestern’s Autumn Klugh, Audrey Richmond and Macy Gibson were three of 127 student-athletes chosen for the honor.

Klugh, a senior guard from Fort Cobb, earned the honor for the second consecutive season. Klugh adds this to a long list of accolades. The Fort Cobb native joined Northwestern's 1000-Point Club and broke the school's three-pointer record. She was named Honorable Mention All-Conference  in 2012 and shared the Sportsmanship Award in the Sooner Athletic Conference.

Richmond, a junior forward from Cherokee; and Gibson, a junior guard from Afton, were both named in their first season eligible for the award.

Richmond was an intricate part of former head coach Stephanie Shaw's team that fell in the opening round of the conference tournament against No. 6 Lubbock Christian. The junior averaged 13.6 points per game and was named Second Team All-Sooner Athletic Conference. Like Klugh, Richmond joined the 1000-Point Club.

In order to be nominated by an institution's head coach, a student-athlete must maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale and must have achieved a junior academic status.

NAIA-Daktronics Scholar-Athletes

ALVA, Okla. - Director of Athletics, Andy Carter, has announced women's basketball coach Stephanie Shaw has resigned her post effectively immediately after one season at the helm of the Lady Rangers.

"To say I am disappointed would be an understatement. However, change is the one constant in this industry,” Carter said. “We will deal with this in a positive manner and continue to move forward toward our goal of building a championship caliber women’s basketball program"

Shaw went 13-15 during her tenure and led the Lady Rangers to the Sooner Athletic Conference Tournament. Northwestern fell 87-57 to No. 4 Lubbock Christian in the quarterfinal round.

During the 2011-12 season, two Lady Rangers, Autumn Klugh and Audrey Richmond, reached the 1000-point plateau for their careers.

Shaw also coached Richmond, Klugh and LaParis Newsom to all-conference seasons.

“By all measures, Stephanie did a very good job,” Carter said.  “We wish her well.”

Carter will begin a national search for the next Lady Ranger coach immediately.

Box Score

Newsom averages 8.4 points per game and scored a season-high 19 points two games ago against Wayland Baptist.

The Northwestern Oklahoma State University women's basketball team will take on No. 6 Lubbock Christian in the opening round of the Sooner Athletic Conference tournament as announced by the league office yesterday. The schools will hook up at 9 a.m. Thursday, March 1, in the opening game of the tournament. The entire tournament will take place in Siloam Springs, Ark. and hosted by John Brown University.

The Lady Rangers (13-14, 10-12 SAC) lost both meetings against Lubbock Christian during the regular season falling 89-68 on Saturday and 72-52 at Percefull Fieldhouse earlier in the year.

Northwestern is led by junior Audrey Richmond, who is nine points away from the 1000-point threshold. She would be the fourth NWOSU basketball player (Autumn Klugh, Marshall Bell, Jonathan Freemyer) to reach the mark this season. Richmond's 13.5 points per game leads the squad while Klugh, a senior, is the holder of the school's career three-pointer record having nailed 79 on the season.

The Opponent

Lubbock Christian won a share of the regular season SAC title by going 21-1. The Lady Chaparrals were the only team in the SAC to beat No. 1 Oklahoma City but lost the top seed to Oklahoma City due to an inferior overall record.

Leading Scorers

Kelsey Canavan 16.6
Emily Atkins 14.0
Nicole Hampton 13.6
Brittany Roberts 12.0

Best three point shooter: Brittany Roberts (38-93) .409
Top rebounder: Kelsey Canavan 8.0
Top Free Throw Shooter: Nicole Hampton (119-129) .922
Assists leader: Nicole Hampton 113


Full Tournament Schedule

Thursday

2. Lubbock Christian vs. 7. Northwestern Oklahoma State, 9 a.m.
4. Rogers State vs. 5. St. Gregory's, 10:45 a.m.

3. Southern Nazarene vs. 6. Oklahoma Baptist, 12:30 p.m.
1. Oklahoma City vs. 8. John Brown, 2:15 p.m.


Friday

LCU/NWOSU winner vs. SNU/OBU winner, 1 p.m.

RSU/SGU winner vs. OCU/JBU winner, 3 p.m.


Saturday

Championship, 4 p.m.

LUBBOCK, Texas - The Northwestern Oklahoma State University women's basketball team fell to No. 6 Lubbock Christian 89-68 on Saturday afternoon.

However, it will get the chance to avenge this loss at the Sooner Athletic Conference Tournament on March 1 as the Lady Rangers finished as the tournament's seventh overall seed with LCU finishing second.

Head coach Stephanie Shaw needs her squad comes out with a chip on its shoulder next Thursday as it was not a great day for the Lady Rangers who fell behind early and never led at any point during the game.

LCU started the game on a 14-5 and went to the half up eight points. Northwestern (13-14, 10-12 SAC) stayed within striking distance for the first 12 minutes of the second half being down 10 but LCU went on a 17-2 run over the next five minutes to end NWOSU's chances.

Mandy Norman and Talytha Williams each scored 11 points while Ronita Coleman and Titania Simmons each added 10 to round out Northwestern's double digit scorers.

Game time for Thursday's game against No. 6 Lubbock Christian will be announced late on Sunday afternoon.

Be sure to follow the Lady Rangers on Twitter (NWOSUAthletics) and on Facebook (Northwestern oklahoma State University Athletics).

Box Score

Sooner Athletic Conference Tournament pairings

1. Oklahoma City vs. 8. John Brown
2. Lubbock Christian vs. 7. Northwestern Oklahoma State
3. Southern Nazarene vs. 6. Oklahoma Baptist
4. Rogers State vs. 5. St. Gregory's

PLAINVIEW, Texas - The Northwestern Oklahoma State women's basketball team came all the way back from a 16-point halftime deficit, but couldn't hold as Wayland Baptist dropped Northwestern 72-61 on Thursday evening.

Perhaps Northwestern ran out of gas in the final five minutes as Wayland Baptist went on a 9-0 run over a three-minute stretch to give the Flying Queens a 66-59 lead with just over a minute to go. Wayland made enough free throws to hold off a potential last minute rally by the Lady Rangers (13-13, 10-11 Sooner Athletic Conference).

The Lady Rangers used a 27-10 run over the first nine minutes of the second half to take their first lead of the half. Sharp shooting Autumn Klugh nailed a triple giving Northwestern a 49-48 lead. The senior finished with 15 points all coming on threes. She went 5-of-11 from behind the arc.

NWOSU also wasted a solid performance from LaParis Newsom, who scored a team-high 19 points. Ronita Coleman finished with eight rebounds.

The Lady Rangers will have their final tune up before the Sooner Athletic Conference Tournament at 1 p.m. Saturday against Lubbock Christian.

Follow the Lady Rangers on Twitter (NWOSUAthletics) and on Facebook (Northwestern Oklahoma State University).

Live stats, live audio and a broadcast will be available here for Saturday's game at Lubbock.

Box Score

CHICKASHA, Okla. - The Northwestern Oklahoma State University women's basketball team got a huge win 81-60 over University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma on Saturday afternoon.

Two consecutive threes by Audrey Richmond led an 8-1 run to take a seven-point lead with just over eight minutes to go in the first half. The Lady Rangers ended the half with an eight-point lead.

The team's momentum carried in to the second half as a 16-2 run opened the game up with 6:06 left. Northwestern cruised the rest of the way to the win.

Ronita Coleman had 15 points while shooting 7-for-8 from the field. Richmond finished with 12 while LaParis Newsom finished with 11 points.

Mandy Norman played a key role off the bench adding nine points. The Northwestern bench outscored USAO's 24-3 in the game.

NWOSU's most recent addition to the 1000 Point Club, Autumn Klugh, scored a team-high 19 points.

The Lady Rangers will travel to Texas to take on Wayland Baptist next Thursday.

Be sure to follow the updates on Twitter (NWOSUAthletics) and Facebook (Northwestern Oklahoma State University Athletics).

CHICKASHA, Okla. - The Northwestern Oklahoma State University women's basketball team got a huge win 81-60 over University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma on Saturday afternoon.

Two consecutive threes by Audrey Richmond led an 8-1 run to take a seven-point lead with just over eight minutes to go in the first half. The Lady Rangers ended the half with an eight-point lead.

The team's momentum carried in to the second half as a 16-2 run opened the game up with 6:06 left. Northwestern cruised the rest of the way to the win.

Ronita Coleman had 15 points while shooting 7-for-8 from the field. Richmond finished with 12 while LaParis Newsom finished with 11 points.

Mandy Norman played a key role off the bench adding nine points. The Northwestern bench outscored USAO's 24-3 in the game.

NWOSU's most recent addition to the 1000 Point Club, Autumn Klugh, scored a team-high 19 points.

The Lady Rangers will travel to Texas to take on Wayland Baptist next Thursday.

Be sure to follow the updates on Twitter (NWOSUAthletics) and Facebook (Northwestern Oklahoma State University Athletics).

ALVA, Okla. - The Northwestern Oklahoma State University women's basketball team fell to No. 15 Southern Nazarene 69-59 on Senior Night at Percefull Fieldhouse on Thursday.

Junior Audrey Richmond had a solid performance for the Lady Rangers (12-12, 9-10 Sooner Athletic Conference) but it wasn't enough to defeat a good Southern Nazarene team.

The game was back and forth for the majority of the first half, but Northwestern fell down five when No. 15 Southern Nazarene went on a 6-1 run over the final two minutes of the first half.

The Lady Rangers gave the fans life when it opened the second half on a 10-0 run to take a five-point lead in the early going. The rally was highlighted by threes from Autumn Klugh and Richmond. Klugh ended the game with nine points and entered Northwestern's 1000-pt. club.

Klugh's second three of the game, with about 10 minutes to go in the second half, gave the Rangers a four-point lead, but a 10-2 run immediately following the three gave Southern Nazarene the lead for good.

Her record breaking three with just over nine minutes remaining in the game put the Lady Rangers within one, but they would never tie or lead the game again.

Seniors Klugh, Anna Farias, Talytha Williams and Ronita Coleman were all honored in a postgame cermony.

The Lady Rangers wore pink t-shirts during warmups to support the fight against breast cancer.

Northwestern will travel to USAO for a 3 p.m. contest on Saturday.

Box Score

ALVA, Okla. - Head coach Stephanie Shaw's team needed a win to stay with the pack in the Sooner Athletic Conference. The Lady Rangers delivered just that defeating Rogers State 68-65 at Percefull Fieldhouse on Thursday.

The Lady Rangers ended the game on a 6-0 run over the final two minutes. Talytha Williams hit a basket with 1:31 remaining to cut the lead to one. LaParis Newsom gave NWOSU (12-10, 9-8 SAC) the lead with two free throws with just under 30 seconds remaining in regulation.

Junior Audrey Richmond came up with a huge block with under 10 seconds to go and senior Autumn Klugh was fouled and nailed both free throws to go up three. The Lady Hillcats couldn't convert at the buzzer to give the Lady Rangers a huge win.

The win puts NWOSU tied for fifth with St. Gregory's and one game ahead of Oklahoma Baptist, which sits seventh in the conference race.

Simmons hit a three with 2:17 left in the first half to give the Lady Rangers a six-point lead but a three at the buzzer by Rogers State's Leah Smith cut the lead to 36-33.

Richmond led a very balanced Lady Rangers offense with 13 points. Klugh was right behind with 12 points while Titania Simmons and Renee Golliday rounded out the double digit scorers with 11 and 10, respectively.

Klugh needs 13 points to reach the 1000-point mark for her career.

The Lady Rangers will travel to John Brown looking for their 10th conference win. The game is set for a 3 p.m. tip off.

Be sure to follow the Lady Rangers on Twitter (NWOSUAthletics) and on Facebook (Northwestern Oklahoma State University).

ALVA, Okla. - The Northwestern Oklahoma State University women's basketball team came back with a vengeance after its home loss on Thursday against Lubbock Christian throttling Wayland Baptist 77-63 in Percefull Fieldhouse on Saturday afternoon.

Ronita Coleman starred all game for the Lady Rangers (11-10, 8-8 Sooner Athletic Conference). Coleman averages just under six points per game for NWOSU, but poured in a season-high 23 points and seemingly couldn't be stopped inside the paint.

Coleman and senior Autumn Klugh formed an inside-outside punch for Stephanie Shaw's bunch. The senior nailed four threes and scored 17 points for the Lady Rangers. Klugh sits 41 points away from joining the illustrious 1000 Point Club.

Klugh's triple followed by a Coleman basket highlighted a 10-1 run in the middle of the second half giving NWOSU its largest lead of the game at 14 points. The Lady Rangers maintained a double-digit lead for the remainder of the game.

LaParis Newsom added 13 points to round out the NWOSU double-digit scorers.

Coleman was the leading rebounder for the Lady Rangers pulling down eight boards.

The Rangers will conclude a stretch of four consecutive home games with a game Thursday against Rogers State.

Be sure to follow the Rangers live on Twitter (NWOSUAthletics) and on Facebook (Northwestern Oklahoma State University Athletics). The Lady Rangers can be heard live on KALV.

ALVA, Okla. - The Northwestern Oklahoma State women's basketball team struggled in a 72-52 loss against No. 7 Lubbock Christian on Thursday evening.

It was evident early that it wasn't the Lady Rangers (10-9, 7-8 Sooner Athletic Conference) day as the squad turned the ball over 14 times in the first half allowing the Lady Chaparrals to take a 36-20 lead going in to the break.

Audrey Richmond was a bright spot in the first half scoring eight points. She finished with a team-high 14. LaParis Newsom had 12 to round out the double-digit scorers for the Lady Rangers. Ronita Coleman was the team's leading rebounder with six.

Autumn Klugh scored five points in the game and needs 58 to join the 1000 Point Club at NWOSU.

The Lady Rangers will get a chance to turn it around quickly as Wayland Baptist comes to town for a Saturday afternoon game set for a 1 p.m. tip.

Be sure to follow the Lady Rangers on Twitter (NWOSUAthletics) and Facebook (Northwestern Oklahoma State University Athletics).

Box Score

ALVA, Okla - The Northwestern Oklahoma State University women's basketball team gave No. 2 Oklahoma City University all it could handle but fell just short 70-69 on Hall of Fame induction Saturday at the Percefull Fieldhouse.

Talytha Williams scored with just over 30 seconds remaining to give NWOSU a 69-68 lead but Dietra Caldwell's layup with 4.6 seconds remaining proved to be the dagger to the Lady Rangers which made a stunning comeback from as many as 14 points down.

The Lady Rangers (10-9, 7-7 Sooner Athletic Conference) hung in the game against an excellent Oklahoma City team before finally making their run with about 5:30 left in the game. The Lady Stars led by nine when the Rangers went on a 10-0 over the next three minutes.

LaParis Newsom's layup got things started. Autumn Klugh followed that with a triple, one of three she hit in the game. Newsom, who scored a team-high 15 points, did it again on the team's next possession. She weaved her way to the basket, scored and was fouled. She made good on the free throw to get the Lady Rangers within one.

With 2:40 to go, Titania Simmons found Renee Golliday streaking to the basket and Golliday converted setting the crowd in to a roar as the Rangers took their first lead of the second half.

The Lady Rangers didn't play as well in the first half shooting just 33 percent and falling down nine points.

Klugh and Williams each added 13 points to round out NWOSU's double-digit scorers while Audrey Richmond led the squad with eight rebounds.

At the conclusion of the game, Al Hunt, Marlena Johnson, Lynn Scott and Slade Young were all inducted in to the Northwestern Oklahoma State University Athletics Hall of Fame.

Head coach Stephanie Shaw and her staff all took part in the NAIA's Coaches vs. Cancer promotion by wearing suits with sneakers.

The Lady Rangers will stay at home and play Lubbock Christian at 6 p.m. next Thursday. Today's game was the first of four consecutive home games for the Lady Rangers.

Be sure to follow the Lady Rangers on Twitter (NWOSUAthletics) and Facebook (Northwestern Oklahoma State University Athletics).

Box Score

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla.- After opening up a 17-point first half lead the Northwestern Oklahoma State University women's basketball team struggled to a 59-53 overtime victory against Mid-America Christian Unviversity on Thursday evening.

Titania Simmons scored the first basket of the overtime with 3:50 remaining off of an Autumn Klugh missed three. The game went back and forth until Talytha Williams found Audrey Richmond to give the Lady Rangers the lead with 1:25 to go. Klugh found Richmond in the paint. She converted with 55 seconds to go giving the Lady Rangers a three-point lead. On the ensuing possession, Klugh was fouled and nailed both free throws with under 30 seconds to go sealing the deal for the Lady Rangers (10-8, 7-6 Sooner Athletic Conference).

It took a monster effort from the Lady Evangels to send the game to overtime as NWOSU squandered a big lead in the second half after being up 17 points at one point in the first half.

A three by Brooklyn Bell with 1:25 to go knotted the game at 46. Titania Simmons recorded a huge block as Klugh secured the loose ball and was hammered. The senior nailed both free throws to take a two-point lead with 50 seconds remaining in the half. A bucket by Parris Price tied the game at 48 with 27 seconds left. The Lady Rangers were unable to convert on the offensive end sending the game to overtime.

Earlier in the half, with the game within two points, Richmond found Renee Golliday cutting to the basket to give the Lady Rangers a four-point lead and a much-needed basket. The layup led to a 6-0 run for the Lady Rangers. The other four points came on free throws, two of which came after a technical foul on the MACU bench.

A three-pointer put the Lady Evangels within three at 46-43 with just over four minutes remaining. The Lady Rangers scored just two points in the remaining four minutes of regulation.

The Lady Rangers managed just two points in the first six minutes of the second half and their lead evaporated from 11 to one. NWOSU turned the ball over 10 times in the first eight minutes of the half allowing the Lady Evangels back in the game.

The Lady Rangers were in control for the vast majority of the first half opening up a 17-point lead 10 minutes in to the game.

Klugh led the Lady rangers with 18 points while Simmons had 12 rebounds.

Box Score

SHAWNEE, Okla. - An 8-0 run in the middle of the second half proved to be too much for the Lady Rangers to overcome in a 60-55 loss to the Saint Gregory's women's basketball team on Saturday afternoon.

The Lady Rangers (9-8, 6-6 Sooner Athletic Conference) were able to make a run late cutting a seven-point lead down to one with three minutes to go via two Talytha Williams layups.

It was a three-point game with 25 seconds remaining but NWOSU couldn't manage the tie and the Lady Cavaliers hit two free throws down the stretch that proved to be the dagger.

The Lady Rangers led by as many as 12 points in the first half, but St. Gregory's stormed back to tie the game with just under 2:30 minutes left in the half.

Newsom ended a long drought with a basket to regain the lead. She later hit a three in the final seconds of the half to give the Rangers a 31-30 lead going in to the break.

Autumn Klugh's three opened up a five point lead around the 15-minute mark of the second half.

Emily Eaton had eight points to lead the Lady Rangers in the first half after having just 10 points all season.

The Lady Rangers will hit the road on Thursday for a 6 p.m. contest at Oklahoma City to take on Mid-America Christian. Be sure to follow live updates on Twitter (NWOSUAthletics) and on Facebook (Northwestern Oklahoma State Athletics).

Box Score 

The Hillcats took the lead for good early in the second half with an 8-0 run that put the Lady Rangers down seven points at 37-30. A basket by Talytha Williams ended the run.

NWOSU (8-7, 5-5 Sooner Athletic Conference) was not able to make a run the rest of the way. A pair of free throws by Titania Simmons got the Lady Rangers within nine points with 1:31 to go, but NWOSU would get no closer.

The Lady Rangers stayed in the game for the first half.

Golliday's basket put the Wolves up 25-22 with just over four minutes to go in the half. A Mandy Norman free throw gave the Lady Rangers a 26-22 lead but the Hillcats went on an 7-0 run to take a 29-26 lead. NWOSU didn't score for four minutes before a layup at the end up at the end of the half broke the run.

Audrey Richmond led the Lady Rangers with 14 points while Renee Golliday added 10 points and a team-high eight rebounds. The Lady Rangers will return to action on Thursday at 6 p.m. against Oklahoma Baptist.

Be sure to follow updates on Twitter (NWOSUAthletics) and on facebook (Northwestern Oklahoma State University Athletics).

Box Score

Box Score

BETHANY, Okla - A furious rally by Southern Nazarene during the final two minutes negated a second-half comeback by the Lady Rangers as the Northwestern Oklahoma State women's basketball team fell to the Crimson Storm 64-63 in the Sawyer Center on Saturday afternoon.

Marsha Durr's three-pointer with five seconds left proved to be a dagger to the heart of the Lady Rangers (7-6, 4-4 Sooner Athletic Conference). The shot gave SNU a one-point lead and the Rangers couldn't make anything happen in the final seconds.

The Lady Rangers trailed for the majority of the game, but caught fire with just over five minutes to go. Trailing 57-52, the Lady Rangers went on a run. Audrey Richmond scored three of her team-high 17 points on a triple that cut the SNU lead to two points. After a layup by SNU extended the lead to four, Richmond did it again nailing another three to cut the lead to 59-58 with four minutes remaining.

The teams went scoreless for over two minutes before Autumn Klugh found Renee Golliday for a layup giving NWOSU its first lead since the first two minutes of the game. LaParis Newsom converted on a three-point play with 1:20 to go to put the Lady Rangers up four. The score remained the same until the clock said 23 seconds. Oumoul Thiam scored to cut the lead to two.

Perhaps the biggest play of the game came next on a NWOSU turnover. Following the miscue,the Crimson Storm's Logan Martin found Durr for a three after an offensive rebound giving the Crimson Storm a one-point lead with five seconds to go.

The Lady Rangers could not get a shot off in the final seconds taking a very tough loss.

In the first half, it wasn't evident whether NWOSU could make the comeback as they were consistently behind four to seven points all half.

NWOSU was able to hang around thanks to Richmond's nine first-half points. Klugh found Coleman by the basket to put the Lady Rangers within two at 28-26, but SNU finished the half on a 6-2 run with the last basket coming at the buzzer from Annie Kassongo.

Golliday finished with a double-double grabbing 12 rebounds while scoring 10 points. Newsom added 13 points to round out the double-digit scorers for the Lady Rangers.

The Lady Rangers will return home to Percefull Arena for a 6 p.m. Thursday game against John Brown.

Be sure to follow the live updates on NWOSU's Twitter handle (NWOSUAthletics) and Facebook page (NWOSUAthletics).

Box Score

Box Score

ALVA, Okla. (12-3-11) — Northwestern Oklahoma State University women’s basketball team put together a 27 point come back late in the game, but it wasn’t enough as they fall to St. Gregory’s, 78-74.

The Lady Rangers offense struggled in the first 27 minutes of the game, but Autumn Klugh and company came alive from outside in the big comeback.

Down 53-26, reigning Sooner Athletic Conference Player of the Week Talytha Williams converted on a short basket inside the paint. Less than a minute later, Klugh knocked down a three.

Following a few couple free throws by St. Gregory’s, Klugh came down and her second consecutive three to cut the lead to 55-34. Over the next five minutes, the Lady Rangers rattled off a 17-5 run, stopped by a basket in the lane from the Lady Cavs Leticia Silva.

Klugh hit six three-pointers in the contest, giving her 187 for her career. She now needs just two more to break the Northwestern career record, currently held by Stephani Bontrager.

Klugh finished with 22 points.

Richmond, who finished with 22 points, nailed a three-point basket from the wing and a steal and a layup by Williams cut the St. Gregory’s lead to single digits. However, the visiting team answered to extend the lead back to 13.

That was then answered by another four straight points by Richmond on a layup, assisted by Williams, and a couple of free throws to cut the lead to nine yet again.

With a little more than four minutes remaining, and the Lady Cavs leading 65-55, the Lady Rangers put together another run, this time 14-4, cutting the lead to just one. Klugh began the run with another big basket from behind the arc, followed by a Richmond layup of turnover.

Another two points by the Lady Cavs was answered again with a bucket in the paint and free throw courtesy of Richmond, and a big three by Klugh to make it 69-68.

The two squads then began to trade baskets, with the Lady Rangers having one last opportunity, down by just two. Unfortunately, Klugh’s final shot was blocked by Jalisa Howard. Howard took the ball the distance to put the final spread at four.

Northwestern’s defense pressure frustrated the Lady Cavs all contest long, forcing them to turn the ball over 30 times, 18 of which were steals by the Lady Rangers. Richmond and LaParis Newsom each had four steals, and Mandy Norman and Rachel Wilczek added three each.

Despite doing well on defense, the Lady Rangers had trouble on the glass. The Lady Cavs doubled up the home team, pulling down 48 rebounds to the Lady Rangers 24.

Northwestern (4-4, 1-2) has an opportunity to go into Christmas break on top as they hit the court again on Monday at Oklahoma Christian. The Lady Rangers topped the Lady Eagles in their first meeting on Nov. 21, 89-69.

WBB: Northwestern Oklahoma State University vs. St.Gregory's University - 3 p.m.

Game Notes
Live Audio/Video
Live Stats

SHAWNEE, Okla. (12-1-11) – Northwestern Oklahoma State University women’s basketball team jumped out to a big first half lead, only to see it disappear quickly, falling to Oklahoma Baptist, 86-76.

The Lady Bison began the game with a bucket on the first possession, but the Lady Rangers answered, scoring the next nine points. Six of the first eight points from Northwestern came off Lady Bison turnovers.

With the lead at 11-7 at the 15 minute mark of the first half, Autumn Klugh stepped behind the three-point line for a basket. Klugh inched her way closer to the career three-pointers made, needing just seven more to tie Stephani Bontrager (1989-93) with 188 after tonight.

As the game got to the mid-way point in the first half, the Lady Rangers were turning Lady Bison turnovers into points, holding the lead at 21-8 after a pair of free throws from last week’s Sooner Athletic Conference Player of the Week, Talytha Williams.

Unfortunately, the Lady Bison got hot from outside, hitting a barrage of shots from behind the arc to out score the Lady Rangers by 31 in the final ten minutes of the half. Oklahoma Baptist led the game at the break, 39-28.

Down by as many as 12 at one point in the second half, the Lady Rangers began to chip away at a 10-point lead with 13 minutes remaining.

Looking up at the Lady Bison with just under 10 minutes to go, Klugh coverted a couple of free throws, followed by Audrey Richmond layup to cut the lead to just one. On the ensuing possession, Klugh stole the ball from a Lady Bison guard, taking the rock to the hole for a layup and the lead.

Richmond finished with a game high 22 points. She was entering the game with the sixth best scoring average in the conference at 15.2 a game.

The two teams traded free throws, with the lead changing one more time, before the Lady Bison regained the lead with 7:58 to go and never looked back.

The story of the game was the three-point shooting of the Lady Bison. One of the best teams from outside in the SAC this season, they continued the trend by knocking down 11 from long range.

Northwestern controlled the game in nearly every other category, including shooting 48.3 percent from the field to the Lady Bison’s 40.3, and winning the turnover battle, 31-to-25. The Lady Rangers stole 18 passes in the contest.

Williams followed up her 26 points in the conference opener on Nov. 21, with 17 against the Lady Bison, while Renee Golliday finished with 15.

The Lady Rangers have a quick turnaround as they take on St. Gregory’s at home on Saturday, beginning at 3 p.m, before closing out their fall portion of their schedule on the road at Oklahoma Christian on Monday.

WBB: Northwestern at Oklahoma Baptist, 6 p.m.

Game Notes
Audio Broadcast