HILLSBORO, Kan. – The Lady Ranger basketball team was handed its second loss of the season after Tabor College (Kan.) held onto a 10-point halftime lead to defeat Northwestern 53-46.

After trailing 31-21 at the break and just shooting 23 percent for the first half, Northwestern managed to outscore the Lady Bluejays 25-22 in the final half.

The Lady Rangers upped their shooting percentage to 41 percent in the second half to finish the game at 31 percent. Northwestern hit just 3-of-16 from three-point range and were 13-of-18 from the free throw line.

Northwestern coughed up 29 turnovers and 17 points off of Tabor’s 25 turnovers.

Hayley Luis led with eight points, six of which were free throws. Keindra Scott and Mandy Norman had seven points each.

The Lady Rangers, now 4-2 on the season, play an exhibition game at Fort Hays State University on Wednesday, Nov. 18 at 5:30 p.m.

Northwestern Oklahoma State University’s Audrey Richmond was named Sooner Athletic Conference Women’s Basketball Player of the Week.

Richmond, a 6-1 freshman forward from Cherokee, Okla., averaged 21 points and 7.5 rebounds in leading the Lady Rangers past Bethany College and Oklahoma Wesleyan. She recorded a double-double with 25 points and a dozen rebounds in the six-point victory at Bethany. She also had an assist, a block and a steal on the week.

ALVA, Okla. – The Lady Ranger basketball team overcame a two-point, 29-27 halftime lead, and held Oklahoma Wesleyan to just 17 second half points to come away with a  70-44 win at Percefull Fieldhouse on Saturday. The win leaves Northwestern at 4-1 on the early season.

The Lady Rangers went on a 24-6 run in the first 12 minutes of the second half and shot 18 percent better than OWU to run away with the game.

On the night, Northwestern shot 37 percent, made three three-pointers and added seven free throws. The Lady Rangers held OWU to shooting 27 percent and to just one three pointer in the second half.

Three Lady Rangers combined for 37 points with Audrey Richmond having a team-high 17 points. Claudia Vazquez and Keindra Scott both finished with 10 points.

Northwestern (4-1) will hit the road for a 6 p.m. game against Tabor College at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 17.

BETHANY, Kan. – The Lady Rangers advanced to 3-1 on the season after defeating Bethany College (Kan.) 83-76 in Lindsborg. In the game, Northwestern set a record for most rebounds in a game with 58, taking down the old record of 57 which was recorded against Kansas Newman in 1991.

Northwestern was able to hang on to a 44-37 halftime lead, as both teams scored 39 second half points. Rebounds were hugely in NWOSU’s favor, with Northwestern grabbing 31 more rebounds than the Swedes, including 32 offensive rebounds.

The Lady Rangers shot 38 percent on the night and were led by Audrey Richmond and Keindra Scott, who finished with double-doubles. Richmond posted 25 points, while Scott scored 13. Both players finished with 12 rebounds.

Northwestern (3-1) will host Oklahoma Wesleyan on Saturday, Nov. 14 in a 6 p.m. tip-off at Percefull Fieldhouse.

ALVA, Okla.

The Ranger men won the event by 80 points, scoring 595 points. Trenton Johnson finished up in second in the men’s all-around with 180 points.

Northwestern’s men took 1^st and 2^nd place in bareback riding and in steer wrestling. In bareback, Chancy Lovinggood won the event, while Cody Burkholder was right behind for a second place finish. Kody Woodward won the steer wrestling event, while Johnson came in second place.

Clay Cudmore finished sixth in bull riding, while Jordan Sanders took eighth place in team roping as a header.

Paul Tierney and Dawson McMaster placed in tie down roping, with Tierney receiving fourth and McMaster being awarded seventh.

Also in team roping, Tanner Braden took home first as a heeler while pairing with Ryan VonAhn of Southeastern Oklahoma State. Johnson finished in 8^th place as he was paired with Sanders.

The Ranger women were 50 points off of the leader Southwestern Oklahoma State for second place in the rodeo.

Karly Benzie won breakaway roping, while Jessica Koppitz and Haley Nida finished second and third, respectively, in barrel racing.

Molly Bates and Kaylee Nelson tied for seventh in breakaway roping and Brooke Boulware was  third place performer in goat tying.

Currently Kody Woodward leads the Central Plains Region in steer wrestling with 260 points, while Benzie is the leader in breakaway roping with 290 points.

Northwestern’s rodeo team will remain idle until next semester. The Rangers next rodeo is at Kansas State University on February 19-21.

Complete Results for Northwestern Oklahoma State Rodeo

BALDWIN CITY, Kan. – Over the weekend, the Northwestern Lady Ranger basketball team split games at the Baker University Classic in Baldwin City, Kan., defeating the host team Baker 55-50 on Friday, before falling to William Jewell (Mo.) 67-40 on Saturday afternoon.

In the Lady Rangers win against Baker, Northwestern shot 35 percent, while holding Baker to 29 percent on the night. The Lady Rangers held a one-point, 25-24 lead at half, before Northwestern outscored them 31-25 in the final half.

Autumn Klugh was the high scorer for Northwestern with 10 points and five assists. Audrey Richmond, Heather O’Neal and Claudia Vazquez all chipped in eight points.

On Saturday against William Jewell, the Lady Rangers were held to 30 percent shooting from the floor, as Northwestern was only able to hit three three-pointers in 13 attempts. William Jewell shot 40 percent and held the Lady Rangers to 12 points in the first half.

Audrey Richmond led the way in points for NWOSU with seven points. Rachel Wilczek, Macy Gibson and Summer Johnson each had five points.

Northwestern (2-1) remains on the road for a third straight game, playing at Lindsborg, Kan. against Bethany College for a 6 p.m. game on Thursday, Nov. 12.

LUBBOCK, Tex.

Shannon Rose led the Ranger women with a time of 23:35 and finished in 35th place out of 57 participants. Krystle Noda was 14 seconds behind for a 38^th place finish, while Desirae Guffy took 46^th with a 25:43. Samantha Ramirez recorded a 26:01 for 49^th and Chelsea Leathers was 51^st with a 26:24.

On the men’s side, Kevin Stawn placed 44^th with a time of 28:37. George Oroni finished in 28:59 for 48^th place, while Manuel Vazquez was 57^th with a 30:00 finish. Trevor Bowers and Brandon Harris rounded out the Ranger runners with a 30:20 and 32:14, respectively.

Northwestern Women - Individual Results                  Northwestern Men - Individual Results

(Winner - 18:53, 57 Runners, 5 kilometers)                (Winner – 24:41, 71 Runners, 8 kilometers)

            Place    Runner                         Time                Place    Runner             Time  

            35         Shannon Rose                22:35                43         Kevin Strawn     28:37

            38         Krystle Noda                  22:49                48         George Oroni     28:59

            46         Desirae Guffy                25:43                57         Manuel Vazquez 30:00

            49         Samantha Ramirez         26:01                60         Trevor Bowers   30:20

            51         Chelsea Leathers           26:24                66         Brandon Harris   32:14   

Women’s Team Results                                                           Men’s Team Results

        Finish       Team                            Total                Finish   Team                            Total  

            1          Oklahoma Baptist           46                     1          Oklahoma Christian        48

            2          Oklahoma Christian        61                     2          Oklahoma Baptist           64

            3          Lubbock Christian           72                     3          Lubbock Christian           77

            4          Wayland Baptist             84                     4          Wayland Baptist             84

            5          Southern Nazarene         128                   5          Southern Nazarene         86

            6          Oklahoma City               180                   6          Northwestern Okla. St.    196

            7          Northwestern Okla. St.    181                   7          Oklahoma City               203

            8          Mid-America Christian     182                   7          Mid-America Christian     205

The annual Ranger Rodeo presented by Northwestern Oklahoma State University will have its opening performance at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, at the Woods County Fairgrounds Arena. More than 500 student competitors from 20-plus colleges and universities are expected to participate. The rodeo is a sanctioned event of the Central Plains Region of the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association.

Northwestern’s women’s rodeo team has a commanding lead, and sits at first place with the men’s team fourth in the Central Plains Region Standings going into the Ranger Rodeo.

In the individual events Northwestern has at least one member in the Top 15 in each event and completely dominates some events.

Nine out of 15 breakaway ropers are Northwestern women’s rodeo team members.

A list of events, student information and placement in the top 15 are as follows:

• Saddle bronc riding: Jesse Cassingham, Watonga freshman, 13;

• Bareback riding: Chancy Lovinggood, Coalgate junior, 2; Anthony Colletti, Pueblo, Colo., senior, 5; Kenny Feidler, Baltimore, Md., senior, 9;

• Bull riding: Clay Cudmore, Cherokee junior, 4; Steven Flitz, Pratt, Kan., senior, 8;

• Tie down roping: Tyrell Reynolds, Tribune, Kan., senior, 5; Clint Kindred, Oral, S.D., freshman, 6; Cole Wilson, Kinkaid, Kan., junior, 8;

• Steer Wrestling: Paul Tierney, Oral, S.D., sophomore, 5; Kody Woodward, Dupree, S.D., sophomore, 7; Lucas Camac, Augusta, Kan., sophomore, 12; Kindred, 14;

• Team roping header: Jessica Koppitz, Alva freshman, 3; Levi Burson, North Loop, Texas, sophomore, 5; Molly Bates, Estherville, Iowa senior, 9;

• Team roping heeler: Dakota Koehn, Logan freshman, 3; Tanner Braden, Dewey freshman, 4; Brice Buzzard, Colony, Kan., freshman, 5; Jenna Jo Jolly, Deer Trail, Colo., freshman, 8; Clay Phillips, Rexford, Kan., junior, 8;

• Barrel Racing: Haley Nida, Alva senior, 7; Brittany Young, Buffalo junior, 14; Kari Cable, Pukwana, S.D., freshman;

• Breakaway roping: Jacey Jandreau, Kimball, S.D., freshman, 1; Cindy Wood, Columbia, Mo., sophomore, 2; Janise Blanton, Lamont, freshman, 3; Karly Benzie, Alva freshman, 5; Keely Bemenderfer-Wren, Ignacio, Colo, freshman, 6; Kate Hansen, Everly, Iowa, sophomore, 9; Kaylee Nelson, Midland, S.D., junior, 10; Michelle Bartley, Emporia, Kan., senior, 12; Nida, 14.

• Goat tying: Toya Vogt, Corn junior, 2; Cable, 5; Gabriel Gregg, Highmore, S.D., junior, 8; Brooke Boulware, Scott City, Kan., junior, 11.

Performances start at 7:30 p.m., on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Tickets are $6 for adults and $4 for children. Tickets are being sold by all rodeo team members and by coach Tim Kolb, who can be reached at (580) 327-8688. They also will be sold at the gate.

“Everyone should be really excited about the rodeo because it is a great event for the community,” Kolb said. “Many competitors, along with their families and friends, are in town for at least two days, which really helps boost the community’s economy.” Barring inclement weather, “Rodeo Days” will be held on the square for Alva’s elementary school children on Thursday from 8:30 a.m. until approximately 2 p.m. Rodeo team members will be on hand to explain the different events and demonstrate some of them.

Ten to 12 contestants in each of the nine collegiate rodeo events will be on center stage during the Thursday and Friday night performances. The top 10 in each event will return for the championship go-round on Saturday night.

The events are bareback bronc riding, tie-down roping, breakaway calf roping, saddle bronc riding, steer wrestling, goat tying, team roping, barrel racing and bullriding. Two sections of the popular bull riding event will be run on Thursday and Friday nights.
The rest of the contestants will appear in the “slack” performances starting at 9 a.m. on both Friday and Saturday. Participation in the performance or slack rounds is decided by random draw.

Special events will occur at each evening performance. On Thursday night, Northwestern student teams will attempt to milk wild cows, and students will be admitted for $4 with a current I.D. card.

Friday will be children’s night and will feature a children’s calf scramble. Several animals will be marked to denote prize winners.

On Saturday night, when event and team winners are determined, there will be a relay race up and down the arena by cowboys and cowgirls representing different schools. However, they will all be on foot—not horseback.

Brett Wellden of Guthrie, will be the public address announcer. His love of rodeo began as a small child and grew into competitive bareback riding, team roping and bullriding. Wellden has enjoyed riding bareback horses for more than 16 years. Wellden is an official announcer and resides in Guthrie with his wife Shawn and their three children.

Bullfighters Ethan McDonald and Wacey Munsell will be performing cowboy protection duties. McDonald of Abilene, Kan., is a current student at Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kan. He has fought bulls at Colorado, Kansas and Oklahoma bull fighting events. Munsell was the 2005 and 2006 PBR Dickie’s World Champion Freestyle Bullfighter for the Prairie Circuit Finals Rodeo and the National High School Finals Rodeo. His goals are to work for the NFR and PBR Finals.

“Our team members have been busy getting ready for our rodeo and practicing hard so they can make a good showing at home,” Kolb said. “I’m really proud of our student-athletes and their diligence because putting on a rodeo this size takes a lot of work. The team works hard, and I know it is going to pay off.”

ALVA, Okla. – The Northwestern Lady Ranger basketball team got off to a good start in the 2009-10 season, with a 84-82 win at Percefull Fieldhouse in their season opener. Northwestern got good usage from its bench, as six players tallied 54 points.

In a slow start to the game, Langston eventually took a 36-23 lead with 5:36 to play. The Rangers trimmed that lead to 44-37 going into the half.

After four lead changes during the first eight minutes of the second half, Northwestern found itself down seven, 64-57. The Lady Rangers battled back to tie the game at 72-72, before the game went through five more lead changes.

The Lady Rangers warded off the Lady Lions with an 82-80 advantage over the last 1:09, as a last second shot failed for Langston for the tie.

Five players posted double digits as Claudia Vazquez scored 21 points off the bench, hitting 9-of-12 from the field. Audrey Richmond chipped in 17 points, while Annalena Farias recorded 13. Keindra Scott finished with 12, as Heather O’Neal scored 11. Farias and Richmond led Northwestern with six rebounds each.

Northwestern shot 46.3 percent on the night, hitting only 5-of-24 three-pointers. For the game, the Lady Rangers converted 17-of-23 free throws.

Langston finished the game shooting 43.8 percent, hit nine three-pointers and also canned 17 free throws. Sanetra Jackson and Latesha Calton-Woods combined for 58 of the Lady Lions points, with Jackson leading the way with 33 points, while Calton-Woods had 25.

Northwestern (1-0) will hit the road for the Baker University Classic held in Baldwin City, Kan. on Friday, Nov. 6 and Saturday, Nov. 7.

The Northwestern Oklahoma State soccer team closed out the 2009 soccer season in Claremore, dropping a 3-0 contest to Rogers State University.

Roger State scored twice in the first half and added a third goal 10 minutes into the second half.

The Rangers got off six shots and landed three on goal, with Nicole Leffingwell taking two of the six shots. Northwestern attempted four shots in the first half and two in the final period.

The Hillcats landed 13 of their 27 shots on goal, while senior Ranger goalkeeper Dana Gandolfo picked up 10 saves in her final game as a Ranger.

Northwestern closed out the season at 1-16 overall and 1-9 in the Sooner Athletic Conference. Gandolfo is the only senior that will be lost to graduation from next year’s squad.