CLARKSDALE – Sophomore Shaquilla Isom scored a season-high 21 points and hit the go-ahead basket at the start of overtime to help Northwest hold off Coahoma Thursday night, 70-64. | Box Score
After dropping its first two overtime games of the season, Northwest was able to outscore Coahoma 10-4 in the extra 5 minutes to pick up a hard-fought win to earn the season sweep.
Northwest improved to 14-4 overall and 5-2 in the north division (tied for 2nd) while Coahoma fell to 4-11 overall and 1-6 in league action.
Coahoma used four consecutive free throws to open the game for its first and only lead of the night before Northwest rallied to tie the game on four separate occasions in the opening 10 minutes.
Tied at 12-12, the Lady Rangers used a 14-4 run to take their largest lead of the game at 26-16, capped by Brittani Biggins' first career 3-pointer.
Coahoma, however, responded with a 9-1 run behind Breanna Wiley to close the gap to 27-25 at the break.
Neither team shot the ball well in the opening 20 minutes, with Northwest held to 31 percent on 12 of 39 shooting and Coahoma connecting on just 7 of 20 attempts for 35 percent aim.
After a pair of ties in the opening two minutes, Northwest pushed back in front by eight, 42-30, with 14:18 to play. The Lady Rangers held off a pair of Coahoma mini runs and led all the way down to the final seconds of regulation.
Coahoma used an 11-3 run the final 2:28 and took advantage of three missed free throws from Northwest to tie the game at the buzzer. The Lady Tigers had to go the length of the floor in 8 seconds, and did just that, as Wiley's layup rolled in to tie the game at 60-60.
Northwest hit 4 of 7 shots in overtime and held Coahoma without a field goal to hang on for a 6-point win.
Behind Isom's season-high 21 points, Monique Biggins scored 10 of her 14 in the second half and added seven rebounds and five assists. Nikki McChristian added 12 points, nine rebounds and six steals.
Northwest forced 35 Coahoma turnovers on the evening and picked up 22 steals.
The Lady Rangers return home next week for a pair of games against Northeast (Feb. 4) and ICC (Feb. 7).
