CLINTON – Sophomore Tekevanna Young banked in a jumper with 0.4 seconds remaining to lift Northwest past Meridian, 77-75, in the opening round of the NJCAA Region 23 Tournament at Mississippi College's A.E. Wood Coliseum Thursday night. 

Northwest improved to 19-6 overall, its most wins since the 1997-98 season, and snapped a four-game losing streak in the region tournament. The Lady Rangers also improved to 19-2 all-time against Meridian, who ended its season at 17-11.

In a game that featured 14 ties and 10 lead changes, Northwest led for 28:52 while Meridian only led for 4 minutes.

Four Lady Ranger starters finished in double figures, led by double-doubles from Aspriona Gilbert (18 points, 12 rebounds) and Sara Lytle (14 points, 10 rebounds). Bethany Lytle had 14 points, Tekevanna Young added 13 points and nine rebounds and Kristina Mays had a career-high nine assists.

Meridian out-shot Northwest 41-34 percent from the floor, but the Lady Rangers scored 23 points off 24 offensive rebounds and held the Lady Eagles without a field goal the final 4:34 of the game.

Northwest took its largest lead of the game, 19-10, with 14:24 remaining in the first half after six straight points from Aspriona Gilbert, but Meridian would battle back to tie it at 24-24 on a putback by Maia McCullum. 

The Lady Rangers then rattled off 10 unanswered points to pull back ahead 34-26 thanks to baskets by four different players, including a 3-pointer by Kelsey Brown. 

Meridian tied the game at 36-36 before Bethany Lytle's 3-pointer before the halftime buzzer gave the Lady Rangers a three-point lead at intermission.

The game continued to go back-and-forth the entire second half, with Northwest leading by as many as eight and Meridian taking a pair of leads but none larger than two points.

Miaya Crowder hit two free throws to give Meridian a 75-74 lead with 3:59 remaining, but the Lady Eagles would not score a single point the rest of the way. 

Gilbert tied the game at 75-75 with 2:11 remaining for Northwest, hitting the front end of two free throws.

Meridian missed a go-ahead jumper in the lane with 45 ticks left, giving Northwest a chance to take the lead its ensuing possession. After an offensive rebound, B. Lytle hit a jumper in the lane with 3.5 seconds left and was fouled to give Northwest the lead, but the basket was waived off and called a jump ball.  

Northwest called timeout and drew up a final play to try and win the game in regulation, and after Young couldn't get Gilbert the ball down low, she decided to take it herself and banked it in with 0.4 seconds left for the thrilling win.

Northwest will face Jones County in the region semifinals on Friday, March 6 at 8 p.m.