LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Leading by 18 at the half and by as many as 24 points, Northwest went ice cold in the second half as homestanding Arkansas Baptist erased the huge deficit to stun the Lady Rangers 81-72 Wednesday night.

ABC improved to 7-10 on the season, after starting the year 0-6, while Northwest dropped its second straight game to fall to 7-2.

It was all Lady Rangers in the first 20 minutes as they shot 46 percent from the floor (9-of-15 from 3-point) and held ABC to a dismal 26 percent. Janesha Johnson was halfway to a triple-double and Kelsey Brown added 12 first-half points.

Northwest scored the first six points of the second half to extend its lead to a game-high 54-30 before the wheels started to fall off.

A 28-6 run for the Lady Buffaloes pulled the game within just one basket at the end of the third quarter.

Sydney Saxton's layup tied the game at 60-all and Kalela Miller's 3-pointer at the 7:45-mark of the fourth quarter gave ABC its first lead, 65-62, since the 8:17-mark of the opening quarter.

From there, ABC would never look back, going on a 17-4 run to go ahead by 11 points with under four to play. 

Miller and Emani Hamilton combined to score 28 second-half points as ABC outscored Northwest 51-24. The Lady Rangers shot 27 percent in the half compared to 44 percent for the Lady Buffs.

Miller finished with a game-high 28 points for one of three ABC players in double figures. Johnson, Averyale Joy and Brown each scored in double figures for Northwest. Johnson finished with 17 points, seven rebounds and six assists.

Northwest will now turn its attention back to division play next Tuesday, Jan. 12, traveling to Northeast for a 5:30 tip.