SCOOBA – In the north division opener for both teams Tuesday night, the homestanding EMCC Lady Lions led for all but 3:40, building a nine-point halftime lead and holding Northwest to nine points in the fourth quarter in a 72-53 victory.

EMCC improved to 5-3 overall, 1-0 in the MACJC, while Northwest dropped its first game of the season to fall to 5-1 and 0-1.

Northwest scored the game's first five points but went cold from the floor the ensuing five minutes as the Lady Lions clawed back with a 12-1 run and eventually led 20-17 after one quarter.

EMCC quickly built its lead to 11 points in the second quarter and led 36-27 at intermission.

Northwest rallied to pull within 38-37 with 5:31 left in the third quarter, stringing together a 10-2 run, capped by a 3-pointer from Shernique Adams on the wing. 

That's as close as the Lady Rangers would get the rest of the night, with EMCC responding with a 15-4 run to end the quarter. The Lady Lions outscored Northwest 19-9 in the fourth quarter to pull away for the 19-point win.

EMCC finished with four scorers in double figures, led by Tyeisha Juhan's 17 points and double-doubles from La'Quesha Clemons and Quantesha Patterson.

Janesha Johnson scored a team-leading 19 for Northwest, followed by 12 from Averyale Joy and nine points and 11 rebounds from Destiny Gardner.

Northwest was held to 35 percent shooting on the night and the Lady Rangers were just 6-of-30 from beyond the arc.

The Lady Rangers will enjoy a three week break before returning to the hardwood on Dec. 28-29 in Park Hills, Mo., for a tournament at Mineral Area College.