FULTON – Northwest gave the defending MACJC Champions, Copiah-Lincoln, quite a scare on Tuesday in the quarterfinals of this year's conference tournament, leading by 10 late in the third before falling 75-68.

Co-Lin improved to 21-3 and advances to Wednesday's semifinal game against East Central. Northwest fell to 16-5 and will await its seeding in next week's NJCAA Region 23 Tournament in Clinton.

Northwest outscored the Wolves by nine in the second quarter and led 37-34 at the half.

Leading by a game-high 51-41 at the 5:24-mark of the third after a Kelsey Brown 3-pointer, the turning point of the game came 1:36 later when Sara Lytle was whistled for a phantom third foul and ensuing fourth foul 56 seconds later on a questionable block/charge call. Lytle did not return until the 4:17-mark of the fourth quarter. 

Co-Lin would go on to outscore Northwest by 17 the game's final 13 minutes but the Lady Rangers were in the game late.

Janesha Johnson nailed a 3-pointer on the wing after an offensive rebound to make it 70-68 with 2:18 to play but Princess Cohen responded with a three on the other end that bounced off the rim and off the backboard and in for the dagger.

Averyale Joy scored a game-high 17 for the Lady Rangers, followed by Lytle with 15 points in only 15 minutes and Brown with nine points and nine boards. Brianna Williams added six points and 10 rebounds.

Co-Lin had four scorers in double figures, led by Kelley Allen's 18 points and Alexis Collins' 15 points and 10 assists.