SENATOBIA – After giving up the game's opening basket, Northwest led the entire rest of the way to open MACJC North Division play on the right note with a 77-64 victory against East Mississippi Monday night at Howard Coliseum. 

Leading 8-6 midway through the first quarter, the Lady Rangers closed out the opening period of play with a 12-4 run to take a 20-10 advantage.

Northwest tried to extend the gap further and led by 13 early in the second quarter, but Tyeisha Juhan kept EMCC in the contest with 10 points down the stretch to trim the Lady Rangers' halftime lead to 35-30.

Although Northwest never surrendered the lead, the Lady Lions did keep up the pressure by keeping the game within single digits for a majority of the second half. 

With 2:04 left to go, leading scorer Mercades Ward helped put the game on ice with a layup that put the Lady Rangers up 10 the rest of the way.

Ward led the way for Northwest with 15 total points, while Kayla Bradley came away with 10 for the night.

Bench play proved to be one of the most pivotal factors in the win, with Northwest's bench outscoring EMCC 37-5. Astraea Moore finished just shy of a double-double with a season-high 13 points and eight rebounds, followed by nine points apiece from Ciara Pettis and Abbreanna Miller.

Northwest shot 42 percent on the night, finishing with 23 assists on 27 made field goals. 

East Mississippi was led by Juhan's 21-point effort and a double-double (15 pts., 13 rebs.) from Kayla Rogers. Kaisah Lucky also finished with 17 points for the Lady Lions in the loss.

Northwest will have an extensive break before resuming action in the Holiday Inn Classic in Park Hills, Mo. on Jan. 1-2. The Lady Rangers will face Moberly Area and host Mineral Area College.