BOONEVILLE – Averyale Joy scored a game-high 22 points, including a deep 3-pointer to tie the game late, but it was Aundrea Adams who hit the game-winner for Northeast with 6.0 seconds left to lift the host Northeast Tigers to an 83-79 victory Monday night. 

Northeast improved to 12-7 overall, 7-1 in the north, while Northwest dropped to 10-7 overall, 4-4 in division play.

In a game that featured 25 lead changes and 12 ties, the game ultimately came down to missed free throws down the stretch. The Lady Rangers missed six in the final five minutes.

Northwest led 17-16 after a quarter of play and 38-35 at half thanks to 13 points from Janesha Johnson and nine from Joy. Johnson had three first-half 3-pointers, moving her into 6th all-time in school history in 3-pointers made.

Johnson, Joy and Destiny Gardner carried the Lady Rangers for three quarters, combining for 44 of Northwest's 62 points, but the lead was just 62-61.

The lead fluctuated back-and-forth for the entire second half, with neither team ahead by more than four.

Trailing 73-70 with 3:42 left, Northwest rallied to tie the game at 79-79 with 22 seconds left off Joy's 3-pointer from near NBA range.

But it was Aundrea Adams who would be the hero Monday, with the freshman banking in a layup with 6.0 seconds left to put Northeast up 81-79. A turnover on the in-bounds pass and ensuing foul allowed the Lady Tigers to ice it at the free throw line.

Northeast swept the season series for the first time in five years, with both games coming down to a final possession.

Joy's 22 points led all scorers, followed by Johnson with her sixth career 20-point game (21), Gardner with 12 points and eight rebounds and Chrissah Shaw with 11 points.

Northeast was paced by Timaya Stewart's 19 in addition to Adams and LaKeiya Lane with 18 points and Shelby Wilbanks with 16 on 8-of-20 shooting.

Northwest shot 48 percent for the night against 36 percent for Northeast. The Lady Tigers won the rebound (53-41) and turnover battle (22-17).

The Lady Rangers will close out the week at Holmes on Thursday, a 6 p.m. tipoff in Goodman.