SCOOBA – A pair of double figure scoring efforts from Kayla Bradley and Ericka Richardson were not enough to get past a tough East Mississippi squad on Thursday night, as the Lady Rangers fell 69-55 in Scooba.

Northwest fell to 7-7 overall and 2-2 in division play, while EMCC improved to 3-1 in the MACJC North and 6-9 overall.

Thanks to a hot hand from Nakia Walker, Northwest raced out to an 8-0 lead within the first three minutes of the contest. Tye Metcalf responded for the Lady Lions and brought EMCC within one, 8-7, with 4:34 remaining in the opening quarter.

Northwest retained the lead through the first quarter and entered the second ahead 14-12, before EMCC would finally tie the game at 16 apiece on Tatyana Norment's layup in the paint with 6:45 to go before halftime.

After the Lady Rangers regained a one-point advantage from a Mallory Russell layup, the Lady Lions closed out the final four minutes and change on a 12-5 scoring run that would put Northwest down 32-26 at the break.

Northwest never led in the second half and trailed by 10 or more throughout the fourth quarter, suffering its largest deficit of 16 in the waning moments of regulation.

Bradley led the Lady Rangers with 13 points and five rebounds, while Richardson netted 10 points off the bench. I'esha Mosby also added seven points in relief as Tamarah Sykes pulled down five rebounds.

East Mississippi was led by Metcalf's 15 points, followed by 14 from Maddie Riley and 10 from Norment.

Northwest continues its two-game road tilt on Tuesday, Jan. 22 with a trip to Mississippi Delta (3-9, 1-2 division). Tipoff from Moorhead is slated for a 6 p.m. start.