GOODMAN – Although Claire Fleming and Morgan Hodum shot lights out from beyond the arc for Northwest, it wasn't quite enough to outdo a pesky Holmes team on the road, as the Lady Rangers fell 61-58 on Thursday evening.

Northwest dropped to 3-3 in the MACJC North and 10-6 overall with the loss. Holmes moved to 7-9 overall and 3-2 in division play.

Fresh off the heels of her hot performance against Mississippi Delta, Fleming quickly caught fire from three-point range as she checked in late in the first quarter. After trailing 12-6 midway through the first, Kayla Freeman and Hodum hit back-to-back threes before Fleming hit the parting shot of the opening quarter to pull the Lady Rangers within four, 16-12.

There would be plenty more shooting to go around in the second quarter for Northwest as every made basket came from three-point range. Fleming hit two more big shots from beyond the arc before halftime, while Zanaiyah Daniel and Lindsay Hall also got in on the action by hitting one apiece, helping the Lady Rangers to a 27-26 halftime advantage.

Northwest shot 50 percent from outside in the first half with Tamarah Sykes providing the only non-three pointer in the first half. Despite shooting just 28 percent from the floor, Holmes kept pace by going 8-of-11 from the free throw line.

Although Northwest was never able to pull away in the third quarter, the Lady Rangers took their largest lead of five points twice in the quarter. Trailing 39-38 in the closing seconds of the third, Fleming once again came up with the clutch shot, draining a three with 14 seconds left to put Northwest back on top at 41-39.

Back-to-back threes from Hodum and Taylor Fletcher allowed the Lady Rangers to open the fourth quarter with a six-point lead, but a solid run from Holmes allowed the Lady Bulldogs to quickly tie the game at 50 with 5:17 left in regulation.

Both teams would trade baskets the rest of the way with six lead changes and four ties. After Mallory Russell's layup tied the contest at 58-58 with 17 seconds left, Holmes picked up two free throws from Jordyn Manning with 10 seconds left to gain a 60-58 edge.

Northwest tried to respond once more but a pair of missed free throws from Ariel Tunstall gave Holmes the ball with five seconds left, allowing Shawanda Gray to hit one of her two free throws to seal the deal for Holmes.

For the second straight contest, Fleming came up just short of a double-double, scoring 16 points and eight rebounds. Hodum finished with 12 points, the most since putting up 17 against Dyersburg State on Nov. 25.

Holmes was led by four players in double figures, including a 13-point, eight-rebound performance from Gabrielle Bunch. Manning also nabbed 11 points in the win for the Lady Bulldogs.

As a result of Fleming and Hodum's hot shooting, Northwest outscored Holmes 42-15 in bench points. The Lady Rangers also shot 41 percent from beyond the arc, compared to just 18 percent for the Lady Bulldogs.

Northwest will step out of division play on Monday, Jan. 27 against ASU Mid-South at 5:30 p.m. before kicking off the second half of division action on Thursday, Jan. 30 against Itawamba. Both games are at home and will be carried live on nwccrangers.com/watch.