SENATOBIA – Although it took a little extra work, Northwest successfully captured its first division victory of the season with Thursday's 73-69 overtime victory at Howard Coliseum.
Northwest improved to 8-4 overall and 1-1 in division play, marking the end of a month-long break for the holidays. Coahoma dropped to 6-5 on the season and 1-1 in the MACJC North.
Coahoma got off to the fast start in the first period and led by four on multiple occasions. Trailing 12-8, Northwest closed the final three minutes and change of the opening quarter on a 6-2 run, sparked by a
Cloe Messer jumper, to end the first period with a 14-14 tie.
Northwest took its largest lead of the first half midway through the second quarter, only to see Jurnee McLaurin and Coahoma respond with a 7-0 run that awarded the Lady Tigers a 30-26 advantage.
Sophomore guard
Lindsay Hall helped close the gap with the Lady Rangers' only successful three-point shot of the game, followed by a pair of baskets from
Mallory Russell and
Zanaiyah Daniel, but McLaurin's three just before the break helped Coahoma take a 35-33 lead into halftime.
Coahoma once again gained the early edge in the second half by stretching its lead to seven within the first 2:30 of the third period. With the help of five quick points from
Tamarah Sykes however, the Lady Rangers rallied back to tie the game at 42-42 with 3:32 left in the quarter.
Tied yet again at 44 apiece, Daniel and
Claire Fleming hit a pair of layups that gave Northwest the 48-45 lead entering the final eight minutes of regulation.
Northwest slowly stretched its lead to double digits with 3:32 remaining in regulation and seemed to have the game in control heading down the stretch. However, Coahoma refused to go away, rattling off a 9-0 run less than two minutes later to cut the Lady Rangers' lead back down to one, 63-62.
Ariel Tunstall made one of her two free throws with less than a minute left, only to see Litasha Paty tie the game with a layup with 20 seconds left. The Lady Rangers tried to hold for the final shot but failed to convert, forcing the first overtime game of the season for Northwest.
Although Northwest opened with a 6-0 run to make it 70-64, Coahoma once again fought back within one with 31 seconds to go. Fleming would then make one of her two free throws before Tunstall rebounded a missed jumper with eight seconds left. The Byhalia native would then sink both free throws with one second left, helping seal the victory for the Lady Rangers.
Russell led Northwest with her second double-double of the season (15 points, 13 rebounds), followed by 13 points and five boards from Tunstall. Fleming and Sykes also finished with nine points apiece.
Coahoma was paced by a 23-point effort from McLaurin, while Mary Wilkins and Ayani Cockrell scored 15 and 10 apiece. Paty also finished as the leading rebounder for the Lady Tigers, pulling down 11 boards.
Northwest finished the evening shooting 39 percent from the floor. The Lady Rangers also outscored Coahoma in bench points (36-7) and second chance points (20-8).
Northwest will turn its attention to Tuesday, Jan. 14 with a road tilt at Northeast. Tipoff for that contest is slated for 5:30 p.m. in Booneville, with live stats and live broadcast available through nwccrangers.com.
