CLINTON – A stellar playoff run came to a close on Friday evening for the Northwest women's basketball program, as the Lady Rangers fell 94-60 to 10th-ranked Jones College in the championship game of the NJCAA Region 23 Tournament.

It was the first trip to the Region 23 championship game since the 2004-05 season for Northwest, which was also the last season the program advanced to the NJCAA Division II national tournament.

Lindsay Hall's three-pointer put the Lady Rangers up 6-4 early in the first quarter and a layup from Mallory Russell helped make it an 8-6 lead. 

That was the final time that Northwest would hold a lead against the Lady Bobcats, as a LaMiracle Sims' basket sparked a 15-2 Jones run that pushed the Lady Rangers into a 21-10 deficit.

Trailing 30-16 entering the second quarter, Northwest fell further behind a red-hot Lady Bobcats' team as Jones outscored Northwest 28-17 over the final eight minutes of the first half. 

Northwest was held to just 10 points in the third quarter as Jones swelled its lead to 80-43, en route to the 36-point victory.

Three sophomores scored in double figures in their final Northwest game, led by Russell's team-high 13 points and six rebounds. Hall followed with 11 points and three boards, while I'esha Mosby contributed 10 points.

Four out of five starters reached double figures for the Lady Bobcats, including 22 points and eight rebounds from Jatyjia Jones.

Jones College shot 52 percent from the floor ahead of 32 percent from the Lady Rangers. Northwest was also outmatched in rebounds, 57-30.

Despite the season-ending loss, Northwest concluded the 2019-20 season with a 17-10 overall record in Troy Howell's first season as head coach, the best win total by any first-year coach since Harry Adair in 1976-77.

Northwest also sends its sophomore class out with 25 career victories.