SENATOBIA - A layup from Northwest freshman guard I'Yana Ragin gave the Lady Rangers a one-point advantage late in the fourth quarter, but Itawamba used a 7-2 run over the final 1:18 to take a 69-65 victory at Howard Coliseum on Monday night.

Despite trailing for most of the contest, the Lady Rangers (2-2) remained within striking distance all night and never trailed by more than 11 points.

Itawamba (4-1) opened the game with the hot hand, using a pair of layups and three made free throws to gain an early 7-0 advantage. Ragin's layup at the 6:31 mark of the first quarter broke the scoreless drought for Northwest, and a three-pointer from Curenity Emerson brought the Lady Rangers within four points.

Lymyia Fifer's layup with 3:08 to go in the first gave ICC a 19-8 advantage, which served as the largest lead of the evening for the Lady Indians.

Trailing 23-12 at the conclusion of the first quarter, Northwest broke out some much-needed momentum in the second quarter, as the Lady Rangers used a trio of three-point baskets from Tierra Trotter and Morgan Hodum to slice the deficit to five.

Northwest continued to inch closer as the first half drew to a close, cutting the ICC lead down to one point on three different occasions. In all, the Lady Rangers outscored Itawamba 21-13 in the second quarter, but still trailed 36-33 at halftime.

Both teams spent the second half trading baskets, but the Lady Indians managed to hang on to the lead until Ragin's basket with 1:27 remaining in regulation. Nine seconds later, a layup from Xhiir Burgess put Itawamba back on top at 64-63.

Burgess then responded on the defensive end with a block of Sha'Kirria Everett's layup attempt, which allowed Itawamba to burn the clock. Forced to foul with 36 seconds remaining, the Lady Rangers fell behind by six with 14 seconds left as the Lady Indians sealed the victory at the free throw line.

Northwest was paced by 24 points from Trotter, who also tallied four rebounds and four steals. Ragin also contributed 14 points and four rebounds, while Hodum tacked on a season-high 10 points and four steals.

Emerson led the Lady Rangers in rebounds, earning eight boards and seven points. Freshman Kolten Blakeney was held to nine points off the bench.

Northwest shot 40 percent from the floor and a season-best 42 percent from three-point range (8-of-19). Trotter led the Lady Rangers from beyond the arc, finishing 3-of-6 on the evening.

Shomaria Overton and Amelya Hatch finished with 12 points apiece to lead Itawamba. Burgess also compiled a double-double of 11 points and 14 rebounds.

Itawamba also shot 43 percent from the floor, but were held scoreless from three-point range. The Lady Indians instead did their damage in the paint - outscoring Northwest 42-22 - and in bench points, where they outscored the Lady Rangers 28-9.

Northwest will hit the road on Thursday, February 25 with a 6 P.M. bout at Northeast. Later in the week, the Lady Rangers will face Northeast again in a home matchup at Howard Coliseum on Saturday, February 27 at 1 P.M.