SENATOBIA - Four players combined for 59 of Northwest's 64 points on Monday evening, as Itawamba took a close 68-64 victory against the Lady Rangers.

Rebounds was one of the biggest difference makers for the Lady Indians, as Itawamba (18-5, 8-2 MACCC) finished with 48 boards on the evening. Northwest was limited to just 27, as the Lady Rangers fell to 9-12 overall and 5-6 in conference play.

Neither team played particularly well in the opening period, but the Lady Indians held a narrow 11-9 lead entering the second quarter. Northwest remained close over the span of the second period, eventually gaining a 19-16 advantage with 4:48 left in the first half.

Down the stretch, Layla Hampton picked up a steal and a fastbreak layup in the paint, giving the Lady Rangers a 23-22 lead with 1:48 left. Itawamba used back-to-back shots from Jestiny Dixon and D'Naylah Williams to pull ahead by three, but a three-pointer from Mariah Reed-Jones tied the game up at 26-26 by halftime.

Both teams spent the majority of the third quarter trading leads, until a 10-3 run gave the Lady Indians some breathing room and a 48-40 lead. A couple baskets allowed Northwest to pull back within four, but D'Naylah Williams' layup just before the third quarter buzzer gave Itawamba a 50-44 advantage.

For the most part, the Lady Rangers remained within striking distance and trailed by no more than nine points in the final 10 minutes. Despite pulling back within three with 25 seconds left, Northwest was unable to hit a game-tying three-pointer with 12 seconds and Itawamba later hit one of its two free throws with eight seconds to go.

A pair of free throws from Layla Hampton with four seconds left brought the Lady Rangers back within 66-64, but forced to foul, Northwest sent Dixon to the line and her two made free throws put the game on ice with two seconds left.

Itawamba outmatched the Lady Rangers, 21-11, in second chance points, and Northwest was also limited to just three points from its reserves. Though NWCC did finish with a 43 percent shooting clip, the Lady Rangers were just 5-for-16 from three-point range, compared to 33 percent from beyond the arc from the Lady Indians.

Itawamba also finished the evening shooting 39 percent from the floor and 81 percent from the free throw line.

Takera Bland and Alorian Story finished with 16 points apiece to lead Northwest, with Story also earning a team-best eight rebounds. Hampton earned 15 points with seven boards, and Mariah Reed-Jones rounded out the notable scoring for the Lady Rangers, tallying 12 points and six rebounds.

Jamaiya Hasley also provided a team-high three blocks off the bench for Northwest. 

Williams posted a double-double for the Lady Indians, earning 16 points and 13 rebounds. Alayna Ball led the way with 18 points and eight boards, and Dixon followed with 15 points, eight rebounds and a team-high six steals.

Northwest has four games remaining in the regular season and are currently eighth in the most recent MACCC standings. With its postseason hopes on the line, the Lady Rangers will travel to Meridian (13-12, 5-5 MACCC) on Thursday, February 20, facing a Lady Eagles' squad that is one spot ahead in the conference standings.

Tipoff is slated for 5:30 P.M. with live broadcast coverage on mcceagles.live. Tickets are also available for purchase here. Read Full Article