NWCC Lady Rangers fall in overtime to Miss. Delta

Northwest guard De-Kisha Fondon of Water Valley knocked down a three-pointer at the buzzer to send the game between the Northwest Mississippi Community College Lady Rangers and the Mississippi Delta Lady Trojans into overtime.

But, in the end, the Lady Rangers dropped the game to the Lady Trojans, 86-85, Feb. 8 in Moorhead. Northwest, 11-6 overall and 8-2 in the MACJC north, can still claim its first division championship since the 2000-01 season by winning the final two games on its schedule.

Sophomore forward Hope Adams of Oxford notched her fifth double-double of the season. Adams, the Lady Rangers’ leading scorer and rebounder, poured in a game-high 24 points and grabbed 14 rebounds to lead Northwest. Adams made eight of 18 attempts from the field and converted eight of 11 free throws.

 Mississippi Delta led the Lady Rangers 74-69 with 28 seconds left, but a basket by Northwest guard Lanita Futrell of Coldwater cut the margin to 74-71 with 11 seconds remaining.

 The Lady Trojans missed the front end of a one-and-one which gave the Lady Rangers one final chance. Northwest guard De-Kisha Fondon of Water Valley knocked down a three-pointer at the buzzer to send the contest into the extra period.

 The Lady Rangers fell behind 83-78 in overtime, but Adams added a three-point play and knocked down an eight-foot jumper, while Futrell scored on a lay up after making a steal to put Northwest in front 85-84 with 49 seconds left.

 Mississippi Delta hit a pair of game-winning free throws with 31 seconds left to kill the Lady Ranger rally.

 Fondon added 19 points and eight rebounds for Northwest, while Tamara Wadlington of Oxford added 17 points. Sabrina Townsend of Batesville chipped in with 12 points.

 The Lady Rangers play their final home game of the season Thursday, Feb. 11 by hosting Coahoma at Howard Coliseum in Senatobia. Tip off is at 5 p.m.