A record performance highlighted a 2-0 week for the Northwest women’s basketball program, as the Lady Rangers celebrated conference wins against East Central and Hinds.
What turned heads the most out of those two victories was the performance of sophomore Kolten Blakeney (Taylorsville), as the forward scored 25 points and 24 rebounds in last Monday’s 83-69 victory against East Central on Sophomore Night. For Blakeney, both stats marked new career highs, as she became the first player to earn 20 points and 20 rebounds in a game since Tamaria Thomas finished with 23 and 21 in a loss at ASU Mid-South in November 2017.
Blakeney also became only the second Northwest women’s basketball player to notch 24 rebounds in a game since Chatica Hathaway did it in a November 1995 matchup at Jackson State (Tenn.).
As for the game itself, Northwest trailed 40-32 at the halftime break, only to outscore the Lady Warriors 51-29 in the second half. The run was sparked by a 29-point third quarter, highlighted by six three-pointers.
In addition to Blakeney’s big night, sophomore Tierra Trotter (Bryant, Ark.) also posted 20 points, while Baldwyn native I’Yana Ragin chipped in 19.
In Thursday’s 92-73 road win at Hinds, the Lady Rangers once again used a strong second half to pull away from the opposition. Leading by just one at halftime, Northwest exploded for a 28-point performance in the third quarter and added 24 more over the final 10 minutes of regulation to firmly solidify the road win.
Although Blakeney was this time limited to just eight points and five rebounds, Ragin paced the Lady Rangers with a 21-point evening, followed by 16 apiece from Trotter and Maura Nunley (Iuka).
With the sweep, Northwest improved to 11-7 on the season and 5-4 in conference play. The Lady Rangers will host Itawamba on Monday, January 31 and travel to Meridian on Thursday, February 3.
