LAKE CHARLES, La. — The Northwest Mississippi Community College women’s basketball team saw their season come to an end with a 63-50 loss to Dodge City Community College in the first round of the NJCAA Division I tournament. The Rangers, ranked 23rd nationally, struggled to overcome an early deficit against the 10th-ranked Conquistadors.
Dodge City, known for their three-point shooting, made three three-pointers in the first quarter and shot nearly 47.4% from the field. Northwest started slow offensively, with sophomore Alorian Story scoring six of the team’s 13 first-quarter points. The Rangers made only five of 16 shots in the opening quarter, finishing with a 31.3% shooting percentage.
The Conquistadors maintained their offensive rhythm in the second quarter, scoring 18 points while Northwest only added nine. The Rangers were also out-rebounded by 20 in the first half, allowing Dodge City to take 12 more shots than Northwest at halftime. Head coach LaTaryl Williams said the team appeared tentative early in the game.
Northwest gained momentum in the third quarter, opening with a 12-4 run and forcing five turnovers. The team held Dodge City to 10 points in the frame and outscored them by five, reducing the deficit to 13 points. A key moment came when Mitchell hit a three-pointer with 10 seconds left in the quarter.
The final quarter was characterized by turnovers and shifts in momentum. Neither team gained a clear advantage, and despite outscoring Dodge City in the third and tying them in the fourth, Northwest could not close the gap. The team’s effort was highlighted by performances from Story and Mitchell, who scored 11 and 14 points, respectively. Story also recorded her 25th double-double of the season with 15 rebounds and 11 points. Layla Hampton added 10 points for the Rangers.
Although the season ended earlier than hoped, Williams emphasized that reaching the tournament and competing at this level set a standard for the program. He told freshmen that the foundation has been laid and encouraged them to build on their success. Follow NWCC women’s basketball updates on social media or at nwccrangers.com.
