Lady Indians fall to Northwest in NJCAA Region 23 Semifinals

POPLARVILLE, Miss. - Itawamba carried a five-point lead into halftime and stayed within striking distance through three quarters, but Northwest used a decisive run early in the fourth to pull away for a 77-60 win in the NJCAA Region 23 Semifinals.

The Lady Indians led 30-25 at the break after holding the Lady Rangers to 15 points in each of the first two quarters. ICC set the tone early with solid defensive stretches and strong work on the glass, then continued to battle through the third as Briyana Turner, Tootie Lockett and I'Xana Winters kept the offense moving.

Turner helped spark the second half with back-to-back baskets in the opening two minutes of the third quarter, trimming the margin to one possession. Lockett added a score inside, and Winters continued to create as ICC stayed close at 48-43 entering the fourth.

The game turned in the opening moments of the final quarter.

Northwest connected on three 3-pointers in the first two minutes of the fourth, stretching a five-point game into a 57-43 margin. That burst gave the Lady Rangers the separation they had been unable to find for most of the night and forced the Lady Indians into chase mode the rest of the way.

Even after that run, ICC kept working. Winters answered with a bucket, Lockett scored inside and Carlie Brock converted a three-point play. Aisley Shields also knocked down a 3-pointer midway through the quarter, but Northwest continued to answer at the free-throw line and on second-chance opportunities.

Turner led ICC with 18 points and 12 rebounds. Lockett added 12 points, Winters finished with 11 points and five assists