Box Score ALVA, Okla. – The Southern Arkansas women's basketball team dropped its Great American Conference opener Thursday, falling 73-49 to Northwestern Oklahoma State at Percefull Fieldhouse.
 
The Lady Muleriders (0-4, 0-1 GAC) suffered their 10th consecutive GAC loss dating back to last year, while the Rangers (2-4, 1-0 GAC), under the tutelage of former SAU men's basketball coach Eric Bozeman, won their first conference game in their inaugural season in the league.
 
Mandy Norman scored 14 points to lead Northwestern, and Renee Golliday added 10.
 
Sophomore guard Katherine McBride (Lucas, Texas) led Southern Arkansas with 14 points, nine rebounds and three assists.  Sophomore guard Bria Snowden (El Dorado) added nine points.
 
The Rangers led throughout and eventually built their largest lead of 28 points at 69-41 with 2:22 left in the game.  They held a 36-26 advantage at the half.
 
Northwestern Oklahoma shot 41.1 percent for the game on 23 of 56 from the floor and connected on 23 of 35 (65.7 percent) free throws.  The Lady Muleriders were whistled for 24 fouls to the Rangers' 14.
 
SAU hit 20 of 56 (35.7 percent) from the court and 7 of 16 (43.8 percent) at the foul stripe.
 
Southern Arkansas had the edge on the boards by 38-35, but was outscored inside 36-26.  Freshman center Tori Nichols (Houston, Miss.) pulled down six rebounds for the Lady Muleriders.  Titania Simmons had five for Northwestern.
 
SAU travels on to Weatherford, Okla., Saturday for a 2 p.m. conference meeting with Southwestern Oklahoma State.