MAGNOLIA – The SAU Women's Basketball team opened the new decade inside the W. T. Watson Center tonight hosting Northwestern Oklahoma, and despite a strong first quarter that saw the Muleriders take the lead, a cold second and third quarter was ultimately the Muleriders' undoing.

Entering the second quarter with a 17-13 deficit, the Rangers outscored the Muleriders 15-6 and 30-10 in quarters two and three en route to a quality road win.

The Muleriders went 9:19 between quarters two and three without a single point and 13:30 without a made field goal. The Muleriders only shot 23.3 percent from the field on the day and 15.8 percent from deep.  

Diamond Morris led the Muleriders in scoring. The freshman scored nine points on 3-11 shooting and grabbed three steals.

Tamera Shaver and Tearra Cook both scored eight points, with Shaver making two of the team's six three-pointers and Cook making four of the team's nine free throws.

Doriana Brown led the effort on the glass, grabbing 11 rebounds in 11 minutes off the bench, also dishing out a team-high three assists.

The Muleriders host Southwestern Oklahoma State on Saturday inside the W. T. Watson Center.