Box Score ALVA, Okla. — There was no one better in the second half of the Great American Conference season than Southern Nazarene as proved by SNU's ninth straight win to close out the regular season. The Crimson Storm knocked off Northwestern Oklahoma State, 66-61, on senior day as SNU finished the second half of the GAC season at 9-1.
 
It's hard to say 19 points and 19 rebounds is usual, but over the course of the past seven games it nearly has been for Aminata Fall. The sophomore led the way for SNU with a game-high in both categories as she also had five blocks which takes her season total to 76. It is the fourth most blocks in a single-season in school history and the most blocks in a single-season in GAC history.
 
Oumoul Thiam nearly had a double-double with 14 points and nine rebounds. She also had four assists and one steal. Kristin Milster added 12 poitns off of the bench along with four rebounds. Katie Beebe was just a point and a an assist short of a double-double with nine each. The nine assists were a career high.
 
The Storm struggled from the floor, hitting just 36.2 percent and were just 6-for-19 from 3-point range. The difference came at the free-throw line as SNU hit 18-for-23 form the charity stripe while the Rangers went just 5-for-11.
 
The two exchanged four leads in the first half and both led by as much as five before SNU took a 30-29 lead at the half. Three lead changed hands three more times in the first two minutes of the second half before Northwestern scored six straight to lead 39-35. The Rangers led 42-39 before the Storm went on an 8-2 run, capped by a Kassongo bucket in the paint, to lead 47-44 and SNU never trailed from there.
 
The Storm (17-9, 14-6 GAC) never led by more than seven down the stretch, but held off the Lady Rangers the rest of the way.
 
Southern Nazarene will now play in the NCCAA Central Region Tournament, Friday, as SNU received a first round bye. Times and a full bracket will be released Wednesday.