Story records 10th double-double as Northwest falls to Lawson State
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Despite a dominant performance from Alorian Story and Zaria Mitchell, the Northwest Mississippi Community College women’s basketball team suffered its first road loss of the season Wednesday, falling 75-64 to Lawson State Community College.
The Rangers (9-5) struggled early, facing a daunting 22-3 deficit in the first quarter. While Northwest found its rhythm in the final three frames, the initial gap proved too large to bridge.
“I just didn’t think we closed the game like we should have,” said Northwest head coach Lataryl Williams. “They made the plays that we didn’t, and that’s why they came out on top.”
Story and Mitchell Lead the Rally
Sophomore Alorian Story continued her stellar season, recording her 10th double-double of the year. Story finished the night with 20 points, 14 rebounds, and four blocks. Meanwhile, Zaria Mitchell led all scorers with a massive 32-point performance, adding four rebounds and two steals.
The duo combined for 52 of the Rangers’ 64 points. After trailing 42-29 at halftime, Story and Mitchell spearheaded a third-quarter surge that cut the lead to 10. By the midway point of the fourth quarter, Northwest pulled within five points at 66-61. However, Lawson State (7-8) responded with a 7-0 run to secure the victory.
Stat Leaders and Key Takeaways
- Alorian Story: 20 PTS, 14 REB, 4 BLK
- Zaria Mitchell: 32 PTS, 4 REB, 2 STL
- Layla Hampton: 7 PTS, 10 REB, 5 AST
Northwest’s offense struggled with efficiency, shooting just 31% from the field and 24% from beyond the arc. The loss snaps a four-game winning streak for the Rangers as they conclude their non-conference schedule.
Up Next
The Rangers look to bounce back as they open MACCC conference play on Monday, Jan. 12, at home against East Mississippi Community College. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
