Natalie Walker scored 21 points as NOC rallied past Eastern 86-84 Monday night in the 2023-34 conference opener in Tonkawa.
The Lady Mavs trailed the Lady Mountaineers 79-75 with 2:07 when the Lady Mavs went on an 11-5 run to end the game.
NOC took an 82-81 lead on a Kaydrin Scott 3-pointer and then extended the lead to 84-81 on two Keely Hussey free throws. After Eastern answered cutting the lead to 84-83, Maddy Wehrenberg nailed two free throws with :05.9 left to give NOC an 86-83 lead.
Eastern cut the lead to 86-84 with :00.6 left but the Lady Mavs held on.
NOC rallied from as much as 10 points down in the second half.
"It was a good team effort," said coach Greg Krause. "It took everyone's contribution to hang on and keep battling and give us a chance. Good start to conference play."
Scott reached double figures with 11 points while Wehrenberg added 10. Walker had 17 of her team high 21 points in the second half.
NOC improved to 4-8 while Eastern fell to 8-5.
NOC hosts Western Thursday at 5:30 p.m. in conference play.
Lady Mavs 86, Eastern 84
1 2 3 4--Total
Eastern 17 25 27 15-- 84
Lady Mavs 13 15 31 27-- 86
Lady Mavs--N. Walker 21, K. Scott 11, M. Wehrenberg 10, M. Perez 9, B. Robertson 9, M. Rich 9, L. Hussey 7, K. Hussey 7, A. Green 3.
