SEASON ENDS FOR KC | No. 1 Chipola gets by Lady Rangers by 10, 73-63, in national tourney

The 2024-25 season is in the books for the Kilgore College Lady Rangers, and while it’s no fun right now, moments after a loss, the season is likely to be remembered as the year the program returned to prominence.

And for that, every member of this the team and coach Stephanie Williams and her staff will be forever remembered.

The Lady Rangers played a second-round game in the NJCAA Women’s National Basketball Tournament today against the tournament’s No. 1 seed, Chipola (Florida), and while KC played from behind for much of the game, they did make Chipola sweat a bit in the second half – KC cut Chipola’s double-digit lead down to as little as five on a handful of occasions.

But the Lady Indians seemed to always have an answer, finishing 26-of-39 from the free throw line, and ultimately, with a 73-63 win over Kilgore College.

Williams and her team finished the season with a 24-10 overall record, the Region XIV Conference Women’s Tournament Championship, their first trip to the national tournament since 1993 (and seventh overall), and a tournament win, having beaten Walters State (Tenn.) in round one to earn the matchup with Chipola.

The Lady Indians (31-3) will move on to the tournament’s quarterfinals to face either Shelton State (Ala.) or South Plains (Texas) on Saturday at 11 a.m.

To continue watching the tournament, do so in live-streaming format on ESPN+. The tournament’s championship game is Tuesday at 5 p.m.

KC got off to a bit of a slow start offensively, and were down 26-14 at the end of the first quarter, 39-27 at the half.

But they kept chipping away, no pun intended, and a basket by Nakiyah Allen late in the third quarter had them down just seven, 52-45, going into the fourth.

Sophomore Jarahle Daniels was phenomenal, putting together maybe her best game ever as a Lady Ranger, and that’s saying something because she’s had several. Daniels finished with 25 points, five rebounds, four assists, two steals, and hit three three-point shots.

Unfortunately, only one other Lady Ranger, Allen, hit for double figures in scoring; Allen had 10 points, and added eight rebounds, three assists and a steal.

Also for KC, Tylissa Henderson and Kamari Forrest each had six points; Henderson grabbed seven rebounds, had an assist and two steals, and Forrest had four rebounds and a steal. Rhyeli Hendrick had five points, four rebounds and an assist. Rhianna Battles finished with four points, a rebound and an assist. Madison Bob had three points, five rebounds and an assist, and Ja’Sani Green and Anyla Herbert each had two points.

KC was 13-of-20 from the line – they took 19 less free throws than did Chipola. The Rangers were 23-of-76 in shooting, 30 percent.

For the Lady Indians, Daniya McDonald had 14 points, Kanija Daniel had 13, and Ahmani Klabunde had 11.

Chipola came in averaging 51 rebounds, and amazingly, they grabbed exactly that, 51 rebounds. KC had 39.