Ranger College Women’s Basketball Earns First Win of the Season in Home Opener

RANGER, Texas — November 11, 2025 — The Ranger College women's basketball team earned its first victory of the season in emphatic fashion Tuesday night, defeating Howard College 68–57 in the home opener at Ron Butler Gymnasium. The win was especially sweet for the Rangers, who bounced back after dropping the first meeting between the two teams 92–62 just six days earlier in Big Spring, Texas.

Fast Start, Confident Finish

Ranger jumped out to an early lead and never looked back, outscoring Howard in each of the first two quarters to take a 35–22 halftime advantage. The Rangers shot an efficient 43.1% from the field and 87.5% from the free-throw line, maintaining control even as Howard tried to rally late.

Offensive Leaders

Freshman Akyla Fields led the way with a game-high 18 points, hitting 8-of-19 shots from the floor while adding 4 rebounds and 6 steals. Sophomore Mia Ross provided a major spark off the bench with 18 points, connecting on 5-of-9 from the field and a near-perfect 7-of-8 from the free-throw line.

Imani Johnson scored 13 points and dished out an assist while pulling down 4 rebounds, and Kayleigh Murphy added a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds. Ranger's balanced attack saw five players score four or more points in the victory.

Defensive Intensity

Defensively, the Rangers forced 17 turnovers and collected 13 steals, with Fields leading the charge. Ranger's frontcourt also controlled the boards, outrebounding the Hawks 33–35 and limiting second-chance opportunities.

Looking Ahead

With the win, Ranger College improves to 1–1 overall, earning a much-deserved home victory to even their record. The Rangers will look to build on the momentum when they return to action on Thursday November 13, against Arizona Western College at 5:00 p.m. in Midland, Texas.