The Light Blues fell behind in the first half after Jorian Nicole Baucom stabbed home for the away side and, for much of the second half, victory appeared to be heading in Hibs’ direction.
However, a three-minute spell from the home side left the away side shellshocked, with Kathy Hill adding to Rio Hardy’s equaliser to consolidate Rangers’ place at the summit of the SWPL standings.
And it caps off a positive week for the Gers after last weekend’s Sky Sports Cup success, with Glasgow City the visitors to Broadwood Stadium following the forthcoming international hiatus.
Indeed, it was a bright start from the home side in the contest, with Sarah Ewens, fresh from a call-up to the Scotland squad, only narrowly overhitting a dangerous delivery across the face of the Hibs goal.
The forward was proving a livewire in the opening exchanges, sending a terrific delivery into the Hibs penalty area five minutes later that Poppy Lawson was on hand to divert clear for a corner as Jane Ross lurked with intent.
Indeed, Ross was among the action in the quarter of an hour mark when she combined neatly with Rachel Rowe, swivelling 25 yards from goal before forcing an acrobatic stop from Katlynn Fraine.
For all of Rangers’ early endeavour, however, it was the Edinburgh side who broke the deadlock on 18 minutes. Shannon McGregor was the architect for the away side as she regained possession in midfield, striding forward and delaying her pass until just the right moment that allowed Baucom to take the ball in her stride and stab a finish beyond Jenna Fife.
Kathy Hill then burst forward in search of a leveller for the Light Blues, pulling the trigger from distance that proved comfortable for Fraine to hold in the end.
The defender was shortly after inches away from turning the ball home from a wicked Rachel Rowe’s free-kick, sneaking around to the far post where she couldn’t quite make contact with her outstretched leg.
The hosts began to ratchet up the intensity as the half-time whistle approached, going close five minutes before the interval when the ball broke kindly to Ewens after Mia McAulay’s initial effort was blocked, but the Scotland international steered her effort from the edge of the penalty area wide of the target.
Rangers were left with it all to do in the second half, briefly causing panic inside the Hibs penalty area moments after the interval when Brogan Hay’s cross-cum-shot from a narrow angle forced Fraine to desperately tip the ball onto the roof of the net.
Although play was largely constricted to the Hibs half as the Gers searched for an equaliser, Potter’s side were very nearly stung in the tail when a swift counter-attack from the visitors saw Tegan Bowie hare in at the far post and lift a finish over Fife. Fortunately for the home side, Hill was perfectly placed to head the ball off the goalline.
Potter turned to her bench just shy of the hour-mark as Kirsty Howat, Rio Hardy and Lizzie Arnot entered the fray, with the former duo having enjoyed such a prolific partnership in the first half of the campaign.
And Howat was very nearly the creator just moments after taking to the pitch. It was the forward who impeccably controlled Nicola Docherty’s searching cross into the penalty area, laying the ball into Tessel Middag who twisted and curled an effort wide of the far post.
The pressure continued to pile on the Hibs goal as the second half wore on, with Middag going close once again when she collected the ball at the far post and forced Fraine into an impressive, acrobatic stop on the full volley.
Rangers’ persistence then paid dividends with 13 minutes remaining as they found the equaliser to set up a grandstand finish in Cumbernauld. From a quick throw-in, substitute Jodi McLeary did tremendously to outmuscle her marker, feeding Howat who immediately zipped the ball into Hardy on the penalty spot. The forward’s first touch was impeccable, allowing her to shift the ball onto her left-side and dispatch a powerful finish beyond Fraine.
Broadwood Stadium was rocking as a result, and Potter’s side completed the turnaround just three minutes later to spark scenes of jubilation in the stands. Again, Rangers wasted precious little time in restarting quickly from a dead ball situation, with Hay’s delivery flashing across the face of goal where it reached Hill who made no mistake in converting from close range.
The hosts ought to have wrapped the game up with a minute remaining as substitute Arnot raced clear, but Fraine stood tall to deny the winger and keep the scoreline as it was.
However, it mattered little as the referee soon blew for full-time, bringing a frenetic contest to a conclusion and ensuring Rangers head into the international break with momentum.
RANGERS: Fife, Docherty, Hill, Middag, Hay, Rowe (McLeary, 72), Bance (McLoughlin, 45), Ross (Howat, 57), McAulay (Arnot, 57), Ewens (Hardy, 57), Cornet
Subs not used: Esson, Austin, Martinez
HIBERNIAN: Fraine, Baucom, Eddie, McGregor (Ferguson, 94), Notley, Murray, Doran-Barr (Leishman, 56), Bowie (Christie, 71), Powell, Morrison (Livingstone, 84), Lawson
Subs not used: Erhabor, Hunter, Tweedie