Box Score

Box score in PDF  I  HTML

FORT SMITH, Ark. – The Northeastern State women's basketball team defeated University of Arkansas – Fort Smith 67-47 Friday night at Stubblefield Center.
 
The RiverHawks (5-4) had four score in double figures and the team clamped down on defense to stifle the Lady Lions (3-5).
 
Senior guard Taylor Lewis led NSU with 16 points, making 4 of 8 from behind the arc. Senior forward Sarah Green added 12 points and six rebounds, and she was 3 of 5 from the field and a perfect 6-for-6 from the free-throw line.
 
Senior guard Tosha Tyler added 10 points, six assists, five rebounds, and three steals, and sophomore guard Fontana Tate contributed 10 points, four boards and three assists.
 
Junior guard Taylor Collins had eight points and five rebounds, and sophomore guard Chelsey Stricklen added seven points. This marked the second time in 2012-13 that NSU had six players score at least seven points in a single game. Tate and Stricklen both earned their first-career starting assignments in the contest.
 
Northeastern State shot 39 percent from the field (24-62), 38 percent from downtown (11-29) and 89 percent from the line (8-9). The RiverHawks held the home side to just 28 percent shooting (17-60) and 37 percent from behind the arc (7-19). The Lady Lions were also 46 percent from the line (6-13).
 
Northeastern State gave up the first seven points of the contest and was forced to play catch-up virtually the rest of the opening half.
 
NSU trailed 12-4 heading into the first media timeout, and the visitors fell behind 19-13 at the 7:39 mark. Lewis drained a triple at 7:19 that sparked a 7-0 run and gave the RiverHawks their first lead of the game less than two minutes later.
 
The two combatants exchanged buckets the remainder of the half, and two free throws from Green with five seconds left gave Northeastern State a slim 27-25 lead at intermission.
 
UAFS got within one point on two occasions in the second half, and the home team kept it close until the 9:11 mark. NSU held just a 40-37 advantage, but the road team starting to make it rain from all over the floor and used a 22-6 run to take a 62-43 lead that lasted less than six minutes.
 
The RiverHawks would convert 8 of 14 from downtown in the second half and take the 20-point triumph.
 
Danielle McFadden led the Lady Lions with 16 points. Katie BenAmor grabbed 11 rebounds but was just 1-for-6 from the field. Angi Ramey hauled in 10 boards but was just 1-for-9.
 
Northeastern State will return to Jack Dobbins Field House for its final game before the holiday break. NSU will play host to the University of Arkansas at Monticello at 6 p.m. Dec. 18.

NORTHEASTERN STATE COACH RANDY GIPSON
On the defensive effort…
“It was a really solid defensive performance both halves tonight. That kept us in it because we got off to a slow start. Our kids stayed focus and stayed solid. We did a good job of rebounding against an athletic team. We didn't give up many second shots. We were solid on defense all night.”
 
On shutting down the UAFS frontcourt players…
“I was real pleased with the effort we got from (Melissa Jones, Carrington Fox and Sarah Green). (Katie) BenAmor is averaging 13 rebounds a game, and she scored well against us last year. All three of those forwards rotated on their bigs and did a good job pressuring their shots and kept them from getting second opportunities.”
 
On the huge second half…
“We were running our offense a little better and we were moving the ball with a little better rhythm. We got used to their pressure in the second half. I think we're stepping into our shots a little better. This team, because of how our season has gone, has been up and down. We haven't had great confidence every night, but we know we have some people that can shoot the ball. I'm hoping this can be a good breakout game and a sign of things to come.”

-GoRiverHawksGo.com-