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TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – The Northeastern State women's basketball team will close out 2013 with a home battle against the No. 8-ranked team in the nation. NSU (5-5, 2-1 MIAA) is set to play host to Central Missouri (8-1, 2-0 MIAA) at 1:30 p.m. Dec. 21 inside the NSU Event Center.

The RiverHawks are coming off a 57-42 MIAA victory over Missouri Western State, while the Jennies took down Central Oklahoma 94-76 in Edmond, Okla. UCM and NSU have met just once since the RiverHawks joined the NCAA in 1996-97, and that was a 63-52 Jennies triumph on Jan. 9, 2013, in Warrensburg, Mo.

The Jennies were selected in the preseason MIAA coaches poll to finish second in the conference, while NSU was picked sixth.

Northeastern State's Probable Starters
F	44	Carrington Fox	5-11	Sr-3L	4.8 ppg, 5.8 rpg	Tulsa, Okla.
G	04	Fontana Tate	5-5	Jr-2L	11.6 ppg, 4.0 rpg	Muldrow, Okla.
G	05	Kate Bellamy	5-9	So-1L	6.3 ppg, 3.9 rpg	NSW, Australia
G	15	Courtney Cowan	5-6	Fr-RS	3.4 ppg, 1.8 rpg	Kansas, Okla.
G	21	Chelsey Beathard	5-8	Jr-2L	9.0 ppg, 3.5 rpg	Pryor, Okla.
#8 Central Missouri's Probable Starters
F	21	Keuna Flax	5-11	Sr.	20.1 ppg, 7.3 rpg	Haltom City, Texas
F	25	Revonnia Howard	6-3	Jr.	10.1 ppg, 8.0 rpg	Chicago, Ill.
G	00	BreAnna Lewis	5-7	Sr.	13.0 ppg, 4.2 rpg	Greenville, Miss.
G	23	Shelby Winkelmann	5-9	So.	12.3 ppg, 3.3 rpg	Rhineland, Mo.
G	24	Brielle Wattley	5-6	Jr.	6.2 ppg, 2.7 apg	Fort Wayne, Ind.

SCOUTING THE JENNIES
Central Missouri sits at 8-1 on the year and have won both league contests. The Jennies have marquee triumphs over Minnesota State (96-88), Fort Hays State (72-51) and Central Oklahoma (94-76). The lone loss came at Harding (96-67). The powerful Jennies four who average double figures, including Keuna Flax (20.1 ppg), BreAnna Lewis (13.0 ppg), Shelby Winkelmann (12.3 ppg) and Revonnia Howard (10.1 ppg). Howard also leads the team in rebounding at 8.0 rpg. Those four and Brielle Wattley have started all nine games this season for UCM. Central Missouri was 24-6 overall in 2012-13 and finished in a tie with Northeastern State for second place in the MIAA at 14-4.
 
THE LAST TIME OUT
NSU defeated Missouri Western State 57-42 on Dec. 19 inside the NSU Event Center in a Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association contest. The RiverHawks (5-5, 2-1 MIAA) needed career highs from two freshmen in order to get the job done, but they were able to crank up the defense late and hold the Griffons (4-4, 0-2 MIAA) to a season low in points. Redshirt freshman Courtney Cowan led NSU with 14 points. She was only 2-for-7 from the field, but she made 8 of 12 from the free-throw line. True freshman Mya Walker added 12 points, and both players chipped in five rebounds. The RiverHawks shot 29 percent (15-for-52) from the field and hit just 3 of 17 (18 percent) from beyond three-point territory. They won the game on the free-throw line, however, converting 24 of 33 (73 percent). Missouri Western State shot 31 percent (16-for-52) from the field, 16 percent (3-for-19) from downtown and 33 percent (7-for-21) from the line. Quenisha Lockett posted a double-double with a game-high 19 points and 10 rebounds. She was all on her own, however, as no other member of the team had more than six points.
 
THE LAST TIME THEY MET
The Northeastern State women's basketball team lost 63-52 to then-No. 15 Central Missouri on Jan. 9, 2013, inside the Multipurpose Building in Warrensburg, Mo. The RiverHawks had a four-game win streak halted, while the Jennies stayed perfect at home up to that point in the year. Senior guards Taylor Lewis and Tosha Tyler both shot 7-for-13 from the field and combined for 36 points. NSU shot 40 percent from the field (22-for-55) and 33 percent from downtown (6-for-18). The team led in steals (10-5) and points in the paint (26-16). UCM shot 41 percent from the field (24-for-59), made 46 percent of its three's (11-for-24) and led in rebounding 44-29.
 
TATE TAKES THE REIGNS
Fontana Tate has been the player to step up and be the top scorer for NSU this season after the team lost its top three scorers from a year ago. The junior guard has already scored a career-high 18 points on two occasions and has scored in double figures in all but two games. She has also led NSU in scoring in four games. She is shooting 44 percent from the field and 41 percent from downtown this year.
 
THE STARTING FIVE
Randy Gipson-coached teams are usually known for consistency at the top of the lineup. This year, however, has been much different for Northeastern State as the team has already utilized six different starting lineups through the first 10 games of the season. The only starting lineup that was been used more than once is the combination of Fontana Tate, Chelsey Beathard, Sarah Sagely, Che'Ron Lewis and Carrington Fox. NSU is 3-2 when using that starting five. Tate is the only member of the team to start every game this year, and Beathard is right behind with nine starts. Others to earn at least one start this year are Lewis, Sagely, Fox, Kate Bellamy, and Courtney Cowan.
 
FOX AT HOME
Carrington Fox is the lone senior on this year's NSU women's basketball team. With that distinction comes the honor of carrying a dominant home-court advantage. Last year's seniors were 46-3 in their home careers, and Fox is currently 39-3 in Tahlequah. She finished her career 35-2 inside Jack Dobbins Field House, and she is 4-1 inside the NSU Event Center.
 
SEASON TICKETS ON SALE
The NSU Athletics Department announced its season ticket packages for the home portion of the men's and women's basketball schedule. Adult general admission prices can be purchased for $125, and the season chair back seats are $200. Season ticket holders receive the benefit of sitting in comfortable chair back seats. They also receive first option to purchase playoff tickets, premier seating for NSU's 13 home games, excellent view of the playing surface and premier seating in the new 78,200 square foot multipurpose event center. New for 2013 is the $25 single-game Family 4-Pack, which includes two general admission adult tickets and two general admission student tickets (ages 4 through high school). The Family 4-Pack may be purchased at any time and used at any regular season home game. All Northeastern State home men's and women's basketball games are contested at the NSU Event Center.
 
ID'S REQUIRED FOR ENTRY IN 2013
All fans wishing to attend an NSU home football or basketball contest this season will be required to show a ticket prior to entering the facilities. NSU students and faculty/staff will still be allowed free admittance, but NSU ID's will no longer be accepted as a form of entry. Tickets can be purchased at NSU's new ticketing Web site, goriverhawkstickets.com. NSU students and faculty/staff can access goriverhawkstickets.com and secure their free tickets (either printable or downloaded to your smart phone) through their goNSU accounts. For questions regarding ticket options, please contact Brynn Hamner at 918.444.3901.