Box Score

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EMPORIA, Kan. – The Northeastern State women's basketball team earned a crucial 66-56 win over Emporia State University Saturday afternoon at William L. White Auditorium.
 
The RiverHawks (18-7, 13-4 MIAA) currently sit in third place in the league table and they have now clinched an opening-round bye in the 2013 MIAA Championship. Washburn leads the regular-season race at 15-1 in the conference, and Central Missouri is second at 13-3.
 
NSU holds tiebreakers over fourth-place Truman State (12-4 MIAA), Pittsburg State (11-5 MIAA) and now Emporia State (16-8, 11-5 MIAA).
 
Senior guard Taylor Lewis led all scorers with 26 points on 9-of-18 shooting. Fellow senior guard Tosha Tyler scored 13 points and sophomore guard Chelsey Stricklen came off the bench to score 10. Sophomore guard Fontana Tate grabbed a career-high 12 rebounds.
 
Northeastern State shot at a 44-percent clip (26-for-59) from the field and made 8 of 9 (89 percent) from the charity stripe.
 
Emporia State was held to 36 percent (21-for-58) from the field, 26 percent (5-for-19) from behind the arc and 64 percent (9-for-14) at the free-throw line.
 
Laura Patrick paced the Lady Hornets with 14 points, while Rachel Hanf added 10.
 
The home side quickly jumped on top 5-0, but neither team held more than a three-point lead for the first 13 minutes of the contest following the early advantage.
 
Emporia State held a 20-19 lead with 11 minutes left in the opening frame, but NSU went on a 12-2 run to jump on top 31-22 at the 6:20 mark. A late triple from Hanf allowed the Lady Hornets to trail just 37-33 heading into intermission.
 
ESU stayed close to the visitors in the early moments of the second half, but the home side could never get closer than four points. A layup by Merissa Quick at 7:31 brought Emporia State to within four at 52-48, but Northeastern State used a 10-0 run to ice the game.
 
The Lady Hornets would never again get within single digits as NSU earned the 10-point victory.
 
Northeastern State returns home for The Farewell to Jack Dobbins Field House. NSU is set to play host to Central Oklahoma at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 27 in the final regular-season game to be held inside the legendary facility.
 
The Senior Day presentation will be held between the men's and women's games. There will also be a presentation to honor those who have been part of the 58-year history of JDF, and NSU's 2003 NCAA National Championship men's team will also be celebrating the 10-year history of the historic title run.
 
NORTHEASTERN STATE COACH RANDY GIPSON
On the game…
“Our team came in here determined, and we were really solid on both ends of the floor. We only had seven turnovers, and we never really had a scoring drought. Obviously, we got a big game from Taylor Lewis, but she had some support. Our team defense was good, and we more than held our own on the boards. I think all parts of our game were in sync tonight.”
 
On rebounding after the loss at Pittsburg State last week…
“Our first midweek bye came at the perfect time for us. The whole team was sore, and we needed that rest. We all have some aches and pains at this point in the season. The extra few days gave us time to practice and game plan, and I think all those little things figured into us having a good game today.”
 
On locking up a first-round bye in the MIAA Championship…
“That was big for us. This league takes a physical toll on you, so it's good for us to be able to avoid that first-round game, even if it would have been at home. Our team is mature enough to take advantage of time off, and we are going to use the extra practice to get better and rest. It's hard to win three games in three days to win a league championship, so I think the rest will help give us our best chance to win it.”

On the recent play of Taylor Lewis…
“She's totally dialed in. She's a senior, and she's been a great competitor for us her whole career. Any way you cut it, she knows her college career is winding down. She is playing focused and intense, as you would hope your senior player would be. Our other two seniors, Tosha Tyler and Sarah Green, are also playing hard. Sarah Green is always very steady. Taylor leads the way, but I think our three seniors are intent on finishing their careers in the best possible way. They show it in the way they practice, behave around their teammates and how they step on the court.”

-GoRiverHawksGo.com-